What caused the sudden 20% drop in daily active users for Candy Crush Saga last week?

Introduction

The sudden 20% drop in daily active users for Candy Crush Saga last week is a critical issue that demands immediate attention and thorough analysis. As we delve into this problem, we'll employ a systematic approach to identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term and long-term implications for the product.

I'll begin by gathering essential information, formulating data-driven hypotheses, and conducting a comprehensive root cause analysis. Throughout this process, we'll consider various factors that could contribute to such a significant decline in user engagement, ranging from technical issues to changes in user behavior or external market forces.

Our goal is to not only uncover the underlying cause of this drop but also to develop a robust action plan that addresses the immediate concern and strengthens our product for the future.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking there might have been a recent update or change. Has there been any significant product update or feature release in the past week?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with sudden metric shifts. Expected answer: Yes, there was a major update. Impact on approach: If yes, we'd focus on the update's impact; if no, we'd look at other factors.

• Considering user segments, I'm wondering if this drop is uniform across all user groups. Are we seeing this 20% drop consistently across different user segments (e.g., new vs. long-term players, age groups, or geographic regions)?

Why it matters: Helps identify if the issue is global or specific to certain user groups. Expected answer: The drop varies across segments. Impact on approach: If varied, we'd focus on affected segments; if uniform, we'd look at broader issues.

• Given the nature of mobile games, I'm curious about platform-specific issues. Is this drop consistent across all platforms (iOS, Android, web), or is it more pronounced on a particular platform?

Why it matters: Platform-specific issues could indicate technical problems. Expected answer: The drop is more significant on one platform. Impact on approach: If platform-specific, we'd investigate technical issues; if consistent, we'd look at cross-platform factors.

• Thinking about external factors, I'm wondering about competitive landscape changes. Have there been any major releases or promotions from competitors in the past week?

Why it matters: Competitive actions can significantly impact user engagement. Expected answer: A competitor launched a new game or promotion. Impact on approach: If yes, we'd consider market positioning; if no, we'd focus more on internal factors.

• Considering data integrity, I want to ensure we're working with accurate information. Has there been any change in how we measure or define daily active users, or any known issues with our analytics systems?

Why it matters: Ensures we're addressing a real issue, not a data anomaly. Expected answer: No changes or issues in measurement. Impact on approach: If there are measurement issues, we'd first address data accuracy; if not, we proceed with our analysis.