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Company focus

Skillz
Product Trade-Off Hard Member-only

Should Skillz prioritize adding new game genres to expand its user base or focus on optimizing existing popular titles for better player retention?

Prepared by NextSprints

15 mins
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Strategic Decision-Making Data Analysis Product Portfolio Management Mobile Gaming Esports Online Gambling Product Strategy Mobile Gaming User Acquisition Competitive Gaming Retention Optimization
Product Management Trade-Off Question: Skillz platform expansion strategy balancing new genres and existing game optimization

Introduction

The trade-off question at hand is whether Skillz should prioritize adding new game genres to expand its user base or focus on optimizing existing popular titles for better player retention. This scenario involves balancing growth through diversification against improving the core product offering. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining the current product landscape, potential impacts, and data-driven decision-making processes.

Analysis Approach

I'll approach this analysis by first gathering essential context, then evaluating the trade-off's potential impacts on various stakeholders. We'll design an experiment to test our hypotheses, analyze the results, and ultimately make a recommendation based on a structured decision framework.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

  • Based on Skillz's current market position, I'm thinking user acquisition might be a key challenge. Could you share our current user growth rate and how it compares to our targets?

Why it matters: Helps determine if expansion or retention should be prioritized Expected answer: Growth is below target, around 15% year-over-year Impact on approach: Lower growth would lean towards genre expansion

  • Considering our revenue model, I assume we rely heavily on in-game purchases. What percentage of our revenue comes from our top 3 game titles?

Why it matters: Indicates the risk of focusing solely on existing games Expected answer: Top 3 games account for 60-70% of revenue Impact on approach: High concentration would suggest diversification

  • Looking at user behavior, I'm curious about our current retention rates. What's our 30-day retention rate across our game portfolio?

Why it matters: Helps assess the urgency of improving retention Expected answer: 30-day retention around 20-25% Impact on approach: Low retention would prioritize optimization of existing games

  • From a technical standpoint, I'm wondering about our platform's scalability. How easily can we integrate new game genres into our existing infrastructure?

Why it matters: Affects feasibility and timeline of adding new genres Expected answer: Moderate effort required, 2-3 months for integration Impact on approach: Longer integration time might favor optimizing existing games

  • Regarding our team capacity, how are our resources currently allocated between new game development and existing game optimization?

Why it matters: Indicates our ability to pursue both strategies simultaneously Expected answer: 70% on existing games, 30% on new development Impact on approach: Limited new development resources might favor optimization

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Updated Jan 22, 2025