Should Origin prioritize expanding its game library or improving the performance and stability of its existing platform?

Introduction

The trade-off between expanding Origin's game library and improving the performance and stability of its existing platform is a critical decision that will shape the future of our gaming ecosystem. This scenario touches on the core aspects of user experience, content strategy, and technical infrastructure. I'll approach this analysis by examining the current state of Origin, evaluating the potential impacts of each option, and providing a data-driven recommendation for moving forward.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming Origin is facing increased competition in the gaming platform space. Could you provide more context on our market position and recent user growth trends?

Why it matters: Helps determine if we need to focus on user acquisition or retention Expected answer: Slowing growth, increased churn due to performance issues Impact on approach: Would lean towards improving platform stability

• Business Context: Based on our revenue model, I'm thinking game sales are our primary income source. How does our revenue split between game sales and subscription services currently look?

Why it matters: Influences whether we should prioritize library expansion or platform improvements Expected answer: 70% game sales, 30% subscriptions Impact on approach: Higher game sales would favor library expansion

• User Impact: Considering user segments, I'm guessing we have a mix of casual and hardcore gamers. Can you share any data on the distribution of our user base and their engagement levels?

Why it matters: Different user segments may prioritize library size vs. performance differently Expected answer: 60% casual, 40% hardcore, with hardcore users driving most revenue Impact on approach: Would need to balance improvements for both segments

• Technical: Given the focus on performance, I'm curious about our current technical debt. How severe are our stability issues, and what's causing them?

Why it matters: Determines the urgency and scope of needed platform improvements Expected answer: Significant issues during peak times, outdated infrastructure Impact on approach: Might necessitate prioritizing platform stability

• Resource: Thinking about our team capacity, how are our engineering resources currently allocated between new feature development and maintenance?

Why it matters: Affects our ability to tackle both library expansion and platform improvements Expected answer: 70% new features, 30% maintenance Impact on approach: Might need to reallocate resources for balanced improvement