How to Boost Early‑Game Monetization: Design Strategies for New Player Experience

As living standards rise, games have become a mainstream leisure and social activity. In 2021 China’s game market generated ¥296.5 billion, but growth slowed, and consumer confidence fluctuated due to the pandemic and global economy.

Factor 1: How Are Payment Modules and Content Unlocked?

Developers aim to integrate paid features without harming the tutorial experience. Common unlock methods include:

Interleaving paid content during the new‑player tutorial. For example, the game "Nishuihan" adds a first‑recharge pack containing a waist pouch that directly solves a common early‑game pain point.

Independent unlock after completing a tutorial stage. In "Diablo Immortal" , distinct tutorial phases trigger pop‑up windows that reveal specific paid items.

No explicit unlock mechanism; players discover paid modules freely after the tutorial. UI cues such as highlights, larger icons, or red‑dot alerts guide players to the shop once the basic tutorial ends.

Factor 2: What Paid Content Appears in the Early Stage?

Choosing early‑stage paid items depends on priority, core gameplay relevance, and impact on the onboarding flow. Core paid points often align with core mechanics, e.g., gacha draws in "Onmyoji" . Typical early‑stage offers include first‑recharge packs, limited‑time discounts, monthly cards, and Battle Passes. Some long‑running titles lack a clear first‑recharge design.

Factor 3: Are There Operational Bottlenecks in the Payment Process?

User research reveals the main friction point: players often do not know what to buy during the tutorial. This stems from three situations:

Desired items are not introduced or pushed at all.

Items are introduced but players fail to notice them, often because UI cues (e.g., red dots) blend into a dark interface.

Store layout lacks clear hierarchy, making it hard for newcomers to locate premium items, as seen in the "Nishuihan" shop where numerous goods are grouped without visual priority.

Insufficient explanation of a paid item’s purpose, especially in bundle packs, reduces purchase confidence.

Conclusion

Competitive analysis combined with user research helps developers understand and improve early‑game monetization. Interviews, questionnaires, and real‑player feedback enable the identification of pain points and the refinement of design strategies, ultimately increasing players’ willingness to spend during the crucial onboarding period.