Launching your indie MMO: what the first 90 days look like

Getting your first 100 concurrent players is the hardest part of launching any online game. It's a cold-start problem: players want other players, and players need a reason to show up before there are other players. Here's what works.

List early, not late

The biggest mistake small-studio launches make is waiting until the game is "ready" to list it. Listing early builds a wishlist audience — people who heart the game page and get notified when the server goes live.

Let your community run the word-of-mouth

Hearts on MMOLove are social proof. Every player who loves your server becomes a recruiter. Make it easy: link to your MMOLove page in your Discord, your website, and your in-game MOTD.

The first 30 days set the tone

New servers appear in the "Newly Added" section on the homepage. This window drives a spike of organic curiosity traffic. Use it — have your major content and your onboarding sharp before you go live, not after.

What the Spotlight can do

For targeted reach, the daily Spotlight puts your server in front of every MMOLove visitor for a full day — clearly labelled as a promoted slot, but at the top of the page. Most launches find one Spotlight booking pays for itself many times over in new registrations.

Ready to list your project? It's free: get started here.