Razer and Side have introduced a comprehensive playtesting solution that may slash costs by as much as 80%
Side, a video game services company, has partnered with tech and hardware giant Razer to introduce a playtesting solution capable of engaging over 100,000 participants.
This initiative, called 'Razer Cortex: Playtest Program – Powered by Side', is integrated within the Razer Cortex launcher, which combines gaming from platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store with features such as video recording.
Through the 'Playtest' tab on Cortex, players can enlist as playtesters. Users must agree to non-disclosure agreements to gain access to pre-release game builds.
Cortex monitors both playtime and performance, allowing players to submit detailed feedback on game preferences and bugs encountered. Participants earn Razer Silver for reaching certain playtime achievements, which can be traded for items like headphones.
With over 50 million users globally, Cortex provides game developers with a broad and diverse pool of potential playtesters.
During Gamescom, GamesIndustry.biz interviewed Harlan Beverly, Side's CTO, about the novel system.
"We're revolutionizing playtesting," Beverly commented.
Traditionally, playtesting involved hiring a small group of gamers, recording their gameplay, and conducting interviews, he describes.
However, with the new program's security measures and NDA framework, a large-scale, pre-alpha testing phase is now feasible.
The program's standout feature is its use of AI to analyze vast amounts of feedback, providing developers with actionable insights swiftly.
"Handling feedback from 100,000 players is challenging," says Beverly. The AI assists by identifying important trends amidst the data.
This tool generates a comprehensive spreadsheet summarizing anonymized player feedback, including strengths and areas for improvement.
"If you get caught leaking stuff, then you're going to lose your Razer Silver and Razer account"
Harlan Beverly, Side
Beverly highlights another AI function that merges duplicate bug reports, ensuring efficiency. The AI identifies similar bugs regardless of varied reporting terminology, combining them as a single issue.
The system further simplifies issue tracking by automatically creating Jira tickets for each bug.
The potential for leaks from providing thousands with access to unreleased games is mitigated by strict NDA clauses. "Violations will result in loss of Razer Silver and account," Beverly warns.
Companies can also restrict playtesting groups to trusted players with specific eligibility requirements.
The Playtest Program not only allows for extensive testing but is also more cost-effective compared to traditional playtester recruitment methods, according to Beverly.
He projects that this system can cut costs by as much as 80% compared to hiring playtesters on an hourly basis.
Razer's director of technology, Eric Vezzoli, is optimistic about the program's transformative potential. "We believe it will be a breakthrough," he asserts.