We learned from early experiences that players would leave Highrise for other platforms once they exhausted the game's content, highlighting the need for a strong social component.

We realized pretty quickly that even though we focused on specific games, people were using Discord for all kinds of multiplayer gaming.

The social-first approach addresses the challenge of retaining player attention by fostering friendships within the game, which keeps players engaged long-term.

Unlike traditional game design, which often adds social features as an afterthought, we start with community elements like guilds and profiles, then incorporate gameplay.

In the early days, investors rejected our multiplayer game idea because they doubted its potential for success, which ultimately led us to pivot to Discord.

Building a community around a game is crucial; minimizing the friction for players to join and enjoy the game fosters growth and engagement.

Finding shared interests, like music or sports, can create a sense of community and connection, even among diverse individuals.

Our design philosophy, called 'social first', prioritizes community features and social interactions before integrating game mechanics.

We all had moments where we impressed each other, which contributed to our strong team dynamic despite occasional disappointments.