Why games should start leveraging UGC

The gaming industry is perpetually evolving, and User-Generated Content (UGC) is the next step to climb.

As gamers, developers, and creators continually seek new ways to innovate and engage, the incorporation of UGC has emerged as a pivotal force shaping gaming experiences, allowing for endless content possibilities and increased in-game customization. From personalized modifications to community-created content, UGC has become an instrumental force, propelling games beyond their static boundaries.

Industry-leading games are massively investing in ugc

The gaming landscape is witnessing a significant shift towards UGC adoption. Major titles like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft have showcased the immense potential of UGC in extending gameplay and captivating players long after initial releases.

Roblox now offers users the Roblox Assistant, an AI-powered tool enabling the creation of 3D models and interactive behaviors within games through simple and natural language commands. Since the introduction of genAI features on Roblox, there has been a 50% increase in newly added game assets. While the younger generations of gamers crave for more and more customization, Roblox perfectly recognized that the only way to meet this endless need is by letting players create what they want for themselves.This paradigm shift represents not just a trend but a fundamental change in how players engage with and contribute to gaming experiences, laying the groundwork for a more dynamic gaming landscape.

Ugc brings greater player engagement

How can a game that was launched two console generations ago, celebrating its eighth anniversary, still reign as number one on Twitch charts? This is the question on the lips of many in 2021, as GTA V reclaimed the long-standing throne from League of Legends. Well, thanks to modding and user-generated content. The release of GTA V RolePlay (RP) servers on FiveM, the most popular modding platform for the game to date, created a shockwave as the GTA V viewership on Twitch skyrocketed by 500% the following month.

While the GTA Online Content Creator allowed players to craft custom levels such as races or missions since 2013, gamers desired a deeper level of customization. They yearned to personalize the entire experience, spanning new assets like characters, vehicles, buildings, emotes, and more. Faced with limitations in delivering consistent content, Rockstar opted to embrace modding, enabling user-generated content creation within their game—provided it remained non-monetized and didn’t negatively impact others' gameplay.

Consequently, as of December 2023, GTA V ranks as the 5th most played game on Steam. Games above GTA V are competitive online games (Apex Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2) that do not rely as heavily on content addition as GTA does. Without enabling modding and UGC, Rockstar’s flagship game would undoubtedly not reach that rank.

Ugc features are very challenging to design and deploy

The integration of User-Generated Content (UGC) into the fabric of video games introduces a multifaceted challenge for developers. While UGC promises a wealth of possibilities, its complexity arises from several intricate facets.

First of all, crafting tools that allow users to generate content demands a delicate blend of simplicity and robustness: these tools must empower users while maintaining flexibility and yet limitations to maintain a sane in-game experience. Additionally, allowing UGC necessitates robust moderation systems to ensure content meets quality benchmarks and aligns with the game's tone. Effectively filtering out inappropriate or harmful material demands an intricate balance between openness and vigilance. Finally, systems supporting UGC need to handle a vast amount of data while ensuring compatibility across various platforms and game versions. Maintaining a seamless experience for players while handling large volumes of user content presents a significant technical challenge.

Kinetix's user-generated emote revolutionizes the access to ugc

Amidst these challenges, innovative solutions like Kinetix's User-Generated Emote feature present game-changing opportunities. Kinetix's AI-powered technology empowers gamers to create custom emotes directly within the game, offering a simplified yet robust avenue to access UGC. All it takes is a phone camera or any video for players to create the emote they want, and then access endless customization and self-expression capabilities.

Emotes serve as a pivotal asset by enabling players to express themselves uniquely within the game, fostering deeper connections and augmenting engagement through personalized and interactive experiences. Unfortunately, emotes are a very complex asset to build on a regular basis, especially when trying to keep up with the dancing trends from TikTok and the entertainment industries. Kinetix's generative AI simplifies this process, empowering players to directly create their dream emotes, without requiring developers to spend several hours or days to create an emote, and possibly miss the trend.

By bridging the gap between imagination and reality within the gaming universe, Kinetix's pioneering UGC tools pave the way for a future where players become creators, fostering a more dynamic and interactive gaming ecosystem.

Conclusion

UGC stands as a transformative force in gaming, seen in platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, and the modding success of GTA V. It doesn't just introduce content; it revolutionizes player engagement, extending gameplay, and fostering collaborative environments. Embracing this power, Kinetix's User-Generated Emote feature simplifies creative expression, promising a future where players shape their adventures. As UGC continues to evolve, it's clear: the future of gaming is about co-creation, engagement, and limitless possibilities.

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