Every server goes through quiet spells. Developers cannot release content as fast as players use it: a patch that took months to build can be finished in a few days. The gap between updates is where communities lose people, and where a good owner can pull ahead. These four ideas add hours of new content for very little effort.
Add some mods
Mod creators are free to break from a game's lore and ignore the balance rules a studio has to follow, so mods open up a huge amount of new content. Most popular games have a large library of mods, usually through the Steam Workshop or the game's own mod tools.
When you choose mods:
- Look for mods that are kept up to date with recent patches, so they do not conflict or break after an update.
- Read about each one before installing it. Does it change how the whole server plays? Does it make things overpowered?
- If you want an experience close to the original game, stick to quality-of-life mods that improve it without changing it.
- Add mods one at a time and test as you go, so if something goes wrong you know which one caused it. See How to Diagnose and Fix Game Server Lag for why this matters.
Let your players vote on mods
Do not assume you know what your players want. It is easy to add something because it is popular elsewhere and then find your own community does not care for it. Put a shortlist to a quick poll first. It tells you whether you and your players want the same things, and it makes people feel their opinion counts.
Hold events
A well-planned event can lift a quiet server almost overnight. Ideas include scavenger hunts, server-wide boss fights and base-building contests. They also give players new goals to work towards.
Keep rewards fair. Game developers make seasonal events mostly cosmetic for a reason: not everyone can log in when the event runs, and nobody wants to miss out on a lasting advantage. Follow the same rule and nobody will feel left out.
Plan for content droughts
You usually know when the quiet stretches between patches will be, so prepare for them instead of reacting. Options include:
- A planned event or challenge calendar.
- A fresh wipe, which suits competitive PvP communities especially well.
- Time-consuming projects that give players a long-term goal.
Use these with care. Some players enjoy trying new bases and locations, while others want to keep building on what they already have and will not thank you for taking it away. Ask your community what they want and build on their ideas.
Keep it up
None of this needs to be elaborate. The servers that stay active are usually the ones where something is always about to happen. For more on keeping players around, read How to Keep Your Players Active and Engaged.
Community & Growth
Community & Growth
Community & Growth