Lead with the Player Fantasy
Publisher scouts listen to dozens of pitches per week. Start with a cinematic elevator pitch that puts them in the player's shoes. Illustrate the emotional journey and why your team is the best to deliver it.
Bring a polished vertical slice with instrumented data. Show engagement, retention, and monetisation forecasts grounded in early playtests.
Roadmaps vs. Wishlists
Investors respect clarity. A three-phase roadmap with clear milestone gates shows you understand production realities. Avoid feature wishlists that inflate scope without resourcing.
Explain your tooling stack, team velocity, and contingency plans. Publisher deal teams want confidence that you can course-correct under pressure.
Negotiation Nuance
Know your BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement). Highlight previous partnerships, community traction, or incubation backers that strengthen your position.
Push for marketing commitments, localisation support, and expansion clauses. Publishers expect studios to negotiate—it's a sign of professionalism.
Key Takeaways
- Open with the player fantasy, supported by data from real playtests.
- Structured roadmaps signal production maturity.
- Enter negotiations with a clear BATNA and desired support clauses.