Partnership Success: How GPORTAL and Stunlock Studios Achieved a Smooth Launch for V Rising

Stunlock Studios, renowned for their competitive multiplayer titles like Bloodline Champions and Battlerite, ventured into new territory with V Rising, a base-building and monster-hunting game that attracted 150,000 players at its peak. The studio, founded in 2010 in Sködve, Sweden, opted for a different approach with V Rising, incorporating private server hosting from the outset to foster a sense of community and player control. GPORTAL, a German-based server hoster celebrating its 20th anniversary, offers private servers for over 100 games, including Minecraft and Conan: Exiles. The company approached Stunlock Studios in early 2021, recognizing the potential of V Rising. In an interview, CEO Rickard Frisegård and GPORTAL's Head of Business Development, Lars Kübler, discuss their initial contact, partnership experiences, and thoughts on server hosting in the gaming industry. The decision to switch to a PvE-focused multiplayer game with private server hosting was driven by Stunlock Studios' desire to innovate and explore new genres. Private server hosting enables players to have more control over their gaming experience, creating a sense of community and loyalty. Compared to centralized server solutions, private server hosting offers more flexibility, allowing for better scaling and a smoother player experience. When GPORTAL approached Stunlock Studios, the studio was excited about the company's expertise in private server hosting and commitment to providing a high-quality gaming experience. The partnership was formed based on a shared vision of delivering a stable and high-performance experience for players. GPORTAL's involvement allowed Stunlock Studios to streamline infrastructure planning and optimize server management. GPORTAL's approach to partnering with game studios involves extensive research and understanding of the game and studio. Timing is crucial, and the company stays in touch with studios, exchanging ideas regularly to find the perfect moment to discuss multiplayer and server hosting. The partnership between Stunlock Studios and GPORTAL had a positive impact on the cost and profitability of V Rising's development and launch. GPORTAL's private servers played a significant role in ensuring a successful launch, and the company's support during the launch improved the overall player experience by providing stable and low-latency servers. The relationship between a game studio and a game hoster is vital for a successful launch, as it ensures the game's infrastructure can handle player demand and provides a smooth gaming experience. Communication is key, and both parties must clarify their expectations and goals. GPORTAL's support during the launch was instrumental in improving the player experience, and the company's expertise in server management and commitment to performance set them apart from other hosting providers. The benefits of working with a hosting company before and during development include better infrastructure planning, optimization, and a smoother gaming experience. Collaborating with a hosting provider like GPORTAL during Early Access allows for gathering player feedback, making necessary improvements, and providing a stable gaming environment. The availability of private servers during Early Access and ongoing development enables more robust testing and a closer connection with the community. Stunlock Studios and GPORTAL foresee a continued partnership, with the hosting provider proving to be trustworthy and capable. The studio would consider working with GPORTAL again for future projects, citing their expertise in server management and commitment to performance. The advice to other game studios looking for similar partnerships is to prioritize communication, shared vision, and expertise, and to choose a hosting provider that understands the game's requirements and is committed to providing the best possible experience for players.