Essential Sound Design Considerations for Upgrading Live Service Mobile Games

The rise of live service games has transformed the game development process into an ongoing, iterative cycle. To maintain player engagement, these games regularly introduce new content, such as season passes, DLC expansions, and fresh chapters, which keeps the experience feeling novel yet familiar. As a result, the creative resources required to support these games also evolve and expand over time. Whether you're joining a studio team or working as an outsourced audio producer, you'll face unique challenges and expectations when updating and expanding sound assets for games with established groundwork. A key consideration is the condensed timeline for new content, given that the core game's audio profile is already in place. To succeed, quickly absorb essential details about the existing sound design, including how it contributes to the game's stylistic expectations and overall identity. For instance, when updating the sounds for a character like Franco in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, we focused on creating heavy, earthy, and metallic sounds that fit his dwarven character, while incorporating additional layers to add depth and complexity. When recording new sounds, don't get bogged down in perfecting a single effect – instead, test multiple ideas rapidly to arrive at the desired outcome. It's also crucial to preserve the integrity of the existing sound design while improving its fit with current game elements, such as actions, animations, and graphics. Live service games are constantly evolving, making it essential to refresh and revitalize existing characters to combat stagnation and re-engage players. By leveraging sound libraries, you can establish a baseline for sound quality and kickstart your creative process, even with tight deadlines. However, always consider the technical limitations of mobile devices and the potential playing environments, such as public spaces, to ensure your audio design is effective and respectful. Testing your sounds in various contexts, including different devices and headphones, will help you refine your design and prevent player fatigue. Ultimately, by being mindful of these considerations and adapting your sound design approach, you can create an engaging and immersive experience for players, even within the constraints of live service game development.