Partners in Success: How GPORTAL and Stunlock Studios Collaborated on V Rising

Stunlock Studios, renowned for competitive multiplayer games like Bloodline Champions and Battlerite, took a different approach with V Rising, blending base-building and monster hunting to create a massive multiplayer hit in 2022. At its peak, the game engaged 150,000 players. GPORTAL, a global server hosting company celebrating its 20th anniversary, offers private servers for over 100 games, including Minecraft and Conan: Exiles. The company reached out to Stunlock Studios in early 2021, recognizing V Rising's potential. In this interview, Stunlock Studios' 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. Frisegård explains that Stunlock Studios sought to innovate with V Rising, creating a unique PvE-focused multiplayer experience. Private server hosting was part of the plan, allowing players more control and fostering a sense of community. When GPORTAL approached them, Stunlock Studios was excited about the company's expertise in private server hosting and commitment to quality. The partnership enabled the studio to streamline infrastructure planning and optimize server management. Kübler notes that GPORTAL's approach involves extensive research on potential partner studios and their games, with timing being crucial. The key to successful partnerships is staying in touch and exchanging ideas regularly. GPORTAL's involvement positively impacted V Rising's development and launch costs, with private servers playing a significant role in the game's successful launch. Both Frisegård and Kübler emphasize the importance of the relationship between game studios and hosting providers for a successful launch, highlighting the need for communication and a shared vision. GPORTAL's support during the launch improved the player experience through stable and low-latency servers. Frisegård and Kübler advise game studios to prioritize communication, shared vision, and expertise when seeking hosting partnerships, and to choose a provider that understands their game's requirements and is committed to delivering the best player experience.