Your Guide to the Perfect Game Marketing Press Release

by Game Marketing Genie, on 01-Dec-2020 09:35:29

Is it enough to have a great game? Not if your audience doesn't know about it. Working on a press release with your game's launch or updates is one of the best ways to create that spark. And if you're not out there announcing your news, you can bet your competitors are filling that space.

Let's delve deeper into understanding a press release and how it can help you market your game.

What is a press release, anyway? 

Also known as a news release, media release, or press statement, a press release is an official announcement a company releases stating updates, launches, news, new features, and more.

A good press release talks about the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of your news. Unlike other articles, it’s a concise, brief write-up covering everything necessary for the press and your audience. Usually written in a third-person format, this write-up should tell the facts only without trying to seem like you’re selling something. If exaggerated, it may sound more like a sales pitch, which can prevent journalists from covering your story. A press release should only have enough information to help people understand what you’re announcing and why - don’t give it all away! 

The coverage, visibility, traffic, and engagement rate received through press releases cannot be underestimated. But when is it the right time for you?

Person reading paper

When is a good time to release one for your game?

A press release will only provide value when you release it at the right time. After all, what interest will your audience have if you’ve got nothing to say? Here are a few of the best times a gaming studio should start working on a press release.

New games

Generating hype with a press release when you launch a new game is a great way to bring it to the forefront of your audience’s mind. Tease the features of your game, and get your audience excited! This type of release usually speaks about the specifics of the game, availability, pricing, and must-know details. 

Updates

Working on a press statement for your game’s latest update or new DLC is a great way to get new and old players back! Let your audience know when it’s coming, what it adds, and why it’s a great reason to jump back into your game.

Events

A press release is a great way to let your audience know if you’re hosting a panel, getting a stand, or showcasing your game at a gaming convention like PAX. This can lead to your brand and game being mentioned in guides to events published on popular news sites — and who doesn’t want that?

Partnerships, funding, business achievements

New business partnerships between companies or merger and acquisition news always catch media outlets' attention. In a gaming sense, this could be anything from a collab event between games to a sponsorship with Coca-Cola. 

Likewise, press releases that detail that your company has received funding, achieved something, or won an award help position you as a brand worth watching. 

Awards

You won an award; now what? Tell the world with a press release, of course! We've all seen them — gaming websites with "GAME OF THE YEAR" splashed across every available section. And for good reason - these accomplishments are worth telling your audience about because it encourages them to buy. 

Grey clock

What will a gaming press release commonly include? 

A press release is like a recipe, full of juicy ingredients that must be combined in order to get the desired results. So, what ingredients will your game's press release need? Here are a few of the most common:

Title

The title plays a crucial role in grabbing the attention of journalists keen for a good story. But you’ll also need to work on a sub-headline as well.  These elements should succinctly tell readers what the press release is about and pique their interest in a few short words. This content must be blunt, straightforward, and concise — try not to exceed more than 15ish words.

Date

Telling your audience that you’ve got a new game, update, or more is all well and good, but what’s the point if they don’t know when they’ll be able to get it? This is especially crucial if it has been something they’ve been waiting for or will have to wait a long time for. A great example of this was CDProjekt’s release for the postponement of Cyberpunk 2077. They told their audience what was happening, why it was happening, and why it was worth waiting for all within 500 words — and, notably, included a date to keep players informed.

Price

Don’t be afraid to mention the price! This will help weed out those who aren’t committed to purchasing your game and give your audience a chance to prepare to put aside a few extra dollars. It is also vital to be upfront from the start.

Platforms

This is a crucial piece of information that you must include, as this will limit your target audience. Make it clear that your game is only initially available on the PlayStation 5, for example, and let the audience know that it may be released for other platforms later.

News

The main news in your press release needs to exist in the first sentence at least and the first paragraph at most. Most journalists will stop reading after the first paragraph, so you need to weave your information here, highlighting the "who, what, when, where, and why" questions and expanding on them in the remaining paragraphs. The information in this section will decide if your press release is a winner in the reader's eyes. If you can grab their attention quickly, then you're in luck!

Game description

What's your game about? This is important to include regardless of whether or not it's a new or updated game, as you've got the opportunity to reel in new players and bring back old ones. Tell your story from the reader's point of view — make them understand the game as they read about it. Stir up some emotions by including your unique selling proposition (USP), which will tell your audience why they should play your game. However, you need to ensure that your description is short, concise, and to the point. 

Quotes

Adding a quote from the head of development or one of your designers will help give your audience an inside look into your game. Plus, journalists favor these — so don’t forget to include one!

Assets

Images, GIFs, videos, and more, oh my! It is crucial to include high-quality assets from your game which show off thrilling gameplay, beautiful environments, and detailed characters if you want your press release to connect with journalists and your audience. As they say, seeing is believing!

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Dos and don’ts

There are many ways to go wrong when creating your press release, and you only have limited space. Let us try some quick dos and don’ts to ensure your release is leveled up!

DO: Highlight the game or studio’s name in the title of the email

Make sure to include your game and/or studio name in the email’s title. This is an attention grabber and gives journalists a quick gist of what the email will be about. 

DON’T: Be clickbait-y

Avoid using any clickbait-y sentences or negative headlines for your PR write-up. Put effort into creating copy that intrigues your audience without misleading them!

DO: Put “press release” in the subject line

When sending your press release to journalists via email, DM or more, ensure that you mention that it is one in the subject line. 

DON’T: Include too much

As mentioned before, your press release should be to the point and straightforward. Only include what’s necessary — don’t give it all away! 

DO: Provide game codes

If you’ve got any codes (demo, save state, or otherwise) that will help journalists get an idea of your game, include them! Your press release may be an early review — but it should still be indicative of your entire game!

DON’T: Try and sell your game

Avoid making your headlines and write-up sound like a sales pitch. You’re not trying to sell, but rather inform.

DO: Include high quality images/video

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, your assets must be high quality! Don’t forget to include your logo or any branding as well.

DON’T: Waffle on about how good the game is

Tooting your own horn won’t do you any favors. Be informative, and let the audience decide.

 

Do and don't written on pages


Press releases are a major part of the marketing strategy process, and you need them for your game to make it! But we understand that it can be hard to design the perfect video game marketing press release.

That’s why you need the leading game marketing agency to help your game succeed on its quest. Game Marketing Genie is powered by a team of game marketing professionals that will help you craft the best press release that will be a game changer for your brand. 

Spread the word about what you've got to offer with us! Let's chat!

Topics:Video Game Marketing StrategyVideo Game MarketingDigital Marketing StrategyDigital MarketingPR and Comms

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