Ways to market a new video game on a budget  

As featured in magazines and in the news, gaming is a highly lucrative area of entertainment. As a result, ambitious developers and independent companies are aiming to get in on the action. However, once a video game on a budget has been developed, marketing it effectively can be tricky.

After all, compared to some of the major players out there, such as Nintendo and Epic Games, many game-makers don’t have large budgets at their disposal. It shouldn’t put any aspiring game developers off, though. Whether you’re aiming to market a spine-chilling online roulette game like Spooky Roulette in time for a Halloween release or you’ve developed a battle royale product that has the potential to rival Apex Legends, there are some affordable marketing methods you can consider employing.  

Some Effective Ways to Market a New Video Game on a Budget

1. Aim to Build a Community

First and foremost, in order to create a buzz around the upcoming release of your video game on a budget, building a community is essential. In order to do this, you need to establish an online presence and share various updates with your engaged community. Be it on TikTok, X, or Discord, you can share any exciting new details with gamers and keep them firmly in the loop with any big new developments. In turn, it allows them to feel like they’re a part of the process. Then, when the game is complete, you’ll have access to a population of gamers who have been there on the journey with you.  

2. Create a Website

Another sure-fire way to make your game look even more official is by creating a website solely dedicated to it. This can not only give you an online destination to share snippets of the release or even interviews with the designers behind it, but you can also create mailing lists and even add a forum to help generate discussions around the game. Your website can also be shared with the aforementioned community you’re building.  

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3. Short-Form Videos Are a Must

In today’s world, consumers generally don’t have the time to watch long videos filled with information. However, thanks to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, there is room for short-form videos. As users scroll down their timelines, they’re more likely to watch a short video of your video game on a budget than an hour-long documentary on how you came up with the idea. Make sure your short-form videos are entertaining and informative, while also ensuring there’s a hook in there to get some potential players on board, be it with a sign-up feature or a special offer.  

4. Influencer Marketing Can Work

While you almost certainly don’t want to team up with food influencers and fitness creators, finding the right gaming influencers to join forces with can really help. Sure, it might involve some investment, but influencer marketing essentially allows you to tap into audiences who are already diehard gamers themselves. All micro-influencers have large communities who trust their opinions, meaning you can promote your game to plenty of people without having to allocate most of your budget to it. Whether you pay per post or a monthly fee, finding the right influencers to champion your game can go a long way.  

5. Demos Are Vital

Perhaps by housing it on your website or on a gaming platform, demos are another sure-fire way of bringing some much-needed attention to your video game on a budget. Releasing a demo doesn’t just enable gamers to get a taste of it, either; it gives them a chance to leave invaluable feedback. A guaranteed way to build excitement and spread the word about your game, a free demo is definitely recommended.