Discover the secrets of successful live service games
Discover the secrets of successful live service games
Readers are loving it
12+ years in live service games development and operations
games
platforms
Loved by top professionals in the gaming industry.
What Top Professionals say About ‘Live Outside of Game Updates’.
“A practical and thorough guide to live service game operations, balancing strategic frameworks with hands-on insights. Using clear visuals and real-world examples, Sergei and Vlad make complex concepts accessible, offering valuable tools for both newcomers and experienced professionals in the gaming industry.”
Joost van Dreunen.
Author of “One Up” · Startup Advisor · Lecturer at NYU Stern · Co-Founder of SuperData Research
“It’s a fantastic book filled with practical insights on developing live operations at your studio. I encourage everyone to get this book—it’s a great read, packed with actionable advice and mental models for day-to-day work. Highly recommended for everyone in gaming, even indie developers. Just get it!”
Michail Katkoff
Founder I Executive I Angel Investor I Deconstructor of Fun
“Running a live service game takes balancing art and science—player engagement, operations, and monetization.
Sergei’s forward-thinking approach extends LiveOps planning far beyond the usual day 7, tackling challenges up to day 270 and beyond. This book equips developers with the strategies to thrive.”
Mo Firouz
Co-founder of Heroic Labs
“A must-read for anyone involved in live service games, and for those who hope to be. Concise, thoughtfully written and full of invaluable insights!”
William Collis
Author, The Book of Esports
Live outside of game updates
Read this 250-page book by me and Vlad Dubrovskyi to turn player engagement into revenue streams for the next 10+ years
While others follow trends, you’ll be setting a framework that will skyrocket retention and unlock your game’s true financial potential. Learn the smart, scalable techniques for running engaging events, personalizing player experiences, and monetizing with precision.
This isn’t just another game dev guide. With these LiveOps secrets, you’ll not only captivate your players—you’ll make them your game’s co-creators, building a thriving community that drives revenue.
This is your playbook—for anyone in live service games or those who want to break into the industry and make a lasting impact.
WHAT THE BOOK WILL TEACH YOU
Why all the unicorns in this book?
Well, the credit goes to my daughter, Masha.
Back in August 2019, as I was gearing up for a streaming session, Masha laid one of her unicorn drawings in front of me and said, ‘Here’s a unicorn for you, it will help.’ And it sure did! That’s why you’ll find unicorns throughout these pages
Part I
Game-as-a-Business
You’ll see how gaming shifted from simply selling units to keeping players engaged for the long term. You’ll learn how live service games changed everything, turning players’ time into profit. Why does this matter to you? Because it’s no longer just about gameplay—it’s about creating ecosystems that drive value.
Part II
Live Outside of Game Updates
You’ll learn how to add real value to your live service game. Using the “3 LAPs of Operations” framework, you’ll discover how to turn your gameplay into a personal journey for your players. How do you know who to target, what to offer, or how to engage? This part has the answers.
Part III
LiveOps Techniques
You’ll master live service games by focusing on their “North Star”: Lifetime Value (LTV). How do you balance engagement and monetization? How do events and personalization boost your game? Find out here!
Part IV
Competing Through Operations.
You’ll explore three essential areas – Operations Management, Toolset, and Analytics – that form a powerful framework for studio efficiency. How can you align operations with your game’s needs? How do you turn player value into winning strategies? This section has the answers.
Part V
People’s LiveOps
You’ll dive into the future of gaming: community-driven LiveOps. How can players become co-creators of your game’s journey? How do studios adapt to this cultural shift and embrace user-generated content? Discover the answers as you explore a new era of Game-as-a-Platform.
Leading through Curiosity, Relationships, and Results
I’m a Leader, Author, Speaker, Educator, Dreamer, Player, Father and Husband.
SPEAKER
He is a published author and regular contributor to leading gaming industry resources, offering expert insights and practical strategies for thriving in the live-service gaming space.
AUTHOR
He is a published author and regular contributor to leading gaming industry resources, offering expert insights and practical strategies for thriving in the live-service gaming space.
LEADER
Sergei is a visionary leader in the gaming industry, known for building high-performing teams and driving innovation in live service games operations, balancing creativity with business results.
EDUCATOR
He loves sharing his knowledge with the next generation through his online Game LiveOps Course, helping young talents master the art of live-service gaming and build lasting success.
2024 new release
Learn how to make players stick with your game longer
perfect for
Gaming Professionals, Career Explorers, and Young Talents
Gaming professionals
Whether you’re a software engineer, marketing expert, or publishing manager, this guide equips you with the tools and frameworks needed to excel. Tackle player retention, drive monetization, and foster community engagement while creating lasting value in your work.
Career Explorers
If you’re a professional looking to transition into the gaming industry, this guide is your roadmap.
With practical frameworks and insights, it helps you leverage your expertise in marketing, sales, or media to tackle player retention, monetization, and community engagement with confidence.
Young talents
Whether you’re a recent graduate in marketing, computer science, or design, this guide provides the essential tools, frameworks, and strategies to launch your career in gaming.
Learn how to build player engagement, drive monetization, and create operational excellence from day one.