Why Behavior Data is the Secret Weapon for Game Studios

From Data Overload to Actionable Insights

Most studios collect data. Very few know what to do with it.

“Without insights, data is just numbers. It is the story behind the numbers that drives better decisions.” – Josh Plotnek, Keewano

Keewano solves this by combining fast data infrastructure with AI agents that find problems, explain them clearly, and recommend how to fix them.

What Makes Keewano Different

• AI-Powered Behavior Analysis: Their agents go beyond dashboards to uncover root causes of player issues.

• Ultra-Fast Infrastructure: Their custom database processes hundreds of millions of player events per second.

• Behavioral Maps: Visualize one billion events in under two seconds to understand where players are getting stuck.

• Instant Recommendations: The platform identifies problems, explains why they are happening, and recommends what to do next.

Example: If players churn at level 7, Keewano might trace that to a missed item in level 2. Traditional tools would miss that.

Player Behavior > Player Complaints

Studios often rely on Discord threads or app reviews for feedback. That’s risky.

“You might be fixing a problem that doesn't exist. Or worse, ignoring one that does.” – Josh

Why Surface-Level Feedback Can Mislead You

• Reviews are often emotional, not accurate.

• One five-star review could come from a bug-ridden experience.

• Loud complaints may not represent the majority.

Instead, focus on behavior. Look at what players do, not just what they say. If a player loses a battle and opens their inventory, that tells a very different story than someone who rage quits. Josh calls these recovery behaviors, and they reveal real intent.

How Small Studios Can Start Using Game Data

You do not need a full analytics team to make data work for you.

Start Simple With These Tools

• Unity Analytics or Firebase to track key actions

• In-game surveys triggered at key points like level completion

• Support tickets and app reviews to find patterns

• Twitch or YouTube playtests to watch players interact with your game

If you can spot early friction points, you can act on them before they scale into real issues. When you are ready to grow, Keewano offers a plug-and-play way to go deeper.

Core Metrics That Matter

Every studio should be tracking basic behavior and monetization metrics, no matter their size.

Essential Behavior Metrics

• Retention rate

• Churn rate

• Funnel drop-off points

• Feature adoption

Monetization Metrics

• Lifetime Value (LTV)

• Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)

These are not new metrics, but understanding why they are moving is where most teams struggle. That is where tools like Keewano shine. They turn raw numbers into plain-language insights so your whole team can act on them.

Frustration Can Be Good (Until It Is Not)

Not all frustration is bad. Some players will double down to beat a challenge. Others will leave and never come back.

“It is not whether a player is frustrated. It is what they do next that matters.” – Josh

Watch what happens after failure. Do they retry? Upgrade gear? Ask for a refund? These are signs of what Josh calls recovery behavior. If they bounce back, that frustration may actually deepen their engagement. If they quit, it is a red flag.

Data Is Not Scary. It Just Needs to Be Human

A lot of people get intimidated by data. That is understandable. But modern analytics platforms are evolving to be conversational.

“The best data tools let you ask a question and get a real answer.” – Josh

Keewano's chat interface lets anyone—whether they work in support, design, or marketing—ask a question and get back a clear, action-ready insight.

Final Thought: Just Start

If you are a small team, pick two or three metrics and start watching them. It might be session length. It might be tutorial completion. Whatever it is, start tracking it and learn from it.

“You cannot fix what you cannot see.” – Greg Posner

When you are ready to scale, platforms like Keewano help you go from guessing to knowing. You do not need to be a data expert. You just need to start asking better questions.

Want to learn more?
Visit the Keewano blog for industry insights, AI-driven analytics tips, and more.

And be sure to check out the full episode of Player Driven for more from Josh on content creation, SEO for gaming, and why behavior data is the future of player experience.