As Chief Product Officer (CPO) at InnoGames, Christian Reshöft oversees both games in development and the ongoing management of the studio’s robust live portfolio. With over 20 years in the industry and past roles at Blizzard, Jagex, and Miniclip, Reshöft brings deep insight into long-term game success and sustainable design.
In this exclusive interview with GamingonPhone, Christian talks about the DNA of evergreen games, how browser titles still play a vital role, and what excites him most about InnoGames’ future.
Note: This interview is edited for clarity.
Sustaining Long-Term Player Engagement in Live Service Titles
We asked Christian what InnoGames’ secret is to keeping titles like Forge of Empires thriving more than a decade after launch. According to Christian, it comes down to core principles: “Ultimately, it’s a combination of relentless live-ops discipline and systems that stand the test of time.”
He explained that InnoGames designs titles to be expandable from the beginning, with flexibility built in to allow new features and mechanics to be layered in without disrupting the core. Just as crucial is player feedback. “Data tells us what they do; the community tells us why,” he noted.
For Reshöft, even tasks like rebalancing and system maintenance are treated as core features that future-proof the product.
Why Browser Gaming Still Matters in a Mobile World
While other developers pivoted entirely to mobile, InnoGames has maintained strong browser support. Christian pointed out that the platform is often undervalued: “The browser space is often overlooked by the industry since browser KPIs are not widely visible. However, for us, the browser remains a key platform.”
He noted that InnoGames treats the browser as its own “doorway” to players, an asset that allows greater freedom. However, the team doesn’t treat browser as standalone. “We focus on cross-platform gaming, which allows players to choose the right device for each occasion and helps us mitigate the impact of changes to platform policies.”
Mobile Growth and Global Audiences
With mobile now accounting for 43% of the company’s revenue, Christian clarified that this shift wasn’t a reactive pivot, but a deliberate strategy. “It was a proactive move that wasn’t easy for us, but we simply had to be on mobile. That was where our future growth was going to come from.”
Their approach to cross-platform was hybrid: mobile first, but with continued support for browser. “Mobile became the primary growth driver, but never at the expense of the browser experience.”
InnoGames has found success across very different markets like the U.S., Germany, and France. We asked how they keep their content relevant to such diverse audiences. “We think in terms of three layers: universal systems, regionalized events and narratives, and localized UA and creatives,” Christian explained.
He highlighted Heroes of History as an example, where certain heroes are popular only in specific regions. “Ultimately, it is the community that tells us what it likes and dislikes, and we react accordingly.” That’s where InnoGames’ feedback systems like beta servers and forums come into play.
Factors for Success and Huge Potential of Heroes of History
We were curious if there’s a specific moment when a studio knows it’s made a long-term hit. According to Christian, “four factors must come together: Cohorts that stabilize at a high level with great retention, sustainable content velocity, repeat event participation that improves rather than deteriorates, and, most importantly, a community that self-organizes with guides, Discords, tools, etc.”
If a game reaches that stage, the team knows it has long-term staying power. Christian added, “That’s when you know that the loop will continue for years.”
InnoGames believes its latest game, Heroes of History, has the potential to join Forge of Empires as one of its evergreen titles. “Heroes of History follows our evergreen playbook,” Christian said. It combines flexible city building, collectible systems, and fast live-ops capabilities.
He confirmed the team is already seeing signs of strong engagement and has major plans for the near future: “As we approach the game’s one-year anniversary, we have big plans to enhance the meta, expand the roster of heroes, and speed up the live-ops cadence.”
Working Within MTG and Long-Term Growth
InnoGames has been part of Modern Times Group (MTG) for several years, and with studios like Plarium now in the group, we asked whether that’s changed how they operate. “We remain product-autonomous but have access to a larger network of knowledge and tools,” Christian shared.
There’s a growing exchange of expertise within the MTG Gaming Village, especially around user acquisition, business intelligence, and experimentation. “Insights flow between us and our sister companies, enabling us to take smarter risks while staying focused on our core strengths.”
Unlike many studios that chase blockbuster launches, InnoGames emphasizes sustainable growth. Christian explained, “We reward long-term impact rather than launch spikes and celebrate multi-year improvements just as much as launches.”
That mindset extends to hiring too. “We also spend much effort on identifying and hiring people who fit our mindset, i.e. enjoy developing a game over years and watching their vision mature.” Trends are evaluated with care. “We don’t just jump on the latest trend, we defend our focus.”
Players as Partners in Shaping Games
Player feedback isn’t just welcomed, it’s deeply embedded in how InnoGames operates. Christian confirmed that community hypotheses often shape testing and updates: “We do not outsource decisions, but beta worlds, surveys, forum votes, and structured A/B tests often originate from player hypotheses.”
This two-way feedback loop has been critical to the continued success of Forge of Empires and Tribal Wars. “They would not have performed at such a high level for over 10 and 20 years respectively if we had not listened closely and acted on what we had learnt.”
AI as a Force Multiplier, Not a Replacement
We wrapped up by asking about generative AI. Christian was clear-eyed about its impact: “We have integrated generative AI tools into our artwork and engineering workflows, and we are very excited about the potential of agentic coding to transform our work.”
He believes Gen AI has already broken the “cost and quality barrier” and is now a modern work essential. But InnoGames remains careful. “We will promote its healthy use to ensure that nobody’s core skills become obsolete. Those who use Gen AI effectively will outperform and outlearn those who do not.”
Importantly, creative control remains in human hands. “We remain firmly in control of taste, creativity, and ethics.”
Looking Ahead: “Long Term Growth beats Chasing Hits”
Christian concluded the interview with a look toward the future. “I am looking forward to proving time and time again that sustainable, long-term growth beats chasing hits.”
With fresh ideas flowing from both legacy IPs and new projects, and a broader knowledge network from MTG, he’s optimistic about what’s next. “Our ultimate goal is to create the classics of the next decade, all the while ensuring that games like Forge of Empires and Tribal Wars remain popular for many years to come.”
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