Player Segmentation
Before launching your playtest, take time to plan how you’ll segment your players.
Segmentation defines who sees what, how they’re onboarded, and what access they receive after joining.
A well-defined segmentation plan helps you manage communication, reduce manual sorting, and provide the right experience for each group. Below we outline a good potential option to utilize - as with all of FirstLook though, feel free to customize and tailor to your specific needs.
Core Player Groups
Section titled “Core Player Groups”When setting up your playtest, plan for three primary groups:
- Public Playtesters – general audience members who sign up to test and provide feedback.
- Internal Team & Partners – team members, QA, and trusted collaborators.
- Creators & Media – streamers, influencers, or press receiving curated access.
Each of these should have its own Flow inside FirstLook.
Why Each Group Needs Its Own Flow
Section titled “Why Each Group Needs Its Own Flow”Each group should experience a tailored onboarding journey — including unique messaging, expectations, and access.
| Group | What to Emphasize | Access & Expectations |
|---|---|---|
| Public Playtesters | Clear testing goals, where to provide feedback, and how to get support. | Assigned standard keys for testing; may require an NDA; focus on user experience and feedback collection. |
| Internal Team & Partners | Notes about known issues, in-progress features, and build validation steps. | Assigned internal or early-access keys; may bypass certain onboarding steps; focus on validation and coordination. |
| Creators & Media | Polished presentation and transparent communication about content sharing and embargoes. | Assigned standard, limited-access or promotional keys; typically requires NDA; focus on professionalism and shareability. |
Each Flow has its own unique signup link, so try to direct people to the correct one from the start. This avoids confusion and reduces manual sorting later.
Gathering the Right Information
Section titled “Gathering the Right Information”When someone signs up, they aren’t automatically added to the playtest — they join the Waitlist.
Your studio decides who to invite from that waitlist before each test begins.
Use Signup Questions in your onboarding flow to collect information that helps you decide who to invite.
These questions help you understand if a player fits the needs of the test, not to assign roles automatically.
Useful examples:
- How often do you play games?
- What types of games do you typically play?
- List a few recent games you’ve played.
- What are your PC specs or console hardware details?
Keep these questions focused on practical insights that help you select qualified participants.
Inviting Players from the Waitlist
Section titled “Inviting Players from the Waitlist”Once you’ve reviewed responses, you can invite selected players to participate in the playtest.
Each flow has a default role, but invites can also specify a particular FirstLook Role — which determines:
- Whether they need to sign an NDA
- Which key or build they receive
- Which Discord roles they get after onboarding
Learn how to configure roles and access →
Keep It Simple
Section titled “Keep It Simple”Start small.
Use just a few clear segments and adjust as your program grows.
Over time, you can refine your player groups based on activity, feedback quality, or engagement level.
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”Once your segmentation plan is in place, you’re ready to: