Senior Game Economy Manager
This is a remote position.
Role Summary
The Game Economy Manager is a strategic role responsible for designing, balancing, and optimizing virtual economies to enhance player satisfaction and drive sustainable revenue growth. This position requires a blend of analytical rigor, economic acumen, and creative problem-solving to align in-game systems with business objectives. The ideal candidate will collaborate with cross-functional teams to create immersive experiences while maintaining economic equilibrium across complex game ecosystems.
Core Responsibilities
Economic System Design and Balancing
Game Economy Managers architect virtual economies by defining currency flows, pricing strategies, and reward structures. This involves creating sources (e.g., quest rewards, loot drops) and sinks (e.g., item purchases, upgrade costs) to regulate in-game inflation and scarcity. For example, in Clash of Clans, managers tune gem costs for building upgrades to balance progression speed with monetization opportunities. Advanced numerical simulations predict how new features might destabilize economies, enabling proactive adjustments before deployment.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Leveraging SQL, Python, or specialized tools, professionals analyze terabyte-scale datasets to track metrics like daily active users (DAU), average revenue per paying user (ARPPU), and inventory turnover rates. At Playstudios, managers conduct A/B tests on virtual item bundles, comparing conversion rates across player segments to optimize pricing. Predictive modeling techniques forecast long-term impacts of economy changes, such as estimating how doubling gold rewards might affect premium currency sales over six months.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Effective managers serve as nexus points between design, engineering, and business teams. They translate creative visions into economically viable systems – for instance, ensuring a new raid feature provides adequate challenge without making premium gear mandatory. During live operations, they partner with monetization specialists to design limited-time events that spike engagement without causing permanent inflation.
Live Economy Monitoring
Post-launch surveillance involves dashboard tracking of key indicators like currency velocity and item liquidity ratios. When Product Madness introduced a new gacha mechanic, managers detected unintended arbitrage opportunities through outlier analysis in player transaction logs. Rapid response protocols allow hotfixing exploit vectors within hours through server-side parameter adjustments.
Requirements
Professional Requirements
Educational Background
A bachelor’s degree in Economics, Mathematics, or Computer Science provides foundational skills in modeling and systems analysis. Advanced degrees (Master’s/MBA) are preferred for senior roles involving complex econometric forecasting.
Technical Competencies
Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in:
Statistical software: R/Python for regression analysis of spend patterns
Simulation tools: MATLAB or custom ABM frameworks for economy stress-testing
Business intelligence platforms: Tableau/Looker for KPI visualization
Industry Experience
Junior roles require 2+ years experience balancing virtual economies in live service games. Senior positions demand 5+ years leading economy design for top-grossing titles (>$100M annual revenue), with proven success in retention rate improvement.
Benefits
What We Offer
Professional Growth
Mentorship from industry veterans who shipped AAA live-ops titles
Quarterly workshops on emerging trends like blockchain-based economies
Conference budgets to present original research at GDC or SIGGRAPH
Work Environment
Flexible hybrid model with core collaboration days at studio hubs
Access to proprietary analytics tools like Playtika’s predictive spend models
Playtesting labs equipped with eye-tracking and biometric feedback systems
Compensation Package
Competitive salary with profit-sharing bonuses
Comprehensive health plans including mental wellness programs