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How a game is published each day

This page follows one game from the moment it is handed to the platform until long after its release day. For the reader's side of the same story, see Game of the Day and the daily release.

1. The game is checked​

Before anything else, the game's folder is validated. The checks confirm, among other things, that:

  • There is a clear starting page.
  • Every file the game refers to is actually in the folder.
  • The folder contains only kinds of file a web game legitimately needs, and nothing private.
  • The game does not depend on files from other websites.
  • Its descriptive details are well formed.

A game that fails stays a draft. Nothing about it is published, and what is already live is not affected. Game package format lists every rule.

A game that passes is stored as a build: a fixed copy of its files that is never altered afterwards.

2. It gets a page and artwork​

The platform prepares what the public will see: the game's title, tagline, description, instructions, controls, category and tags, and a thumbnail image. If no artwork is supplied, a screenshot of the game's opening screen is used; if that is not possible either, the site draws a cover from the game's title and its category colour.

None of this is visible to the public yet.

3. It is given a day​

The game is assigned a release day. Each day holds one release, and the platform refuses to place two games on the same day.

A game waiting for its day is scheduled. Its page cannot be opened, it does not appear in lists or search, and its files are not served, even to someone who guesses the address.

4. It goes live at the release instant​

Each daily slot opens at the site's release time. At that instant the scheduled game becomes public, without anyone pressing a button.

This works because the question "is this game public?" is answered every time a page is requested, by comparing the game's release instant with the clock. From that instant on, the answer is yes:

  • The front page features it as "Today's game".
  • It has a working page and can be played.
  • It appears on All games, in its category, in search, in the release history and in the site's sitemap.

Stored copies of pages are kept only briefly, and they are set to expire by the next release instant, so an old copy should not hide a game that has just come out. If the front page still shows the previous game a moment after release time, reload it.

5. It gets a release number​

Shortly after going live, the game is recorded as published and receives the next release number. Numbers follow release order and are written like #001.

This bookkeeping step runs on its own every few minutes. Visibility does not wait for it: a game is playable from its release instant even before its number is assigned.

6. It stays​

The next day another game takes the front page. The earlier game keeps its page, its number and its place in the release history, and remains on All games.

From then on it also takes part in the rankings, according to how much it is really played. See How Most played and Trending are calculated.

What can happen afterwards​

An update. A changed version of a game is stored as a new build next to the old one. For a game that is already released, the new build is not shown to players until the team switches to it. A new build that fails validation never replaces a working one, and switching back to an earlier build is immediate.

Retirement. The team can retire a game. A retired game leaves the front page, search, the rankings and the sitemap. It stays in the release history, marked "Retired", and can still be played at its address.

Withdrawal. The team can also take a game down completely. Its day then becomes free again.

When things do not go to plan​

A day with no game. If a slot opens empty, the front page keeps the most recent release and labels it as the latest game, with how many days ago it came out. It is never presented as today's.

A release that cannot be served. If a scheduled game's files turn out to be missing when its slot opens, the release is withdrawn automatically and the previous game stays featured.