Hyperstone

Hyperstone is a game-optimization platform for studios that want to tune live settings against measurable player outcomes. It suits teams running experiments across pricing, difficulty, advertising, or LiveOps, from independent developers to enterprise publishers. Its unusually broad testing and per-player controls are persuasive, provided you plan carefully around usage billing and the Beta Unity SDK.

Overview

Hyperstone can test as many as 1,000 combinations of prices, difficulty, ad frequency, and LiveOps settings simultaneously. It then adjusts configuration values for individual players toward a selected objective such as lifetime value, average revenue per user, or retention. This is a focused optimization layer rather than a general-purpose game backend. Winning values can be sent through the SDK without a store update, so teams can change live parameters without waiting for a new release.

Key features

Experimentation and optimization

Multivariate testing lets a team evaluate interacting settings instead of changing one variable at a time. Per-player configuration can pursue different outcomes for different users, but the team must define the metric that determines success; the platform does not remove that product judgment.

Analytics

Engagement, Monetization, and Business dashboards update as player events arrive. An AI Report adds another view of the incoming data, giving teams current operational and commercial reporting alongside experiments.

Delivery and integrations

Remote configuration and LiveOps controls are delivered through the SDK, avoiding a store submission for each winning change. The maker provides a Unity SDK and Server-to-Server integration, with custom integration also available. Unity teams should account for the SDK being in Beta: APIs, method names, and classes may change.

Privacy and security

The Unity SDK privacy policy says it collects no personally identifiable information, advertising identifiers, or device identifiers. Communication with Hyperstone servers uses HTTPS in transit, server-side SDK data is purged after 30 days of user inactivity, and collected data is not shared with third parties.

Pricing

Hyperstone is freemium. The Free plan costs $0 per month forever, has unlimited seats, includes every platform feature, and allows up to 2,000 installs per app each month. Crossing that threshold automatically moves the app to pay-as-you-go at $0.001 per additional install. The move is irreversible: an app switched from Free cannot return to Free. That makes the free tier suitable for prototypes and controlled launches, but teams should monitor installs before broad distribution.

Growth is described as $0 once, billed as 2,000 free installs followed by $0.001 per install. It includes all platform features, has no monthly commitment, and scales with usage. In practice it is the same usage-based path for a growing game, not a lower-risk way to avoid the install threshold.

Enterprise uses custom pricing and supports unlimited apps. It adds SSO through OAuth2 and OIDC, custom installation, invoicing and volume discounts, priority support, and 24/7 support. It is the sensible route for organizations that need identity controls, procurement terms, or guaranteed service coverage.

There is no free trial. Paid usage starts from $0.01 per user, while the install-based plans above define the app threshold and overage charge.

Platforms

Hyperstone supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web, API, and self-hosted deployments. Listed game destinations include Google Play, App Store, Steam, Huawei, itch.io, PlayStation, Xbox, iOS, Android, and web browser. Unity is the named game-engine integration.

Who it's for

Indie teams can use the permanent free allowance to run small experiments, provided 2,000 monthly installs is realistic. Mid-size studios and publishers gain more from simultaneous multivariate tests, per-player targeting, and remote delivery across live games. Enterprise teams have a clearer fit when SSO, custom installation, unlimited apps, invoicing, and 24/7 support justify custom pricing. Teams that need a stable, non-Beta SDK or a general backend should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Up to 1,000 combinations can be tested at once, useful for games with several interacting monetization or difficulty decisions.
• Pro: Per-player optimization can target LTV, ARPU, or retention rather than applying one setting to everyone.
• Pro: Event-updated reports cover engagement, monetization, business performance, and an AI view.
• Pro: Remote delivery avoids a store update for winning configuration values.
• Con: Free usage is capped at 2,000 installs per app per month, and exceeding it triggers paid usage automatically.
• Con: The Free-to-Pay-as-you-Go change cannot be reversed.
• Con: The Unity SDK is in Beta, with APIs and class names subject to change.

Alternatives

GameAnalytics is the better pick when broad dashboards, funnels, cohorts, retention, and real-time reporting matter more than automated per-player optimization.

Metaplay suits teams wanting a full SDK and local server for unrestricted local development.

PlayFab is a stronger option for a backend-oriented service with a free-to-start allowance tied to title and player limits.

brainCloud provides backend services with a free plan and free trial.

BACKND is another freemium backend option, including core chat and translation in its free tier.

Crux fits teams prioritizing quantified MAU, API-call, server, and environment quotas.

Ondara Game Services is an alternative game-services platform from an indie studio.

AccelByte Gaming Services offers cloud foundations with usage fees as players arrive and a paid private-cloud tier.

Verdict

Choose Hyperstone if your live game needs systematic, multivariate tuning and per-player optimization, especially when remote configuration can replace frequent releases. Its analytics and broad platform coverage strengthen that case. Look elsewhere if the irreversible install-based billing switch, custom-priced enterprise tier, or Beta Unity SDK conflicts with your rollout and maintenance requirements.