The Challenge

Our client’s desktop launcher had served their free-to-play games beautifully for years. But when they decided to launch their first premium title requiring an up-front purchase, they discovered a fundamental gap: the launcher had no concept of paid content.

They needed:

• Secure file distribution that verified player authorization before downloads
• Piracy protection preventing unauthorized access to premium content
• Seamless experience for paying customers
• Beta distribution for developers and testers without permanent entitlement complications
• Zero disruption to existing free-to-play games

Our Approach

Multi-Layer Authorization

We extended the existing Chromium/React launcher with authorization at every level:

• Backend verification: AWS Lambda validates entitlements before any download begins
• CDN security: Akamai enforces authorization at the content delivery layer
• Launcher validation: UI only shows download options after authorization confirms

This defense-in-depth approach ensures that even if one layer is bypassed, others remain protective.

Beta Voucher System

For beta distribution, we implemented a one-time voucher system. Developers and testers receive single-use codes granting temporary access to developmental builds.

This solved a real operational headache—previously, giving someone beta access meant creating entitlements that were difficult to revoke cleanly. The voucher approach is simple: use the code, get access. No permanent entitlement complications, no cleanup needed when beta ends.

Preserving Existing Experience

A key constraint was not breaking the existing free-to-play experience. We extended capabilities without disrupting how the launcher handled core games. The architecture is forward-looking—adding future premium games just means extending the authorization system.

The Results

• Premium game launched with secure distribution in place
• Seamless customer experience for paying players
• Unauthorized access blocked at multiple layers
• Beta distribution simplified with voucher system
• Extensible architecture ready for future premium releases