RAID: Shadow Legends interview: Ihor Mishchenko chats about the return of the Community Weeks event

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Previously, our dedicated readers may recall discussing RAID: Shadow Legends’ Community Weeks event with Ihor Mishchenko, Director of Community Management Department, last year. Back then, it was a novel endeavor for RAID, with the intention of making it an annual commemoration of the game’s community. Guess what? This event has indeed turned into an annual affair. After all, two times makes a tradition!

As the excitement builds for this year’s Community Weeks, it feels fitting to reach out to Ihor once more to discuss the changes we can anticipate.

Hi Ihor, welcome back to Pocket Gamer! During our last interview, you mentioned you hoped the Community Weeks event could become an annual celebration. Now, it’s back this year! So, how did players react that made you decide you had to do it again?

Thank you, Stephen. It’s great to be back!

Last year’s player reaction left us thoroughly impressed. The high level of involvement and overwhelmingly positive feedback across our platforms suggested that our community deeply connected with being the focus of the event. We received a large volume of messages from players inquiring about its return, making our decision effortless. It had become something genuinely meaningful for both our players and ourselves.

How successful were the Community Weeks events compared to other campaigns you run throughout the year?

Among our most successful campaigns of the year was one that truly shone due to its exceptional engagement and positive sentiment. Although we host numerous high-achieving marketing initiatives and in-game activities, this particular campaign distinguished itself by providing players with a sense of recognition, appreciation, and celebration, all while offering an extraordinary gaming experience.

There was a noticeable surge in conversations and user-created content linked to the event’s activities, with more people joining in, and heightened engagement within our Discord, YouTube, and other platforms. This demonstrates that when we empower our community, players show great energy, innovation, and dedication.

Were there any elements of these community-focused events that have made their way into other RAID content since?

Indeed, while it wasn’t entirely unexpected, it was a strong affirmation that players greatly appreciate visibility and personal acknowledgement. Our community-centric events held during Community Weeks truly resonated with both the players and ourselves.

After gaining that experience, it became clear and boosted our conviction that such community-oriented projects really strike a chord with our local population and make a significant difference. Ever since, we’ve been deliberate in expanding the range of community events we host during each year.

There were quite a few parts to the Community Weeks last year. What would you say worked particularly well? Likewise, was there anything that didn’t play out as planned that’s been scrapped or tweaked for this year?

Emphasizing notable milestones and influential individuals from the community, as well as the joint development of a thematic hero, significantly enhanced the game’s authenticity and instilled a sense of belonging and accomplishment among players. This process not only made the game more relatable but also fostered a strong connection within our community, which is the primary objective of such events.

This year, our primary emphasis is on making our main goal clear. Certain activities from last year, though initiated with good intentions, turned out to be somewhat intricate or specialized for some intermediate participants. To address this, we’ve simplified the structure, enhanced accessibility for participation, and incorporated fresh interactive features based on player suggestions. We believe players will notice this change from the very start.


Similarly, is there anything new on the schedule you can tell us about?

Without giving too much away, yes!

Highlighting our events this year, every player gets a chance to acquire a fresh Legendary Character, Iudex Artor, gratis! This character can be claimed via a unique ‘Reward Calendar’ function available across the entire event duration.

Once again, similar to last year, we’ve got a surprise in store for our community during Community Weeks, which they’ll uncover in the second part of the event. We’re not revealing the specifics just yet, but it’s something new and fresh, and we can hardly contain our excitement to see how the community reacts. We consider it the perfect finale for this year’s celebrations.

Will the events take place over six weeks once again? Could you talk us through the schedule?

This year, we’ve opted for a more streamlined, concentrated 4-week structure, filled with valuable content and activities tailored for each week. We’re initiating the process with a community vote to determine one of the significant in-game rewards. Subsequently, we introduce our latest Reward Calendar event, offering daily login incentives and a complimentary Legendary Champion.

As we reach halfway, we’ll introduce gameplay benefits such as the option to remove gear without cost and a unique event brimming with various prizes, including the spirit of our thematic Legendary Champion, Iudex Artor. During this event, we’ll highlight creators and community tales, ensuring players receive the appreciation they deserve.

To round things off powerfully, let’s end with an exciting twist for everyone. It may be a shorter segment, but it’s packed with intensity, liveliness, and is skillfully crafted to maintain the energy from the opening to the closing scenes.

Are there any plans to create more Community events throughout the year, or is the current plan to keep it as an annual tradition?

Although Community Weeks continue as our main community event, we’re also looking into initiatives that strengthen bonds within our community.

Regardless if it’s competitions with specific themes, unexpected recognition, or unique activities aimed at fostering a sense of community, our aim remains consistent. We strive to ensure that players feel recognized, appreciated, and actively involved, not just during major events, but all year round.

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2025-04-10 13:19