{"id":35646,"date":"2025-08-30T09:00:31","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T09:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/herotime1.com\/academy\/?p=35646"},"modified":"2025-10-01T20:24:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T20:24:57","slug":"guide-to-reprinting-your-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/herotime1.com\/academy\/publishing\/guide-to-reprinting-your-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to Reprinting Your Game"},"content":{"rendered":"
As a publisher, reprinting your game is one of the most exciting milestones you can hit. It means players enjoyed your first print run, demand hasn\u2019t slowed down, and your game has carved out a spot in the market, all of which are very good things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n While a reprint is usually simpler than producing your game the first time, it still requires careful planning to make sure you get the best combination of quality and value.<\/span><\/p>\n The good news is that once you\u2019ve gone through the learning curve of your tabletop game\u2019s first print run, the second is far easier. Files are already prepared, components are already selected, and you now have experience under your belt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the same time, reprinting comes with unique challenges. How many copies should you print? Should you upgrade components? Finally, how do you fund it?<\/span><\/p>\n Below, we\u2019ve answered these questions and walked you through the key considerations for your first reprint. We\u2019ve also included a few production tips to make the process smoother and more profitable than your first print run.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re ready to reprint your game, or manufacturing your first game and need expert help, feel free to <\/span>contact us<\/span><\/a>. We can answer your questions, prepare a manufacturing quote, and get your game ready for production.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The clearest signal you\u2019re ready to reprint your game is simple and obvious: your first print run is selling out. Whether you\u2019ve sold your game via a crowdfunding campaign, retail distribution, or direct sales, low inventory is the best indicator that a second wave of demand is waiting.<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some signs it\u2019s time to plan your reprint as soon as possible:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/li>\n <\/span><\/li>\n <\/span><\/li>\n When it comes to reprinting your board game, the biggest and most common mistake is waiting too long. Once you\u2019ve lost sales because your game is unavailable, you may find that it\u2019s harder to rebuild demand later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the advantages of a reprint is that most of the heavy lifting is already done. Your game\u2019s artwork files, molds, and component choices from your first print run are already on record with your manufacturer, which saves you time and setup costs.<\/span><\/p>\n However, a reprint is also an opportunity to make improvements to your game. Many publishers use this chance to refine their product based on feedback from players and observations they\u2019ve had throughout the process of manufacturing and marketing their games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Things that usually stay the same:<\/span><\/p>\n Things you might consider updating for your reprint:<\/span><\/p>\n The key here is balance. You want to improve your game when it adds value but avoid changing so much that your reprint feels like a completely different edition. Players expect consistency in a game between print runs, especially if they\u2019re buying expansions later<\/span><\/p>\n Reprints are generally faster and cheaper to produce than first runs, but there are still important factors to plan for.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Since your manufacturer already has your files and molds, you usually won\u2019t pay any significant setup fees again, unless you make major changes to your game. It\u2019s also quicker and easier to get your game into production. Both of these factors simplify production.<\/span><\/p>\n Reprinting also unlocks economies of scale. Many publishers increase their print quantity for the reprint, which lowers the cost per unit and improves margins. If your game has already shown it has commercial appeal, you\u2019re no longer taking a gamble when you print its second run.<\/span><\/p>\n Hitting MOQ is often easier with a proven game, as your distributors and retailers might commit to orders in advance. It\u2019s good to reach out to all of these stakeholders before you decide on a quantity for your reprint, as these commitments can help you to get better value per unit.<\/span><\/p>\n While reprints are generally faster, they can still take months depending on your manufacturer and your requirements. As such, you\u2019ll still need to plan ahead, especially if you\u2019re targeting a specific season.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, if you\u2019re making small improvements to your game, make sure that you confirm with your manufacturer that new components will still match the old run (important for mixed sets of cards or expansions).<\/span><\/p>\n First-time reprints often turn out better than the first edition. With the experience of your first run, you\u2019ll know exactly what to expect in terms of timelines and costs. You can also take action early to identify and fix mistakes and compromises that occurred with your first print run.<\/span><\/p>\n A reprint is both easier and riskier than your first print run. Easier because you now know your game sells. Riskier because you\u2019re likely thinking larger in terms of quantity and may not have the cushion of a Kickstarter campaign to front the costs.<\/span><\/p>\n When it comes to assessing demand, your first print run is the best data you\u2019ll get. Look at how quickly you sold through your initial copies, how many went to backers vs. retail customers and whether demand is growing or tapering off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Make sure to print enough to cover expected sales for the next 12 to 18 months, but avoid tying up too much cash in slow-moving inventory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Reprints often come with larger print runs, which means your cost per unit goes down. Even if you keep the same retail price, your margins improve significantly. This is one of the reasons why successful games become more profitable with time.<\/span><\/p>\n Unlike your first run, you may not have crowdfunding money sitting in your account. Funding for your reprint can come from revenue generated during your first print run, commitments from any retailers or distributors that sell your game, or potentially from another crowdfunding campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n Make sure you have your funding secure ahead of time, as doing so gives you more confidence as you go into production again.<\/span><\/p>\n Remember, you\u2019ll need to pay manufacturing and shipping costs upfront, but you might not have revenue from distributors or retailers until weeks or months later. Plan your cash flow carefully to avoid bottlenecks that could affect your reprint\u2019s time to reach the market.<\/span><\/p>\n Reprinting your game is a great way to generate more revenue and cement your game\u2019s status as a product with lasting appeal. However, even experienced publishers can run into problems with reprints.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are some of the most common mistakes we\u2019ve seen:<\/span><\/p>\n We work with both first-time game publishers and established companies on reprints for board games and card games all the time. Our team can help you with everything from upgrades to your components to strategic advice about quantities, timing and game improvements.<\/span><\/p>\n When you work with us on your game, we\u2019ll keep your game\u2019s artwork files on record, meaning you don\u2019t need to resubmit anything unless you want to make updates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Reprinting your game is a milestone worth celebrating. It means your game has fans, demand, and staying power in a competitive market. It\u2019s also easier than printing your game for the very first time.<\/span><\/p>\n However, like every stage of publishing, reprinting your game requires thoughtful planning from deciding when to reprint to what you should change.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We can help you with these decisions and details so that you can reprint your game with total confidence and maximum commercial success. <\/span>Reach out to us today<\/span><\/a> and we\u2019ll help you with every step of making your game, whether it\u2019s your first run or your latest reprint.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a publisher, reprinting your game is one of the most exciting milestones you can hit. It means players enjoyed your first print run, demand hasn\u2019t slowed down, and your game has carved out a spot in the market, all of which are very good things.\u00a0 While a reprint is usually simpler than producing your […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-publishing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhen to Consider Reprinting Your Game<\/span><\/h2>\n
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What Stays the Same & What Can Change<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/span><\/li>\nProduction Considerations for Reprints of Your Game<\/span><\/h2>\n
Financial Planning for a Game Reprint<\/span><\/h2>\n
Estimating Demand for Your Game\u2019s Reprint<\/span><\/h3>\n
Funding Options for Reprints<\/span><\/h3>\n
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Reprinting Your Game<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\n<\/span><\/li>\nHow We Can Help You<\/span><\/h2>\n
The Bottom Line on Reprinting Your Game<\/span><\/h2>\n