Soft launch and global launch are opportunities for game metrics at a bigger scale. But analytics and metrics aren't answers—they're questions.
Metrics give you data points, such as "30% of players drop off at this point" or "less than 20% of players pay to upgrade here." To understand why that happens, post-launch playtesting is key.
While some game studios wind down their research following launch, those who continually playtest and iterate can confidently build new game modes and events, refine their monetization strategy and make sure new content meets player expectations.
And—most importantly—optimize and improve retention.