Trailers and screenshots
The 3-second test
Imagine a trailer that starts with our logo slowly spinning for 5 seconds. By the time anything happens, the viewer has already scrolled away.
Rule one: show gameplay in the first 3 seconds. That opening is the hook, the moment that makes people stop and watch: the ship dodging lasers, a wave of aliens exploding. The logo can wait until the end.
Trailer cut
10:00 Studio logo, slow spin20:06 Ship dodges a laser wall30:12 Wave of aliens explodes40:20 Boss fight, shield saves the ship50:35 Caption: Dodge. Blast. Survive.60:42 Name, logo, "Play on our website"
This is Remy's first cut of the Hyper Shards trailer. Which line breaks the 3-second rule and should move to the end?
- Line 1
- Line 2
- Line 5
- Line 6
Show the answer
Line 1
Line 1 spends the first 6 seconds on a spinning logo, so viewers scroll away before the action. Start with line 2 and show the logo on the final card.
Recipe for a great trailer
- 30 to 60 seconds longLong enough to show what you do, short enough that people watch to the end.
- Only the best momentsBuild up: easy action first, then bigger waves, then the boss fight. Cut anything boring.
- CaptionsMany people watch with the sound off, so short words on screen tell the story.
- End with where to get itThe last screen shows the name, the logo and where to play, like "Free on Google Play".
Bolt says: App Store preview videos can be at most 30 seconds, so we also make a shorter cut of each trailer.
Quick check
Most people watch trailers with the sound on, so captions don't really matter.
- True
- False
Show the answer
False
Lots of videos play muted while people scroll. Captions make sure the trailer still makes sense with no sound.
Record real gameplay
Trailers are built from real play. A strong player plays smoothly while a screen recorder captures everything at 60 frames per second, so fast action stays sharp. Studios often add a hidden setting that hides the score and buttons for cleaner shots.
Then we cut the best clips together in a video editor, add captions and music, and finish with the logo. Songs are protected by copyright, so music needs a licence that allows this use, or we pick royalty-free tracks whose licence says so.
Bolt says: Record far more than you need. Ten minutes of play might give you 40 great seconds.
AI video: where it fits
The studio also uses Gemini Omni 1.1 Flash, Google's AI video model. Remy writes a prompt, like "a glowing crystal drifting through deep space, slow camera push", and it generates a short clip.
AI clips fit around the real gameplay: an intro card, a mood shot for a devlog, a fun social post. They must never pretend to be gameplay, because store pages and trailers must show the real game. AI tools have their own terms, so a parent checks the latest terms before any commercial use.
AI or real?
Remy has three plans for the Hyper Shards trailer. Which one uses AI video honestly?
- Real gameplay throughout, plus a 2-second AI mood shot of Nova glowing just before the end card
- An AI-made boss fight that looks better than the real one, shown as gameplay
- Swap every recorded clip for prettier AI clips, since nobody can tell
Show the answer
Real gameplay throughout, plus a 2-second AI mood shot of Nova glowing just before the end card
Every play moment in the first plan is recorded from the real game, and the AI shot is clearly a mood shot. Showing AI clips as gameplay misleads players and breaks store rules.
Screenshots that tell the truth
- Real game onlyEvery screenshot is a real moment from the game, never a drawing of a better game.
- The right shapeTall shots for games played upright, wide shots for games played sideways.
- A caption on topA few big words, like "Grow your garden army", explain each shot.
- How manyAt the time of writing, Google Play needs at least 2, the App Store allows up to 10, and Steam asks for at least 5.
Quick check
Which screenshot follows the rules?
- A painting of Sprig fighting a dragon that isn't in the game
- A real moment from level 3 with a short caption on top
- A screenshot of a more popular game
Show the answer
A real moment from level 3 with a short caption on top
Screenshots must show the real game. A short, true caption on top is great because it explains what you're looking at.
One trailer, many homes
A good trailer works hard. It goes on the store page, on our website, on YouTube and in our community.
Short clips cut from it become vertical videos for social apps. All of it starts with real gameplay and the best moments.
Bolt says: Watching is good, playing is better. Next: free demos and game festivals, where players try the real thing.
Fact-checked 9 October 2026
- App Store Connect Help: App preview specifications developer.apple.com
- App Store Connect Help: Screenshot specifications developer.apple.com
- Play Console Help: Add preview assets support.google.com
- Steamworks: Standard store assets partner.steamgames.com