Antidote vs Lysto

Antidote is a cloud-based UX and analytics platform for game studios managing playtesting and research during development. Teams can run their own tests, commission managed playtesting, or use market research services. Data capture includes surveys, gameplay and face recording, think-aloud comments, mobile screen touches, controller inputs, game events, and AFK detection. Analysis options include AI Insights, top moments, annotations, transcripts, survey and sentiment analysis, face emotion detection, automated reports, and data exports. Studios can recruit from Antidote’s community or invite their own players. Games can be delivered through Antidote, a developer download link, or Steam, Epic, Google Play, and App Store launchers. Native support covers PC, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and browser games; console testing is possible by arrangement. Plans include a free Indie option with restrictions, pay-as-you-go from $25 per user, Starter at $115 per month per game, and Master at $475 per month per game. The company describes security measures including NDAs, controlled launches, watermarking, and encryption.

Lysto is a Player Experience Platform that turns feedback from real players into insights for game studios. Its research covers concept validation, first-time user experience, retention, gameplay, go-to-market, monetization, usability, publisher readiness, player archetypes, competitive studies, and funding or investment research. Gameplay Experience Evaluation looks for enjoyment and frustration moments, challenge balance, and features linked to replayability and longer-term engagement. Studios can run concept tests, single-session or multi-session playtests, and longitudinal studies. Lysto AI summarizes comprehension, friction, flow, and challenge, then tags confusion, hesitation, frustration, and delight with timestamps. The company says its global panel contains over 1 million verified gamers filterable by demographics, genre, and experience. Pricing is on request, with project-based studies or 12–18 month enterprise research plans. Android builds can be uploaded without SDK or code changes, while iOS testing uses live App Store builds. PC playtests use cloud streaming so players do not download builds. The platform itself is limited to laptop or desktop devices and must remain full-screen.