A monetization plan is only as good as its no-go list. Skip that page and the dark pattern will eventually ship, usually in Q4.
What a weak plan looks like
"Free-to-play with in-app purchases. Target ARPDAU $0.35."
Sell what, to whom, in exchange for what feeling? None of that is answered.
The thesis in one line
> We sell [thing] to players who want [feeling].
Every part matters. "We sell expression to players who want to be seen." Different game from "We sell power to players who want to win." Both are legitimate. Only one is your game.
The no-go list
You can't decide what to ship until you decide what you refuse to ship. The list is short and specific:
- No power-for-pay.
- No FOMO timers under 24 hours.
- No loot boxes with real-money keys.
If you don't write it down, it will ship the week your ARPDAU dips.
The cadence trap
"Weekly content" that ships every third week teaches the community you're unreliable. Ship less, but ship on the calendar you promised.
The reality
Every big platform gets its worst reputation from a monetization decision made in a hard quarter. The plan exists so that decision has to overrule a written rule.
Draft one with the Monetization & Live-Ops Plan tool.