soak-test

A soak testing protocol for memory leak detection is established by defining timed checkpoints to measure heap memory, object counts, and FPS over multi-hour endurance runs. This generates an operator checklist and post-session analysis template to track slow performance drift and stability issues.

Endurance testing in game QA is the process of running extended play sessions to surface slow memory leaks, performance drift, and gameplay fatigue before release. Checkpointed logging is needed when multi-hour regression scenarios require timed measurements rather than short smoke checks.

Gameplay fatigue and balance issues can be tracked alongside performance monitoring by capturing subjective difficulty perception and signs of content exhaustion at timed checkpoints. This informs Polish decisions by combining stability metrics with fun and balance observations in a single protocol.

Soak testing does not work for short smoke checks or single-feature playtests because it is designed for checkpointed endurance testing over extended durations. It targets slow memory leaks and performance drift that only manifest during multi-hour regression soak scenarios.

The best way to document QA observation logs for an extended endurance run is to generate a structured protocol with duration and focus arguments, timed checkpoints, and a post-session analysis template. This creates a deterministic markdown file saved under a production/qa naming convention.