The decision to outsource video game development can be strategic for game developers, as it gives them the opportunity to leverage the expertise of specialized teams and concentrate on developing products, marketing, and seeking investment in core areas. This blog post will explain why game development outsourcing is beneficial, how to choose the right team, and when it is best to outsource during the early stages of game development.
What is Game Development Outsourcing? Outsourcing Models
Game development outsourcing (aka Game Process Outsourcing or GPO) refers to collaborating with a third party for various aspects of game development.
When you partner with a third party agency, you have access to top talent on-demand, and you know you’ll finish on time even when you’re overwhelmed. Alternatively to losing market share to competitors, game developers need to roll out games faster to respond to the demand-supply equation. Outsourcing is a cost-effective alternative to hiring more talent to meet the surge in demand.
Full-Cycle Outsourcing
Gives the entire game development process to an external company.
You can use this approach from concept design to final testing without the need to have an in-house development department. By outsourcing the entire development cycle, you can focus on other critical aspects of your business, such as marketing and monetization, while ensuring a high-quality end product.
Specific Task Outsourcing
Assigning specific components of your game development process to external teams.
Using this approach, you can tap into specialized skills such as character design, level creation, sound engineering, and quality assurance. The flexibility of specific task outsourcing allows you to select areas where external expertise complements your in-house team while maintaining control over other aspects.
Co-Development
Your team and an outsourcing studio team work together.
When you need additional resources, have a tight timeline, or wish to tap into specific technologies or genres, co-development is an effective way to combine your in-house team’s strengths with the expertise of an external partner. As a result of shared responsibilities and risks, game development becomes more efficient and well-rounded.
Why Outsource in Game Development
MVP Development and Concentrated Focus
The development process can be accelerated when project owners outsource game development to an established team. Clients can concentrate on their core competencies, such as game design and gameplay mechanics, while leaving the technical implementations to an expert by partnering with a team with a proven track record. Focusing on their strengths can lead to a higher-quality and more efficient product.
Access to Specialized Skills and Expertise
As a result of outsourcing, clients are able to quickly scale their development teams based on project requirements. This flexibility is especially useful in a dynamic game development environment where resource requirements are constantly changing. Using outsourcing, you can access a broader talent pool and access additional resources as needed, without the burden of hiring and training new employees or committing to long-term commitments.
Cost Savings and Scalability
When customers outsource game development, they can avoid the costs associated with recruiting, salaries, benefits, office space, and equipment. Outsourcing allows them to save significant amounts compared to hiring a full in-house team. A key advantage of outsourcing is its flexibility, which allows indie developers and smaller studios with limited budgets to ramp up or down the team size quickly based on the needs of the project.
Faster Time to Market
To capitalize on market trends or avoid being overshadowed by competitors, the gaming industry requires rapid release of games. With an experienced and dedicated team working on a game development project, deadlines are met more efficiently and the release is completed on time. Outsourcing game development can result in a faster time to market.
When to Outsource in Game Development
Early Stages of Game Development
During the early stages of game development, when project owners are still refining their concepts and developing the game’s core mechanics, outsourcing can be particularly beneficial. In order to quickly validate their ideas and receive feedback from professionals in the industry, clients can outsource tasks such as prototyping, concept art, and initial programming. It can help refine the game’s vision and reduce the risk of investing heavily in a concept that may not resonate.
Resource Constraints and Specialized Tasks
If project owners lack the resources or are confronted with specialized tasks that exceed their in-house capabilities, outsourcing becomes invaluable. Developers can ensure a high-quality implementation by outsourcing multiplayer networking or advanced AI programming to a specialized team if they lack expertise in these areas. By leveraging the expertise of outsourcing partners, technical challenges can be overcome and a more robust and feature-rich game can be delivered.
How to Outsource Game Development
Outline Your Project Needs
You should outline the needs of your project development and decide on which service lines you wish to outsource and what type of outsourcing model would work best in your case.
Browse and Research Outsourcing Studious
Using special platforms, you can search for outsourcing studios that meet your needs. Pay attention if:
- the studio specializes in the area you need
- their outsourcing model is right for you
- the work in their portfolio is similar to the work you need for your project
- you are satisfied with the quality of the work in their portfolio and the description of their work process
- their clients have detailed and positive reviews of these projects
- the studio provides other services that you might potentially use down the road
Send a Brief and Request as Estimate
Get in touch with a few outsourcing studios that develop mobile games and request an estimate from them. You’ll be able to get an accurate idea of the cost of developing your game if you provide them with a brief and all the specifications for your video game.
For example, a brief for game art should include:
- a description of your game
- the list of all the assets you wish to produce
- the specific parameters of the assets
- the art style of the assets
Discuss the Project In-Depth
When you have made the initial contact with the game studio and if you are satisfied with the pre-estimate, you should take the time to discuss the work process in great detail with the studio.
Sign a Contract
It is important to ensure that you sign an agreement with the studio you choose. This contract should also address difficult situations such as when the results fail to meet the requirements or when one side does not deliver on time.
The contract should include all the aspects of the agreement:
- game concept
- work specification
- key team members
- deadlines
- the terms of payment
- the information on data protection
Be Available to Providing Additional Information
Make sure you provide the outsourcing team with all the information they need. You should also agree on the hours when they will be able to contact you. It is also important to make sure the relevant members of your core team are also available to assist.
Stay in Touch and Provide Feedback
Make a schedule showing when tasks are to be delivered and make sure it works for both teams. The best way to go through game development is with milestones. The studio should provide you with regular updates and ensure that they are on track, but don’t micromanage them. Stay in touch with the team, provide feedback and make sure they are on track.
Receive Final Work
As soon as work is complete, you will receive it, and if revisions are required, you will request them.
Pay for the Project. Integrate in Completed Part into Your Project
You must pay for the work that has been done when you outsource your mobile game development project. Milestone payments are generally used to do this. Once you reach a milestone, the developer will send you the completed project, which will need to be integrated into your project as soon as possible.
If you outsource game development to a third-party company, it might be more time-consuming and difficult. However, it is imperative to ensure that the work is completed to your satisfaction before making the final payment.
Options for Outsourcing your Game Development Project
Hire a Game Development Company
There are multiple options available when it comes to hiring a game development company. You can hire a local company or you can hire a company from all over the world.
Advantages:
- A full-fledged team of game developers.
- Experience in developing various games.
- They have all the necessary tools, technology, and manpower.
- They have the cost and timeline beforehand.
Disadvantages:
- A company will be more expensive as compared to a freelancer game developer
- Their process is pre-determined and the targets are set at an early stage, and thus they will be less flexible.
Hire a Game Development Freelancer
When looking for a freelancer to develop your mobile game, you can use a variety of platforms such as Upwork, LinkedIn, and many others to find someone who can do the job. Make sure you look at their portfolio and expertise carefully before hiring them.
Advantages:
- There are many talented freelancers that you can get in touch with.
- It is cheaper when compared to hiring a game development company.
- The freelancer will be more flexible.
Disadvantages:
- Lack of specialization of platform or experience in developing games similar to your game.
- There won’t be a project manager in the team, and this will result in communication issues if there is a difference in time-zone.
- There will be no guarantee of the end result.
You will need to consider your budget, the scope of your game, and the genre of your game before deciding which option to choose. In the case of a simple game that is not too complex, either option will work, but in the case of a complex game that is designed to deliver AAA-quality graphics and gameplay, a well-established game development company is the best choice.
In order to make sure you find the right freelancer/game development company, it is recommended that you follow a proper process before outsourcing your game development project.
Consider KREONIT–Your Trusted Game Outsourcing Partner
Kreonit is a London-based game development outsourcing company. Among our services are full-cycle development, testing, porting, animation, and visual effects.
Please contact us here, and one of our experts will assist you as soon as possible.
