Top 10 game outsourcing development companies
With the constant expansion of the video game industry more and more developers look to outsourcing partial development to additional studios to not only streamline the production process but ultimately deliver a better product for consumers. Currently, the US gaming market is worth around 90 billion dollars, which is astounding, and what is even more impressive is that market is predicted to grow further.
With the saturation, there is a need to get to market quickly and efficiently whilst providing top-quality content, which is why more professional indie developers look to outsource their development to other studios. Video game outsourcing companies are common but there are a key few that provide an elevated service outside the others, which we will touch on later.
The industry itself is massive, with Video Game Developers in the US capping out at over 3,000 studios currently, the need for game development outsourcing is the highest it’s been in a decade and as a result of that, there are countless studios that provide outsource game development.
Given that there will be 3 billion active gamers by 2023, the demand for game releases and the time frames in which they will need to be delivered will be shorter and shorter making the demand for quality and consistent outsourcing game development higher. Whilst many studios are capable of providing outsourcing game development, there are companies that specialize specifically as video game outsourcing companies. These studios are fantastic at communicating and know how to integrate their development process into your studio dynamics to ensure the production dynamics do not change from what you’re used to.
How to choose an Outsourcing Game Development Company
Now that we have a better grasp on the industry, where it is heading, and the need for faster development cycles we can get into the essentials behind choosing a studio to provide you with outsourcing game development. Game Development Outsourcing can be a breeze if you choose the right studio for you and there are some definite guidelines to follow when selecting an outsourcing studio for your game development.
Destination
This may seem simple, but you need to consider time zones when selecting a studio. Working in a collaborative and fluid fashion is considerably complex when one of the studios is far outside your time zone, working while you all sleep. Always begin your search for game development outsourcing by looking on your own doorstep first. Try to compile a list of studios that provide the service within your time zone, as it provides better opportunities for good communication.
Another factor with this is choosing a studio that understands your concept culturally, as an example if you’re making a medieval England RPG, you wouldn’t outsource to a studio in an area where they have no knowledge of that – as culturally their understanding of that particular part of the world and history will be lacking compared to a studio based in England. Game Development Outsourcing works best when the studio you work with has a strong understanding of your game concept without you having to outline every single detail of the context.
The last item to factor in when it comes to studio location is cost. Game Development wages vary from country to country, as an example using game development outsourcing in the US will cost substantially more than it would if you outsourced to Australia.
The Outsourcing Secret
Ukraine is the game industry’s best-kept secret and is an absolute mecca of game development talent. Huge studios are outsourcing to their dynamic and professional community because not only are they professional and efficient, but considerably more affordable than other locations. Studios like Ubisoft, Paradox, CD Project Red, Activision, and Capcom all outsource development to Ukraine and it is definitely something worth considering, even if the time zone is different as you’ll not only get access to incredible development teams, but you’ll get access to affordable development too.
Track Record
The last tip is an obvious one and that is to look carefully at an outsourcing-based studio’s past releases. Generally, you can get a good feel for a studio by looking at how well-received its previous releases were. Most quality outsourcing studios will provide extensive testimonials and details about their successes as the more successful stories they can provide, the more likely bigger studios will come to them for outsourcing development processes. Study their portfolio closely!
The Best Outsourcing Companies
At this point, you’ll be thinking that there is an incredible amount of companies to sift through to find the right studio for you, and to make things easier we’ve compiled a list of studios that provide expert outsourcing development services.
1. Pingle Studio
We’ve put ourselves at the top of the list, and for good reason. At Pingle Studio we’re global game development juggernauts that regardless of how complex the technical hurdles may be or how detailed the creative demand may be, provide a consistent and reliable outcome for game development studios.
Fluent in Unreal Engine and Unity, we can provide support for games on any platform and can also assist with the mass porting of games too. Whether you need co-development, game testing, porting, art & animation, or even full-cycle development, you can be assured we’ll deliver unparalleled services.
2. ZVKY
As one of the most renowned game art outsourcing studios in Asia ZVKY Design Studio offers amazing visual services that can offer you 3D Game art, animation, and other visual essentials. They’ve actively contributed to over 350 game titles in the last 12 years and the odds are high you’ve played a title they’ve successfully contributed to.
3. Fluper
Focusing primarily on mobile game support, Fluper has been providing mobile game development assistance for 16+ years and has helped 375+ developers deliver over 700 apps successfully to Google Play and Apple Store platforms. If you need to outsource your mobile game development, Fluper has you covered.
4. Lemon Sky Studios
With a very impressive roster of studios they’ve assisted over their 16 years in the industry including industry giants Naughty Dog, 2K, and EA, Lemon Sky Studios deliver consistent AAA quality art and animation that has actively contributed to the success of the above-mentioned studios flagship titles. Incredible talent that can make your visual ideas a reality.
5. Riseup Labs
Known more so for providing technical support than anything else, Riseup labs pride itself on its ability to develop intelligent and sustainable technology solutions across all platforms. If you have technical hurdles in your production process, Riseup Labs are the answer.
6. Juego Studio
Delivering Game Development, Art & Design, and recently VR and NFT Development practices, Juego Studio is an outsourcing studio that wears many hats and is known for its versatility. If you need a studio that can cater to very specific needs, Juego Studio may be able to assist you. Expect to see a lot of Juego Studio products in the Metaverse as they’re one of the leaders in outsourced VR-based content.
7. Keywords Studio
A massive drawcard for Keywords Studio is they are able to assist studios across multiple time zones due to their experts being accessible around the clock. They claim that their geographic coverage is second to none in the industry, which makes them a great choice if you’re worried about communication over time zones. They provide Art Services, General Development, Audio Services, Quality Assurance, Testing, and even software localization services for games that will ship to multiple countries.
8. Chromatic Games
A fairly new indie development studio, Chromatic games offers that unique touch to your game development. Completely self-funded and driven by their passion for game development they’re a fantastic choice if you’re an indie developer looking for that experienced helping hand that is as passionate about your game as you are.
9. BR Softech
This dynamic studio BR Softech has some mind-blowing stats when it comes to their outsourcing successes including 12+ years of experience, over 2500 projects successfully delivered on time, over 250 employees, 1500 satisfied clients, and hold onto your seat, 100 billion dollars in revenue generated from releases they’ve had a hand in – that speaks for itself.
10. Cubix
If you have NFT game development needs and blockchain-related content, there isn’t a better company on this list to work with. Cubix provides a multitude of professional development services but has extensive experience in the concept of blockchain technology and they know how to bring monetary value to your game title and deliver unique opportunities to your consumers.
Final Thoughts
As you can see there are many great studios that deliver a great outsourcing experience that will see your game title get the love and attention it deserves during the development process. The beauty of outsourcing studios is that they all tend to have experience in different areas which means you’re getting assistance from a studio that has specifically delivered content prior that caters exactly to your specific needs.
At Pingle Studio we pride ourselves on being able to provide a diverse range of services and consider ourselves more than capable of providing you with any services you require for your game development. We’ve got an extensive list of clients and case studies that can provide you with some insight into our development successors that will surely impress you.
Outsourcing Game Development is going to become more common in years to come, as the game industry keeps expanding, there will be a requirement to turn over games quickly as the demand grows. The market will have more game titles on it and it will be more important than ever to stand out on the market therefore the best thing you can do for your title is bring on a team of experienced developers who’ve successfully been part of outsourcing crews for some of the biggest studios in the world.
So whether you’re a small indie studio or a big studio looking for that boost, consider outsourcing some of your game development to a specialized studio as it is a great way to allow you as a studio to focus on more specific elements of the title, freeing you up for more important aspects of development. If you have any questions about outsourcing game development feel free to contact the team at Pingle Studio and we’ll be happy to discuss it with you further and provide more information about the process and how it can benefit you, your studio, and the future of your game title regardless of what platform it is on.
Game Outsource Development is the way of the future and the more familiar you get as a developer with the concept of it, the better it will be for your professional skill set in the industry. This article is a great place to start and we recommend researching our list of 10 outsourcing developers as a start.
