Is outsourced game development for you?
Whether you’re a startup game developer or part of a much bigger corporation, outsourcing can improve your processes and lighten the workload. If you’re thinking that outsourcing your game development projects is right for you, keep reading.
Let’s take a look at outsourcing. Outsourcing is the process of offloading tasks and responsibilities to third-party service providers. It’s a well-known cost-cutting model that most businesses get into early in their development.
Top 3 advantages of outsourcing mobile game development
Outsourcing is one of the most popular tactics to expand a company’s talent pool while saving up on resources at the same time. It’s not a surprise that even gaming companies have adopted this practice.
Less workload for the in-house team
When you outsource mobile game development, you can free your in-house teams from excessive workload. Remember that working in a development team requires focus and flexibility.
Flexibility in the working arrangement
Acquiring an outsourced team means that you can think about a more flexible working arrangement for your teams. Managing a mix of on-site and offshore game developers is a good way to boost productivity in the workplace.
Promoting workplace collaboration is one of the best ways to engage hybrid teams.
Long-term cost-effectivity
Outsourcing is an effective way to cut costs without sacrificing the quality of any of the outputs. Gaming development companies know better than to hold back on the budget and let the quality of their games suffer.
Outsourced mobile game development providers like Connext have a rigorous quality control process to ensure that every output meets industry standards.
How to outsource mobile game development
When it comes to outsourcing, you need to find a company that operates with the same vision as you. Working with a firm that goes against your core values is already a bad start. That said, everything should start with a research and background screening.
More importantly, the outsourcing provider of mobile game development should have the necessary infrastructure and experience to back their services. You should also be able to define your needs and requirements clearly.
Meanwhile, outsourcing on a smaller scale means that you will be delegating tasks to a freelancer or an independent contractor. However, they should also go through the same screening to determine whether their qualifications meet your requirements.
Top 10 biggest gaming companies
- Sony
- Tencent
- Nintendo
- Microsoft
- Activision Blizzard
- Electronic Arts (EA)
- Epic Games
- Take-Two Interactive
- Sega Sammy
- Bandai Namco
The video gaming industry has been rising since its conception. With every generation, video game development has been tremendously backed up by every generation and every market.
From indie developers to household names, here are the biggest gaming companies that outsource their game development.
1. Sony
Sony is the brain and the muscle behind the most coveted gaming console of 2021, the PlayStation 5. The company is known for making games exclusively for its console line, counting the handheld console PlayStation Vita.
2. Tencent
Die-hard fans of League of Legends know that Tencent owns Riot Games, the name behind one of the biggest online multiplayer games out there. The company also developed Honor of Kings, a video game popular amongst mobile users.
3. Nintendo
The world’s oldest gaming company is Nintendo. Founded in 1889, the Japanese company started out selling handcrafted gaming cards.
Nintendo eventually became known for popularizing handheld gaming devices such as Nintendo DSi, 3DS, and the most recent, Nintendo Switch. As of writing, the company has released its biggest title yet, Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
4. Microsoft
A household name when it comes to operating systems and top-of-the-line laptops and computers. Microsoft is also known for its Xbox console and game line.
From the first generation to the latest Xbox Series X/S, the company brought its best foot forward. Microsoft owns Mojang as well, a Swedish video game company that developed Minecraft, the most popular video game in history.
5. Activision Blizzard
With the merger of Activision and Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Blizzard made history with the Call of Duty video game series. Not to mention, they also developed the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft.
6. Electronic Arts (EA)
Electronic Arts spans across different genres in developing video games. From developing the city-building game The Sims to releasing FIFA games every year, EA has never failed to put out games that capture the general audiences
7. Epic Games
Epic Games was established in 1991 and found fame with its battle royale-esque game, Fortnite: Save The World. Spanning fame across the globe, Epic Games started relatively small. Tim Sweeney founded the company as Potomac Computer Systems, located in Maryland.
8. Take-Two Interactive
Founded in New York City in 1993, Take-Two Interactive found its roots with two publishing labels: Rockstar Games and 2K, which, respectively, came out with the Grand Theft Auto series and NBA 2K series.
The gaming company spanned out with its genres, bringing the masses with games like the Red Dead Redemption and WWE 2K series.
9. Sega Sammy
Sega Sammy was the sum of the merger between Sega and Sammy Corporation in Japan. The company produced games such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Pachinko, which captured the masses’ interest.
Pop culture references about Sonic (especially after the Hollywood movie) made the game even more popular.
10. Bandai Namco
Another company made out of a merger, Bandai Namco was founded 15 years ago. The multinational company has produced hundreds of games throughout the years, one of which being the Tekken series.
Should you outsource mobile game development?
The practice of hiring an external service provider isn’t for everyone. It’s hard work and you have to commit long-term before seeing any significant transformation. Outsourcing mobile game development — and any kind of game, for that matter — is possible.
But first, you might want to ask yourself these questions:
- Is outsourcing worth it?
- How much is the budget allocation?
- What’s the scope of this project?
- Am I going to outsource 100% of the operations?
These questions aren’t exhaustive but they are a great starting point.
Independent
