The decision to outsource video game development has become an increasingly popular option for companies looking to create high-quality games while keeping costs under control.
After all, with the cost of mobile game development varying between $45,000 to $240,000 in Australia, you’re going to want to make sure that your entire process from start to finish is as efficient as possible. That’s where an outsourcing partner comes into play.
But if you knew that already, you wouldn’t be here!
And so, without further ado, here are 4 primary reasons why outsourcing your video game development is far more lucrative than trying to manage staff members in-house.
Video Game Development Outsourcing Benefits
The benefits of utilising video game outsourcing companies are numerous. They can help publishers save time and money, reduce risk, and improve the quality of the final game. Not to mention save you a fair few headaches in the process!
Here are 4 benefits of outsourcing video game development:
Keep on scrolling to read our full cost-benefit analysis to outsourcing video game development or click the links above to skip to the section that interests you most! 👇
1. Achieve Huge Cost Savings
One of the main reasons why companies choose to outsource video game development is to save costs. Outsourcing allows companies to reduce the costs associated with hiring and maintaining a full-time in-house team. These costs include salaries, benefits, office space, equipment, and training expenses.
Of these, there are several ways in which outsourcing can lead to cost savings for companies. For example, outsourcing to countries with lower labour costs can significantly reduce the cost of development. Additionally, outsourcing allows companies to avoid the costs associated with recruiting, hiring, and training new employees.
Not to mention all of the time you waste trying to figure out problems that somebody elsewhere may already know!
Outsourcing also provides access to specialized skills and expertise that may not be available in-house, which can lead to more efficient and cost-effective development. When comparing the costs of outsourcing versus in-house development, it is important to consider several factors such as:
- Labour costs in your outsource partner’s country.
- The complexity of the project.
- The duration of the partnership.
While you might judder at the thought of working with a professional company, in-house development requires significant upfront investment in equipment, infrastructure, and training. Yes, it can lead to more control, however, when you find the right development partner, you will still be able to have the major say in the project.
2. Reach Larger Pools Of Talent
Another reason why you should outsource your next video game development is the large array of talent that exists outside of your own company. Through outsourcing, you can tap into a global talent pool of developers and designers who may possess specialized skills that are not available in-house.
For example, when you Hire Unreal Engine Developers that are dedicated to just this game engine, you are gaining access to a huge library of pre-existing components, designs and modules which can save you money too!
Through working with a diverse team, you will gain access to a range of perspectives, experiences, and ideas that can lead to more creative and innovative solutions. Additionally, a diverse team can bring cultural and linguistic understanding that can be helpful in developing games for different markets.
After all, you want this baby to go global!
With several successful outsourcing partnerships in the video game industry (such as Rockstar’s collaboration with a San Diego studio in the development of Red Dead Redemption), outsourcing is adopted by the big players too!
Take Gears 4 for example (which happens to be one of the best FPS games ever made). Epic Games and Certain Affinity butted heads on this one to successfully develop a core multiplayer component which lead to the success of the online gameplay.
Having already abandoned a vision for GOW4, Epic did very well to make good of what could have been a terrible outcome.
3. Focus on Core Competencies
Outsourcing video game development allows companies to focus on their core competencies. These are areas where your own team thrives with the greatest amount of expertise. By outsourcing all of your non-core competencies such as programming, art, or animation, you can redirect your resources and efforts towards where you work best.
In turn, this can help you to achieve higher levels of efficiency and productivity, as well as improve the quality of your products and services. And, we all know that driving efficiency also drives profit too! Remember, you want to make money from this venture.
In addition to driving greater efficiency, outsourcing your next video game (or at least components of it) can also help you to mitigate your risks and avoid potential failures by partnering with experienced outsourcing providers. And there are plenty of examples of that too!
Take Valve Corporation’s phenomenal Portal 2 video game as a test case. Outsourcing the development to a Washington Studio enabled Valve to focus on its own core competencies for this particular game which were the game’s design and storytelling.
Another great example would be Naughty Dog and Uncharted Two. Here, Naughty Dog worked on the single-player campaign whilst outsourcing the multiplayer component to a studio in San Diego. Again, focus on what you are good at and hire someone to handle the rest.
4. Risk Mitigation
Finally, and most importantly, another major benefit of outsourcing video game development is to mitigate your risks of the game never being finished! Too often, game developers run out of budget or find too many hiccups along the way and eventually abandon the project.
By leaving every single component of your game up to experts, your risk of a total train wreck completely becomes mitigated. Well, not completely but you catch my drift.
Through tapping into diverse talent, covering yourself with contracts that ensure your development partner does what they promise and establishing processes and systems for managing the project, you will quickly find that you start to sleep easier at night.
Many game developers have partnered with outsourcing companies in countries like India or China, where there is a large pool of highly skilled and experienced game developers. These partnerships have allowed game developers to tap into this talent pool and reduce their risk of not finding the right people for their projects.
It’s important to consider the specific needs and goals of your project. Outsourcing can provide many benefits, including access to a larger pool of talent and expertise, established processes and systems for managing projects, and reduced risk of delays or cost overruns. However, it’s important to carefully evaluate your options and choose an outsourcing partner that is a good fit for your project.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, outsourcing video game development can bring significant benefits to companies in terms of cost savings, access to a larger pool of talent, faster time to market, and the ability to focus on core competencies. By outsourcing non-core activities, companies can leverage the expertise and resources of specialized partners, reduce costs, and improve the quality of their products and services.
Successful outsourcing partnerships in the video game industry demonstrate the potential of this strategy to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth. Ultimately, the decision to outsource or keep development in-house will depend on the specific needs and goals of each company, as well as the resources and capabilities available.
However, outsourcing can be a powerful tool for video game developers looking to gain a competitive advantage and deliver high-quality products to the market.
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