How to Outsource Your Game Development Project?

Outsourcing game development has become an effective way for small to medium-sized studios to access top-tier talent, specialized expertise, and resources without overstretching budgets. 

With mobile games projected to generate an incredible $156 billion by 2029, outsourcing is now the best way to stay competitive. However, outsourcing isn’t without its challenges. Managing remote teams, navigating time zones, and ensuring top-notch product quality can be tricky.

Outsourcing game development is a gateway to access more skilled people with modern technology that may be lacking if you choose to develop any project in-house. As a result, you can explore more opportunities and, at the same time, get the best price-performance ratio.

Let’s discuss some key steps to take while outsourcing game development to ensure the success of your future project.

Things to Watch Out for in Game Development Firm

Having a reliable game development partner at the back directly impacts the success of your game. But how would you decide if someone is up to the mark for your game or not? Is there any specific criteria to do that? Things are going to be tough for you since you have to assess thousands of available options. Thankfully, we know how to deal with it. To save you from this headache, we have outlined a quick checklist to ensure that you have a reliable and ideal name on your back. 

• Expertise & Experience: The game development team you choose shall have prior experience working on projects similar to yours. 
• Portfolio: Give their past projects a look in order to get a sense of the quality of their work.
• Project Management: Check if they use tools like Jira or Trello to track progress so you are always in the loop with them. 
• Cost: Try to know about their pricing structure to check whether they fit into your budget. 
• Value for Money: Ensure that the quality of their work justifies the price you are paying.
• Industry Reputation: Research their reputation in the game development world niche.
• Tech Infrastructure: Make sure they have access to the required tools and technologies to handle development efficiently.
• Language and Time Zone: It is paramount to ensure both of you do not have a language barrier or work hours overlap.

Read More: Leverage Game Development Outsourcing Services with Cubix

7 Key Steps to Outsource Game Development Like a Pro

1. Define Your Game’s Vision & Requirements

Before searching for any outsourcing game development team, we must have a clear vision of what we have planned and what the game has set out to achieve. This includes defining game features, functionality, general design aspects, and specific technical requirements. A clearly defined product scope will assist you in finding a spot-on outsourced team and help in the evaluation of project progress.

2. Choose the Best Outsourcing Model

When it comes to outsourcing game development, selecting the right development model is crucial for your project’s success. Here is a clear breakdown of the main options available:

• Full-Cycle Development: In this model, the outsourcing firm takes care of everything—from the initial concept to post-release updates. This option is great if you want a hands-off approach that allows you to focus on other aspects of your business.
• Partial Outsourcing: Here, you partner with an outsourcing team to handle specific components of the game, such as programming or graphic design. Your in-house team manages the remaining tasks.
• Collaborative Development: This hybrid approach allows your in-house team to work closely with an outsourced team. It encourages a collaborative environment where both teams contribute their strengths. This model for game development enhances creativity and innovation to provide an edge in complex projects.
• In-House Development: Keeping everything in-house might be the best choice if your team has all the necessary expertise. This approach ensures complete control over the development process and leads to a more cohesive final product.

Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to choose one that aligns with the size, scope, and complexity of your project.

3. Research and Vet Potential Partners

Once you clearly understand the desired project goals and requirements, you can look for potential outsourcing partners. Look for a video game production business with experience, skill in the genre of games you want to make, and a track record of producing high-quality work on schedule and within your budget.

Check out review platforms like Clutch, which has over 1800 reviews of B2B service providers/outsourcers. Another similar service is Good Firms, which has a more diverse review list of outsourcing services from which you can make a more definitive decision.

Communication and project management experience are very useful when working with remote teams. Be sure to check out the team’s portfolio and customer reviews.

4. Effective Communication

Effective communication is another highly essential thing for successfully outsourcing any project. Establish clear lines of communication with your outsourcing partners, set up regular check-ins, and track project progress. To keep development going, you also need to be able to respond quickly when questions or problems arise.

5. Create a Detailed Project Management Plan

A clear project management plan is essential to keep the development process on track. This should include detailed milestones, asset and code deployment timelines, and testing and quality assurance plans. In addition, make sure your project management plan is clear to you and your outsourcing partner and that everyone involved knows their roles and responsibilities.

6. Protect Your Intellectual Property

Securing intellectual property is important while outsourcing game development. You must clearly agree with the outsourcing company as to who owns the rights to your game’s code, graphics, and other assets, as well as all intellectual property rights related to your game’s branding.

7. Test Your Game Thoroughly

Finally, testing your project game thoroughly before publishing it is important. This includes functional testing, ensuring it works as expected, and playtesting to establish that the game is fun and engaging. Be sure to include a feedback mechanism so the game can be revised based on the player’s likes and dislikes.

Read More: 13 Benefits of Game Development Outsourcing

Wrapping Up

Outsourcing game development is a smart move that offers access to skilled professionals, advanced tools, and cost-effective solutions. By following the steps outlined above, you can choose the right development partner and set your project up for success.

At Cubix, we bring over 15 years of expertise to game development, specializing in creating captivating games for mobile, console, and PC platforms. Our expert team has successfully helped countless businesses turn their ideas into innovative games.

If you have a small project or a full-scale production, Cubix makes outsourcing game development simple, reliable, and stress-free. Contact us now for enthralling games that match your vision—on time and within budget!

Answering Common Questions

• What is game development outsourcing?

Outsourcing in the context of game development refers to hiring external teams and firms to manage certain tasks or complete development projects rather than managing everything in-house. 

• Is it worth outsourcing your game development project?

Yes, outsourcing is a highly effective way to get your development done perfectly. It enables game developers to access a broader pool of talent, reduce costs, and focus on core competencies.

• How Much Will Cost to Outsource Your Game Development?

For simple mobile games, the investment might range from $40,000 to $50,000. Mid-range games typically cost between $50,000 and $200,000, while high-end AAA games can exceed $200,000.