The Gaming Industry’s Best-Kept Secret: Outsourcing
The gaming industry has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, with the global market projected to reach $268.8 billion by 2025. However, this success comes with its own set of challenges, particularly for game studios. The pressure to deliver high-quality games, meet tight deadlines, and stay within budget can be overwhelming. This is where outsourcing comes in – a strategic solution that can help game studios stay ahead of the game.
Increased Efficiency and Productivity
Outsourcing allows game studios to tap into a global talent pool, accessing skilled professionals who can handle specific tasks, such as iOS mobile game development, art creation, or testing. By delegating tasks to external experts, studios can free up their in-house teams to focus on core responsibilities, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
For example, a game studio may have a team of developers working on a new game, but they may not have the necessary expertise in 3D modeling or animation. By outsourcing these tasks to specialized studios or freelancers, the in-house team can focus on coding and programming, while the outsourced team handles the visual aspects of the game. This division of labor leads to a more efficient use of resources and a faster development process.
Cost Savings: A Significant Advantage
One of the most significant advantages of outsourcing is cost savings. Hiring and training in-house staff can be expensive, especially when it comes to specialized skills like 3D modeling or animation. Outsourcing eliminates these costs, allowing studios to allocate their budget more effectively.
According to a recent survey, the average cost of hiring a full-time developer in the United States is around $100,000 per year, including benefits and training. In contrast, outsourcing development tasks to a specialized studio or freelancer can cost anywhere from $20 to $50 per hour, depending on the complexity of the task and the expertise of the outsourced team.
Access to Specialized Skills and Expertise
Outsourcing provides game studios with access to specialized skills and expertise that may not be available in-house. For example, a studio may need expertise in iOS mobile game development, but may not have the resources to hire a full-time developer. Outsourcing fills this gap, ensuring that projects receive the specialized attention they require.
In addition, outsourcing allows studios to tap into the latest technologies and trends in game development, without having to invest in expensive training programs or equipment. This is particularly important in the gaming industry, where technology is constantly evolving and studios need to stay ahead of the curve to remain competitive.
Flexibility and Scalability
Outsourcing offers game studios the flexibility and scalability they need to adapt to changing project demands. By outsourcing specific tasks or projects, studios can quickly ramp up or down to meet deadlines, without the burden of long-term commitments.
For example, a studio may need to increase their development team size to meet a tight deadline, but may not want to commit to hiring full-time staff. Outsourcing allows them to bring in additional resources on a project-by-project basis, without the long-term financial commitment.
Reduced Risk and Increased Innovation
Outsourcing allows game studios to take calculated risks and explore new ideas, without shouldering the entire burden themselves. By partnering with external experts, studios can share the risk and reap the rewards of innovation.
For example, a studio may want to experiment with a new iOS game developers genre or mechanic, but may not have the resources to devote to it. By outsourcing the development of a prototype or a minimum viable product (MVP), the studio can test the waters without committing to a full-scale production.
Improved Quality and Faster Time-to-Market
Outsourcing enables game studios to tap into the expertise of specialized teams, leading to improved quality and faster time-to-market. By leveraging external resources, studios can accelerate development, testing, and deployment, getting their games to market faster and with greater polish.
For example, a studio may outsource their testing and quality assurance to a specialized team, ensuring that their game is thoroughly tested and bug-free before release. This not only improves the overall quality of the game but also reduces the risk of post-launch fixes and patches.
Enhanced Creativity and Fresh Perspectives
Outsourcing brings fresh perspectives and new ideas to the table, enhancing creativity and innovation in game development. By collaborating with external experts, studios can inject new energy into their projects, leading to more engaging and immersive gaming experiences.
For example, a studio may outsource its art creation to a team of freelancers or a specialized studio, bringing in fresh ideas and perspectives on character design, environment art, and visual effects. This can lead to a more diverse and engaging game world, with characters and environments that stand out from the crowd.
Conclusion
In today’s fast-paced gaming industry, outsourcing is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. By leveraging external expertise, game studios can increase efficiency, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation. Whether it’s iOS mobile game development, art creation, or testing, outsourcing can help studios stay ahead of the curve and deliver high-quality games that meet the evolving demands of gamers worldwide.
