Co-Development Within The Game Industry

Co-development within the game industry has gained popularity in recent years as the process of making games has become more complex and resource-intensive.

This refers to the practice of collaborating with external partners, such as other game development studios or independent contractors to work on various aspects of a game's development cycle.

This can include various stages of game development, such as concept design, programming, art and animation, audio, quality assurance, and localization.

One of the reasons why co-development has become more popular is that game development has become increasingly complex, requiring specialised skills and expertise in different areas of the industry.

By partnering with external studios or contractors, companies can tap into their specific skills and knowledge to enhance the quality and scope of their games.

Utilising your partners helps to manage the resource constraints that game companies face. Development requires significant investment in terms of time, money, and human resources, and by establishing collaborations, game companies can access additional resources, such as talent, technology, and equipment, to accelerate timelines and meet project deadlines.

Networking within GDN can also help to mitigate risks associated with game development such as market demand, technological changes, and changing player preferences. By sharing the risks with external partners, game companies can diversify their development efforts and reduce the impact of potential failures or setbacks.

Furthermore, co-development fosters creativity and innovation by bringing fresh insight to your company, leading to unique and original game experiences.

Collaborations can bring fresh insights and creative approaches, leading to unique and original game experiences.

However, partnerships also present challenges, such as the need for effective communication, coordination, and management among different partners, potential contrasts in work cultures and practices, as well as intellectual property and ownership issues.

Therefore it is crucial to have careful planning, clear agreements, and effective project management for successful initiatives.

GDN is here to help industry professionals to collaborate and communicate, find resources, share information, and promote business.

We provide access to an international network of partners including publishers & distributors, developers, and service providers in the following disciplines:

• Animation • Art • Audio • Code • Design • Game Studios • Publishing • Quality Assurance

To join GDN, click here.