The Checklist Every Game Studio Needs Before Porting

The gaming industry has come a long way, growing bigger and more exciting with each passing year. New technologies, platforms, and genres keep opening up fresh opportunities for developers and publishers. Players now want to enjoy their favorite games on whatever device they have—consoles, PCs, or mobiles. This means there’s a growing demand for games that can be played on multiple platforms.

This shift in player expectations has made game porting an essential part of the gaming landscape. Developers are realizing the potential of expanding their games to different platforms to reach more players and tap into new markets. The global games market, including mobile and other platforms, generated more than $184 billion in revenue in 2023, growing by +0.6% year-over-year, and is projected to grow to $205 billion by 2026. This just shows how important it is for developers to port games to multiple platforms in order to tap into all that potential.

Reference: blog.udonis.co

However, before you jump into the process of porting games, there are some important steps you need to take. In this article, we’ll walk you through a simple checklist of things to consider before starting video game porting and how to make sure your game is ready for the switch.

Game Porting Is Not as Simple as Just Pressing a Button

First, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page. Game porting is the process of adapting a video game so that it works on a different platform or operating system. For example, taking a game originally developed for PC and making it run on a console like the PlayStation or Xbox. It could also mean moving your game from one operating system, like Windows, to another, like macOS.

This is a big task, but it can be worth it. A well-executed game porting service can help you reach a wider audience, increase your game’s lifespan, and bring in more revenue. 

Now, let’s take a closer look at how we, at Devoted Studios, handle game porting and how we can help game studios successfully port their games.

🕹️ Evaluate the Target Platform

Before we get started, we take the time to fully understand the platform you want to port your game to. Every platform—whether it’s a console, mobile device, or new operating system—comes with its own unique hardware, software, and features. We make sure to research these differences so we can plan the best way to adapt your game.

We also take a close look at your game’s codebase. Is it built to be flexible for the new platform? Does it rely on platform-specific features that might need adjusting? By identifying these potential challenges early, we can make sure everything runs smoothly as we move forward with the porting process.

🛠️ Set Up the Right Tools

Once we know what we’re dealing with, we focus on setting up the right development tools. This includes ensuring we have the proper software development kits (SDKs) and any platform-specific tools needed for the job. For example, porting to a console requires access to that platform's development environment, which we make sure is ready to go.

We also set up essential tools like cross-platform libraries and version control systems to keep everything running smoothly. These tools help us stay on track and make sure your build machine is working properly.

💻 Modify Code and Assets

With the tools in place, we start making the necessary changes to your game’s code so it’s compatible with the new platform’s API. This step is essential—your game needs to communicate with the new system properly. We optimize the code for performance, ensuring it runs smoothly on the new platform.

We also look at the game’s assets like textures, audio, and models, then we modify them as needed. Each platform has its own set of requirements. For example, high-end consoles might need high-resolution assets, while mobile devices require smaller ones. We make sure everything fits the new system’s capabilities.

🎮 Adapt UI/UX and Features

UI (user interface) and UX (user experience) are important when porting games. Every platform has different input methods, like touch screens on mobile devices, controllers for consoles, or mouse and keyboard for PCs. We make sure the UI works smoothly with these input methods by adjusting menus, buttons, and control schemes as needed.

We also check how your game looks across different screen sizes and resolutions. What works well on a mobile device might need adjustments for a larger TV screen or gaming monitor. 

🚀 Test and Optimize Thoroughly

Testing is a big part of our process. We test every aspect of the game to make sure everything works as it should on the new platform—no bugs, no crashes, no performance issues. From the gameplay itself to sound and graphics, we make sure everything is polished.

During testing, we also focus on optimizing the game for the target platform. For example, mobile devices often need optimization for battery life, while consoles may require adjustments to smooth out graphics or improve load times. We fine-tune every detail to make sure the game performs well across all systems.

📝 Meet Certification and Compliance Requirements

Before launch, we make sure the game meets the platform’s certification requirements and complies with all legal guidelines. This includes checking the game’s age rating, ensuring compliance with platform terms, and making any necessary adjustments for regional or cultural requirements.

Let Devoted Studios Handle Your Game Porting

Porting games can be complex and time-consuming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Game porting services, like Devoted Studios, can help you handle everything from technical adjustments to performance optimization. Our services have the expertise needed to make sure that your game is ported smoothly and successfully.

We offer comprehensive game porting services to seamlessly transition your game across platforms. Our expert team specializes in adapting your game’s content and functionality to ensure it performs optimally on new systems. We tailor our approach to each project, using our creativity and technical expertise to deliver high-quality results on time and within budget.

When working with Devoted, you can expect:

• Certification Guaranteed: All submissions are approved on the first attempt.

• Optimized Performance: We meet high performance standards without compromising quality. For example, we successfully adapt VR games to flat-screen gameplay, fine-tune controls, UI, and balance for the best experience.

Games We’ve Successfully Ported

FNAF: SECURITY BREACH

VR survival horror video game developed by Steel Wool Studio

👥 TEAM ROLE

• Ported the game to Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and XBox, with significant technical and visual optimization. 
• Porting and post-release bug fixing and patches

🏆 OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

• Achieving stable 30 FPS on Switch, using up to 1024 textures, and tuning Light and Shadows to provide quality gameplay.
• Stabilizing performance on the past gen consoles (60 fps avg) while bringing in visual improvements to hit quality comparable with PC version Ultra settings.

FNAF: HELP WANTED

VR survival horror video game developed by Steel Wool Studio

👥 TEAM ROLE

• Porting to Switch
• Optimization of game for PS4, PS5
• Porting of DLC for Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch

🏆 OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

• Achieving stable 30 FPS on Switch, using up to 1024 textures,  and tuning Light and Shadows to provide quality gameplay.
• Stabilizing performance on the past gen consoles (60 fps avg) while bringing  in visual improvements to hit quality comparable with PC version Ultra settings.

OPEN ROADS

Adventure mystery-thriller video game

👥 TEAM ROLE

• Tech art and lighting for porting to Switch
• Optimization process for Switch
• Lighting setup and baking
• Scene dressing

🏆 OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

• Creating an optimized tree system for the Nintendo port to achieve 30fps.
• Relighting and post-processing the scene to enhance the overall experience and mood.

RISK OF RAIN 2