Developing a game can be an exciting yet challenging process. It involves everything from creating art and animations to coding and testing, all while keeping the end-user experience in mind. And with the fast-growing gaming industry, companies need to keep up. So, should you try to do it all in-house, or is it better to outsource the work to a game development studio?

In recent years, more businesses have been opting to outsource game development. Partnering with a specialized game development company does offer many benefits, from accessing top talent to saving time and money. But why game outsourcing? Let’s break it down.

Making Life Easier for Your Team

Game development outsourcing is when a company partners with an external studio to handle parts, or all, of the game creation process. Think of it as an extension of your own team! Instead of trying to do everything in-house, you collaborate with skilled professionals who specialize in areas like coding, design, art, or testing. 

This way, you can scale your team up or down as needed, without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time staff. Working with a game outsourcing studio means you get the extra help you need, while still keeping control of your project and vision. It’s like adding more hands to your project, giving you flexibility and access to expert talent.

Why Do Companies Start Outsourcing Game Developers?

Now, let’s talk about why outsourcing has become an increasingly attractive option for the gaming industry.

Access to Top Global Talent

One of the biggest perks of outsourcing game development is that you can work with talented people from all over the world. When you collaborate with a game outsourcing studio, you tap into a wide pool of artists, designers, developers, and other experts who have tons of experience. Whether you are building a mobile game or a console title, these professionals have seen it all and know how to get the job done.

At Devoted Studios, we work with creative professionals from different backgrounds and specialties, which means we can bring unique ideas and solutions to your game. Instead of being limited by the skills of your in-house team, outsourcing lets you access a broader range of expertise.

Cost Savings

Building and maintaining a full-time game development team can be expensive. especially when building an in-house team. You’re not only paying for salaries but also for benefits, office space, equipment, and ongoing training. These costs add up fast! 

However, by outsourcing to a game development studio, you can manage your budget much more effectively. You only pay for the services you need, when you need them. This flexibility ensures you don’t overspend on resources that may not be required at every stage of development, making it a more cost-efficient option for many companies. Below is a table of how much it costs to build a game.

Below is an estimation of how much it costs to build a game.

Source: appstudio.ca

Outsourcing your game development is a smart way to keep these costs under control, no matter the type of game you’re building. By partnering with a game outsourcing studio, you can access global talent without the high overhead of maintaining an in-house team. Need a simple mini-game for $2,000? Outsourcing can connect you with the right developers quickly and efficiently. Developing a more complex 3D or AAA game? Outsourcing gives you the flexibility to scale your team without long-term commitments, allowing you to adjust based on your project’s needs. 

Scalability and Flexibility

Every game is different, and each project comes with its own set of challenges. Some games require large teams, while others might only need a small group of developers. When you work with a game outsourcing studio, you get the flexibility to scale your team up or down based on the needs of the project.

Let’s say you are building a game for a major console launch. You might need a large team to work on complex elements like animation, level design, or multiplayer features. An outsource video game development studio can quickly gather a team of experts who know how to handle large-scale projects. On the other hand, if you are just developing a simple mobile game, you might only need a small group of developers.

Outsourcing game development gives you the freedom to adjust your team size without the long-term commitments that come with hiring in-house employees.

Faster Time to Market

In the gaming world, timing is everything. Whether you are creating a mobile game or a large console project, getting your game to market quickly can make all the difference. By working with an experienced game development studio like Devoted Studios, you can speed up your development process.

Outsourcing means you can bring in extra hands whenever you need them, which helps prevent bottlenecks and keeps your project on track. If you try to do everything in-house, you might find that you need to hire more people or wait for your current team to complete other projects before they can work on your game. That slows everything down. But when you outsource mobile game development, you can have multiple teams working at once, which gets your game out the door faster.

Focus on What You Do Best

Developing a game requires a lot of focus and time. If your team is tied up with coding, art creation, and testing, they might not have the bandwidth to work on other important areas of your business. By outsourcing to a game development company, you free up your internal team to focus on what they do best, whether that’s marketing, business development, or managing other key projects.

For example, if you specialize in mobile app development, it might make more sense to hire a game outsourcing studio to handle the game development side of things. That way, you can focus on growing your mobile apps while letting the experts create your game.

Mitigated Risks 

When you outsource game development, one of the key benefits is mitigated risks. Game development is a complex process that comes with many potential challenges, like budget overruns, missed deadlines, or technical issues. By partnering with a game outsourcing studio, you reduce these risks because you’re working with experts who have the experience and processes in place to handle such challenges.

Outsourcing teams are skilled at managing unexpected hurdles, such as staffing changes or technical bugs, without affecting the overall project timeline. They typically use proven workflows and risk management strategies to ensure that problems are identified early and addressed quickly. This reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes and helps keep your game on track.

Ready to Outsource Your Game?

Outsourcing your game development can be a game-changer, but how do you know if you’re ready? First, consider what parts of the project you need help with—whether it’s coding, art, animation, or the entire game. Make sure you have a clear vision and scope for your game. Once you know the skills and resources you need, it’s time to start looking for the right game development studio. You will want to partner with a team that understands your goals and can deliver on time and within budget.

Ready to get started? Let Devoted Studios turn your game idea into reality, faster and more efficiently!

When we think of AAA games, titles like The Last of Us, Red Dead Redemption 2, or The Witcher 3 often come to mind. These are massive productions with incredibly detailed graphics, complex mechanics, and long, incredible narrative.

But can Unity, a game engine historically associated with mobile games and indie developers, handle AAA game development? The answer might surprise you.

What Defines a AAA Game?

Before exploring Unity’s potential for AAA game development, let’s clarify what a AAA game actually is. The term ‘AAA game’ typically refers to titles created by large studios with extensive budgets, big teams, and high production values. These games are considered flagship products for companies, often taking years to complete and requiring millions of dollars. In short, AAA games represent the best that the industry has to offer in terms of visual quality, gameplay, and storytelling.

The cost of AAA game development, according to the CMA report, can go up to $1 billion, depending on the game’s complexity. Take for example, Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, they required over $250 million in development costs.

Why are AAA games so expensive to make? The simple answer is because these projects involve multiple teams working across various areas such as art design, coding, voice acting, and marketing.

Unity Game Development: A Brief Overview

Unity is one of the most widely used game development engines globally, known for its flexibility, ease of use, and strong community support. Developers use it to build everything from simple 2D mobile games to complex 3D environments and VR experiences. Over the years, Unity game development has advanced significantly, with the engine becoming increasingly capable of handling more sophisticated projects.

Unity offers an intuitive interface and a vast library of assets, which makes it popular among small studios and indie developers. Its cross-platform compatibility and relatively accessible pricing model make it a go-to for developers of all sizes. 

However, when it comes to AAA game development, Unity isn’t always the first engine that comes to mind. But that does not mean it can’t. Unity is fully capable of developing AAA-quality games. Games like The Heretic and Cities: Skylines are examples of AAA games made with Unity.

Unity’s Growing Capability for AAA Games

While Unity originally catered to smaller projects, its capabilities have expanded significantly. The most recent versions of Unity offer tools like the High-Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP) and real-time ray tracing, which allow for lifelike lighting, shadows, and detailed environments. These features have brought Unity much closer to the visual quality often associated with AAA games.

For instance, Unity’s HDRP allows for advanced rendering techniques, making it easier to produce visually stunning games. Additionally, Unity’s Visual Effect Graph gives developers the ability to create complex particle systems, contributing to the immersive experiences typically found in AAA titles. Unity’s Data-Oriented Technology Stack (DOTS) also allows for more efficient game performance, which is crucial for large, complex games.

Another major advantage for Unity developers is its Asset Store, which provides pre-made models, textures, animations, and other resources that can drastically speed up game development.

Top 3 AAA Games Built with Unity Engine

While Unity is not yet the industry standard for AAA games, there have been several notable titles that highlight the engine’s capabilities. These examples demonstrate that Unity is more than capable of handling complex game mechanics, stunning visuals, and immersive gameplay experiences typically expected from AAA games. Here are some examples of AAA games built with Unity engine:

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, released in August 2020, is a colorful, battle royale game built with Unity, where players compete in fun, chaotic obstacle courses. Developers used Unity’s built-in physics engine to create dynamic and unpredictable interactions between the jellybean-like characters as they navigate these wacky challenges. 

Unity’s asset store was essential for sourcing 3D models, animations, and other elements, saving time and resources during development. The game’s real-time physics and seamless multiplayer functionality were made possible by Unity, allowing for smooth gameplay and a fun, engaging experience. Unity helped deliver the charm and unpredictability that makes Fall Guys so beloved.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps 

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is not only visually stunning, but it also delivers highly engaging and challenging gameplay. As a 2D platformer with ‘Metroidvania’ elements, the game offers tight, responsive controls that allow players to execute precise movements, which are critical for navigating its beautifully designed environments. Unity’s capabilities shine through in the fluidity of Ori’s movements, from double jumps and dashes to gliding through the air with a graceful fluidity that feels natural and responsive.

The gameplay centers around exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving. Players control Ori, a small spirit creature, as they traverse a sprawling interconnected world filled with hidden paths, dangerous enemies, and cleverly designed puzzles. The game encourages players to revisit areas with new abilities, making exploration feel rewarding. 

Subway Surfers

Who doesn’t know Subway Surfers? It’s one of the most popular and addictive endless runner games developed by KiLoo and SYBO, and believe it or not, it’s made with Unity! The game’s vibrant graphics, smooth controls, and fast-paced action are all powered by Unity’s flexible game engine, which makes the gameplay experience feel seamless.

In Subway Surfers, players take on the role of a character running through subway tracks, trying to outrun the inspector and his dog. With simple swipe controls, they dodge oncoming trains, jump over barriers, and collect coins along the way. Power-ups like jetpacks and coin magnets add to the fun, making each run feel fresh and exciting.

The Future of Unity in AAA Game Development

Unity is gradually becoming a viable option for AAA developers. The constant updates to the engine and the introduction of advanced tools like HDRP and DOTS make it more competitive with other AAA game engines. Unity also offers greater flexibility and faster iteration times, making it appealing to game studios looking to innovate in their development process.

As more studios explore Unity’s potential, it is likely that we will see more AAA games developed with Unity in the coming years.

So, can you make AAA games with Unity? 

Absolutely, though it requires some additional effort and know-how. Unity has proven itself as a powerful tool capable of producing complex, visually stunning games. However, making a AAA game with Unity may require more customization and optimization compared to other engines.

Unity’s recent advancements have positioned it as a strong contender for large-scale projects, and as more developers look for ways to streamline the development process, Unity offers an attractive combination of flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency.

For studios interested in exploring Unity for their next game, whether it’s a mobile title or a full-scale AAA project, Devoted Studios can help. Learn more about our Unity game development services on our Unity Games Service Page.

At Devoted Studios, we’ve been part of developing cutting-edge games in Unity, delivering polished experiences across genres. We’ve demonstrated that Unity can meet the demands of high-quality production. Our work includes collaborations on games like The Sandbox: Hell’s Kitchen and Coin Hunt World, showcasing Unity’s capabilities in handling complex mechanics, beautiful visuals, and smooth gameplay across devices.

The simple answer is, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) gaming will actually change the world in 2024. But, how? With all the buzz around new technology, NFTs, and blockchain that began to be everywhere from 2018 to 2022, you might be wondering if this trend is here to stay or if it was just a passing fad. 

While some trends in technology come and go, NFT gaming is different—it has the potential to reshape not just how we play games but how we view ownership in the digital space. From early buzz and experimental games to today’s full-fledged virtual economies, NFT gaming has come a long way. 

Now in 2024, NFTs are more than just a trend—they’re a transformative technology set to leave a lasting mark on the gaming industry.

But how did we get here? How did NFTs go from a niche concept to a mainstream phenomenon? And more importantly, why is NFT gaming still relevant today? 

Let’s talk about what NFT gaming is all about, how it became popular, and what’s next for this innovative technology.

How Did NFTs Game Become Popular?

Before we go further, what is NFT gaming? NFT gaming refers to video games that incorporate Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), allowing players to own, trade, or sell unique in-game assets that are stored on the blockchain. 

Unlike traditional games, where items like characters, weapons, or skins are controlled by the game developers and cannot be used outside the game, NFT games give players full ownership of their digital items. These assets, such as virtual land, rare characters, or special abilities, are represented as NFTs, which means they are one-of-a-kind and cannot be duplicated. This creates a new layer of interaction where players can buy, sell, or trade their assets across different platforms.

The rise of NFTs can be traced back to the period between 2012 to 2013 with the introduction of Colored Coins on the Bitcoin blockchain, which represented real-world assets digitally. Though simple, this idea laid the groundwork for what NFTs would become. 

In 2017, CryptoPunks and CryptoKitties on the Ethereum blockchain brought NFTs into the spotlight. CryptoKitties, a game allowing players to trade and breed virtual cats, introduced the ERC-721 standard, making NFTs unique and non-interchangeable. From 2018 to 2022, NFTs gained massive popularity, with high-profile sales like Beeple’s digital artwork selling for $69 million in 2021, cementing NFTs as a major force in digital ownership and gaming.

The NFT Games Market in 2024

The NFT games market in 2024 continues to grow and evolve, solidifying its place in the gaming industry. Thanks to advancements in blockchain technology, NFT games have become more accessible, user-friendly, and engaging. This steady progress shows no signs of slowing down, and here’s why NFT games are still making an impact today:

True Ownership and Control

One of the primary reasons NFT games remain relevant is the concept of true ownership. Unlike traditional games where in-game items, characters, or land are owned by the game developers, NFT gaming gives players real ownership of these assets. Because NFTs are stored on a decentralized blockchain, players can buy, sell, or trade their in-game assets in open markets, even outside the game environment. This ability to transfer and maintain ownership across platforms keeps players engaged, as they know their time and investment are secure and potentially profitable.

The Play-to-Earn Model

The play-to-earn (P2E) model continues to drive the popularity of NFT games in 2024. Players can earn real-world money through gameplay by selling their NFTs or participating in in-game economies. Games like Axie Infinity have proven that players, especially in certain regions, can make substantial income by playing these games. This financial incentive adds a layer of relevance and interest beyond entertainment, especially in a world where digital economies are expanding.

Increased Integration with the Metaverse

With the rise of the metaverse, NFT games are becoming more integrated into these virtual worlds. Players can now own virtual land, build properties, and create unique experiences that other users can interact with, much like in the physical world. As the concept of the metaverse grows, the ability to own and trade assets across multiple virtual worlds makes NFT gaming a key component in how people experience and interact with digital spaces.

Investment and Innovation

Investors and major gaming companies continue to see the potential in NFT gaming. The significant investment flowing into NFT game development means that these games are only going to get better, with improved graphics, gameplay mechanics, and more immersive experiences. 

Cross-Platform and Interoperable Assets

In 2024, the concept of interoperability—where NFT assets can be used across different games or platforms—is becoming more common. Players can carry their unique items, such as weapons or characters, from one game to another, creating a cohesive experience across multiple gaming ecosystems.

Devoted Studios Brings Your Metaverse Vision to Life

One of our notable NFT gaming projects Devoted Studios has worked on is Magic Craft, a massive war and conquest play-to-earn multiplayer game launched on the Binance Smart Chain. In Magic Craft, players form clans, engage in battles, and vie for dominance in a world driven by an advanced guild system, where victors can collect taxes in the game’s native cryptocurrency, $MCRT. The game’s unique economy and taxation system create a competitive and rewarding environment, making it a standout in the NFT gaming space.

Conclusion: Why NFT Gaming Matters in 2024?

In 2024, NFT gaming is not just surviving—it’s evolving and expanding into new, exciting territories. The combination of true ownership, the play-to-earn model, integration with the metaverse, and ongoing technological advancements ensures that NFT games will continue to shape the future of the gaming industry. With more players, developers, and investors getting involved, NFT gaming is set to remain a key part of how we experience and interact with digital worlds.

To dive deeper into how NFT games are transforming the gaming landscape, check out Devoted Studios’ NFT Blockchain Game Services. We offer expert insights and services to help developers create engaging and innovative NFT games for the future.