Game porting is a process in which a video game that was originally developed for one platform is adapted or converted to run on another platform. For example, if a game was created for a console like PlayStation, game porting would involve making that same game work on other platforms like Xbox, PC, or even mobile devices. 

However, the process is not as easy as just moving files. Game developers have to make adjustments to the game’s code, graphics, and how it performs so that it looks and feels just as good on the new platform as it did on the original one.

But why porting? As more players buy games online instead of physical copies, game developers need to find ways to reach them across different platforms. This is where porting comes in. Porting allows a game to be played on multiple devices, like consoles, PCs, and even mobile. In 2022, the console gaming market made $28.6 billion, while the worldwide PC gaming market generated $42.9 billion. Meanwhile, packaged game sales were much lower, only reaching $9.3 billion. With such a strong focus on digital platforms, porting is a great way for developers to reach more players and boost their success by making their games available on as many platforms as possible.

Now, let’s look at why outsourcing game porting can be helpful and which studios are the best at it.

Why Outsource Game Porting?

Outsourcing game porting means hiring an outside team to help adapt your game for other platforms. Here’s why outsourcing can be a great idea!

Hiring an internal team to manage game porting can be expensive, but outsourcing helps you get high-quality work without needing a dedicated in-house team. Since porting requires a solid understanding of different gaming platforms, outsourcing studios are great at handling this, bringing the skills needed to make the process smooth. 

When you outsource, different parts of the project can be worked on at the same time, meaning your game can reach new platforms faster than if handled internally. Plus, many outsourcing studios also provide testing services to make sure the port works well and is free of bugs or glitches.

Top 10 Video Game Porting Companies

Bringing a game from one platform to another, like consoles, PCs, or mobile devices, can be tricky. That’s where porting studios come in. These companies are experts in making sure games work smoothly across different platforms. Here are the top 10 companies offering excellent game porting services in 2024.

Devoted Studios

At Devoted Studios, we are known as a leader in game porting and engineering. We’ve taken on some of the most challenging porting projects in the industry and have become the top partner for developers who want to bring their games to more platforms like PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Some of our key projects include Palia, Five Nights at Freddy’s series, Risk of Rain 2, and Spellbreak.

Virtuos

Virtuos is a company that stands out in the game porting industry. They have a solid reputation for working on AAA titles, making sure the game runs well on different platforms. Some of their key projects include Dark Souls: Remastered, The Outer Worlds, and Call of Duty: Warzone.

Room 8 Studio

Room 8 Studio offers flexible porting solutions for both indie and AAA games. They are quick and efficient, which makes them a great choice for developers who need their game on multiple platforms quickly.

Keywords Studios

Keywords Studios has worked on quite a few recognizable titles like Marvel’s Guardian of the Galaxy and Alan Wake Remastered. They’re known for managing large-scale game porting services, which makes them a solid option for developers handling complex projects across different platforms.

QLOC

QLOC has been around for a while, offering porting services and contributing to over 2,500 projects for renowned video game developers and publishers. They focus heavily on quality delivered on time.

Sperasoft

Sperasoft has been involved in projects like Rainbow Six: Siege and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, focusing on performance optimization, particularly for mobile and console. They offer game porting services that help developers bring their games to new audiences.

Abstraction

The company is known for finding smart solutions to the challenges that come up during porting. It has gained a reputation as a top-rated video game porting company, working on projects ranging from cult classics like Hotline Miami to popular games like Angry Birds.

Independent Arts

This company has been porting older games to newer consoles since the 1990s and has remained a trusted expert in the field. Even today, they are sometimes called on by Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony for their expertise.

Puny Human

Puny Human has solid experience in game development, making them well-versed in the common challenges of game porting. Their team of developers and tech artists can assist with porting VR games, and they have worked on projects like Trover Saves the Universe and Wasteland 3.

Pingle Studio

Pingle has a skilled team of experts ready to help you port your game across various platforms, whether it’s older consoles like Xbox One, the latest generation like PS5, or even mobile devices.

Porting a game to the Nintendo Switch is a bit like trying to fit a big, fancy sofa through a narrow doorway — tricky but rewarding once it’s in place! 

For Devoted Studios, bringing the Open Roads Project to the Switch meant getting creative to make sure everything ran smoothly on the platform’s compact hardware. The Switch doesn’t have the power of bigger consoles, so the team, led by Art Director Igor Doroshchuk, along with Michael Bistakis, came up with some clever ideas to keep the game looking great without slowing down.

The team found that with the right tweaks and a bit of out-of-the-box thinking, even a project with a lot of moving parts could feel right at home on Nintendo’s portable console. So read along!

About Igor

Igor Doroshchuk is the 3D Art Director at Devoted Studios, where he also takes on a Technical Support role. With over 11 years of experience in the game development industry, he specializes in creating 3D props, environments, textures, and materials across various pipelines. 

In addition to his creative work, Igor leads a team of artists, develops tailored pipelines for them, and ensures the delivery of high-quality assets for each project. He also provides technical support, including shader creation, asset integration, scene lighting, and prefab assembly for projects on both Unreal and Unity platforms.

We caught up with Igor Doroshchuk to talk about his work on the Open Roads Project, here’s the inside scoop on how he and his team tackled the obstacles to make this ambitious project come to life.

The Biggest Challenge During the Open Road Project

One of the biggest challenges for Igor’s team was designing scenes with an endless road surrounded by trees on both sides. 

“The biggest challenge was to properly implement a big amount of the trees… where you are just driving the car, and you can have an endless road,” Igor explained. The goal was to create a lively and immersive environment that didn’t slow down gameplay.

However, the Nintendo Switch added extra limitations, as it has much lower technical capabilities compared to other platforms. “Nintendo has low parameters, low technical specifications, and we need to be wise in the ways we implement any system for the trees,” Igor shared. 

The team had to get creative, eventually turning to a particle system to handle the trees, which saved memory and processing power. “We decided to convert all the trees to a simple particle system and spawn them. And that could help us to save a lot of polygons, a lot of budget to run this amount of the trees for these scenes,” he explained.

Solving Unexpected Issues

Like any project, the Open Roads Project was no stranger to unexpected issues. Igor shared his approach for dealing with these surprises, “For these types of issues, I’m personally using the approach that helps me a lot through my entire career in game development.” 

His technique involves:

Isolating the problem

Pinpointing possible causes

Testing each solution until the issue is resolved

You start by isolating the problem. For instance, sometimes when you run the scene and some scripts start causing the problem, you just start deleting the game object in the scene one by one in runtime and see what happens.

This hands-on approach is straightforward but highly effective in narrowing down the source of the problem.

Iterations and Finding New Solutions

Before deciding on the particle system for the trees, the team spent months testing other solutions. “Of course, this is the tree system,” Igor said when asked about parts of the project that took longer than expected. “Before we came out with the particle system solution for the trees, we ran a couple of iterations.”

They tried different approaches, including optimizing shaders, adjusting the draw distance, and experimenting with an occlusion culling system. “We tried a lot of the stuff, and this helped us understand that probably we need to think out of the box,” he said. 

After three months of testing, they landed on the particle system, a solution that eventually worked well for their needs.

We were at the point where we literally tried everything… and this is the only solution that came up in our heads, and we tried to use it, and it seems like it worked pretty well.

Making the Game Work for the Nintendo Switch

Since the game was focused on the Nintendo Switch, the team had to make sure it ran as smoothly as possible on this platform. “Since we were oriented for the Nintendo platform, we tried to optimize the scenes, the game itself as hard as we can,” Igor explained.

The team collaborated with partners who had access to a Nintendo Switch development kit. “We asked our partners to run it on the Nintendo Switch DEV kit and give us some metrics so that we could understand how it works, what we need to do,” he said. This testing process led them to simplify the trees further by turning all 3D trees into 2D planes that always face the camera.

“We kind of turned all 3D trees to 2D planes and spawned them like, you know, like cards, like billboards that always face the camera,” Igor explained. 

Important Lessons Learned

Reflecting on his work on the Open Roads Project, Igor shared some valuable lessons he learned along the way. “This is thinking out of the box,” he said.

You don’t need to be focused on the solution you already have. Of course, for that, you need experience and creativity, and only those two could help you find really creative and really good and workable solutions.

Igor emphasized that even failures can be useful learning experiences. “Even if you fail with something and your approach will not work… that experience could help you in the future,” he shared. This mindset is what helped the team keep going, even when they faced challenges that seemed nearly impossible.

Advice for Future Projects

Igor had advice for other game developers facing similar challenges. He encouraged an open-minded approach to problem-solving. “You should always try to do some crazy stuff, and sometimes that could be quite helpful for you,” he said.

“And of course, you need to remember about the estimation of the project deadlines,” he added.

The Open Roads shows that even the toughest challenges can be handled with creativity, teamwork, and a willingness to think outside the box.

A big Thanks to Michael Bistakis who was a huge part of the Open Roads Project for the team. He has successfully brought fresh ideas and solutions to make the game work so well on the Nintendo Switch!

The metaverse is a big deal in the gaming and digital world today. More and more brands are turning to virtual spaces to connect with their audiences. Platforms like Roblox, Fortnite, and Sandbox allow companies to create fun, interactive experiences for users. But with so many options out there, how do you choose the best one for your brand?

Let’s break down these popular platforms—Roblox, Fortnite, and Sandbox—and see what they offer. By the end of this article, you’ll have a better idea of which platform fits your brand’s needs.

Why Brands Are Turning to the Metaverse

More and more companies are exploring metaverse games to engage their audiences. The metaverse lets people do more than just watch or read—they can interact with your brand in new, exciting ways. In fact, the metaverse could be a $5 trillion market by 2030, with 15% of corporate revenue expected to come from these creator platforms by 2028.

Roblox is perfect for brands targeting a younger audience. Brands can create games or virtual stores to sell branded items or offer interactive experiences. And Devoted Studios can help you to activate your brand on Roblox.

Fortnite: High-Quality, Large-Scale Experiences

Fortnite is known for its large, high-quality virtual events and games. Brands that want to create an immersive experience with polished visuals often turn to Fortnite. Here’s why it’s a strong contender:

To succeed on Fortnite, you’ll want to hire a metaverse developer that specializes as a Fortnite game development or a UEFN developer (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) to build exciting, branded islands, mini-games, or in-game assets like character skins. Devoted Studios has a lot of experience in building these kinds of experiences, like our work on Nike Airphoria Vol. 2 in Fortnite. 

Sandbox: A Blockchain-Driven Platform

Unlike Roblox and Fortnite, Sandbox is a blockchain-powered platform where users can create, own, and trade virtual goods as NFTs (non-fungible tokens). This makes it different and appealing to brands interested in digital ownership and decentralized experiences.

Working with a Sandbox developer like us will help you navigate this platform and create metaverse games with branded items or experiences that resonate with the community.  Devoted Studios has also contributed to exciting projects like Hell’s Kitchen in The Sandbox, where we made unique gaming experiences that bring the popular cooking show into the metaverse.

How Big Brands Are Activating Their Presence

Several big companies are already making their mark in the metaverse. For example, Disney is working with Epic Games to create large, open-world games in Fortnite. Disney has even invested $1.5 billion in this project, showing how serious they are about joining the metaverse.

LEGO is also teaming up with Fortnite to create fun, family-friendly experiences. Players can design their own LEGO islands, proving that even famous brands are using the metaverse to get creative and connect with people.

Why Choose Devoted Studios for Your Metaverse Projects?

We understand the unique challenges of creating engaging, interactive experiences in the metaverse. Whether you’re aiming to reach Roblox’s younger audience, tap into Fortnite’s immersive game worlds, or explore Sandbox’s NFT-driven economy, Devoted Studios has the expertise to bring your ideas to life. Our team of skilled metaverse game developers is ready to design unforgettable brand experiences that resonate with your audience.

Take a look at our metaverse development services and learn how we can help your brand succeed in the metaverse through our UEFN services and Sandbox & voxel art creation.

Related:

Game development is an intricate process. As any game development company will tell you, it’s a blend of creativity, technical complexity, collaboration, and constant iteration. One moment, everything is progressing smoothly, and the next, unforeseen challenges arise that can derail even the most well-thought-out plans. 

From ideation to launch, the process of making a video game is full of moving parts, and without careful planning and execution, it can quickly become overwhelming.

Why is Game Development So Complicated?

The process of game development is often compared to constructing a building; it requires a strong foundation, intricate design, and meticulous execution. It’s a complex process that involves blending creativity with technology and bringing together a diverse group of talented people—all working toward the same goal. On top of that, the gaming industry is always evolving, with new technology, trends, and player expectations constantly changing the landscape.

For starters, the creative vision behind a game needs to align with what’s technically possible. Sometimes, what looks amazing in concept doesn’t work as well when you start coding or testing it. Other times, you discover new ideas or improvements during development, which can lead to changes in the original plan.

At Devoted Studios, we’ve streamlined our game development process to make it as smooth and fast as possible. Our team has developed a structured approach that allows us to tackle each stage of the game development process efficiently while staying flexible enough to handle any surprises that come our way.

Stages of game development: Step-by-Step

To better understand why the game development process can be unpredictable, we are going to break down the game development process step by step. Each stage of game development comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities, and having a clear structure helps development teams stay on track.

Conceptualization and Ideation

Every great game begins with an idea. During the conceptualization stage, our team at Devoted Studios works closely with clients to flesh out the game’s core concept. What kind of game will it be? What is the storyline? What are the key mechanics that will drive gameplay? These questions guide the initial brainstorming sessions.

All of the stages of game development might seem like the easiest, but it’s foundational. The clearer the concept, the smoother the development process will be later on. So we have several important questions, like:

What is the core concept of the game?

Who is our target audience?

What is the main gameplay mechanic?

What platforms will the game be developed for?

What are the key features of the game?

What is the game’s art style and tone?

What are the technical requirements?

What are the potential challenges?

What is the timeline and budget?

What is the long-term vision for the game?

At Devoted Studios, we collaborate closely with our clients during this phase, ensuring that their vision is clear and aligned with market trends and player expectations. This sets the foundation for the entire development process and helps reduce surprises later on.

 

Pre-production: Laying the Groundwork

Once we have a solid idea for the game, we move into pre-production. This is where we start planning everything. We build early versions of the game, make a roadmap for development, and figure out the overall size and details of the project. We also decide which tools and technology we’ll use, and we organize the team to make sure everyone knows what they’ll be working on.

Pre-production Step	Description
Solidify game idea	Finalize the core concept and gameplay mechanics.
Build early versions of the game (prototypes)	Develop basic prototypes to test early ideas and gameplay features.
Create a development roadmap	Plan out the timeline for each stage of development.
Determine project scope and size	Establish the game’s scope including key features and resources needed.
Decide on tools and technology stack	Choose the technology and software required for development.
Organize team structure and assign roles	Assign team members to specific roles and responsibilities.

By planning things out carefully and breaking the project into smaller, manageable tasks, we can spot potential problems early and fix them before they cause bigger issues. During this stage, we also set deadlines and budgets so that everyone knows what’s expected.

We use project management software to plan everything in detail, making sure that timelines are realistic and resources are used efficiently.

Production: Building the Game

The production phase is where the magic happens, and the game starts taking shape. During this phase, the development team writes the code, the artists create the visual assets, and the sound designers develop the audio elements. It’s the longest stage of the process and often the most challenging. But with clear guidelines in place, Devoted Studios ensures this phase remains organized and efficient.

We use collaboration tools and regular check-ins to track progress, making sure every team member is on the same page. Agile methodology allows us to be flexible and adapt quickly to changes, whether it’s a shift in design direction or a necessary technical adjustment. At this stage, playtesting also begins, and we gather feedback to make iterative improvements to the game.

Testing and Quality Assurance

No game leaves Devoted Studios without rigorous testing. The testing phase is critical because it ensures that the game runs smoothly and that there are no major bugs or glitches. Our quality assurance team checks the game on various platforms, testing for performance, functionality, and user experience. This step involves multiple rounds of playtesting, both internally and externally.

We believe in catching potential issues early to avoid last-minute surprises. Continuous testing throughout production helps us maintain a high-quality standard, ultimately leading to smoother releases.

Launch: Bringing the Game to Market

The launch phase is both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. After months or even years of hard work, the game is finally ready to be introduced to players. Our team at Devoted Studios works closely with clients to create a strong marketing strategy to build anticipation for the release. We handle the technical aspects of publishing the game across platforms, ensuring everything is in place for a smooth launch.

Our post-launch support doesn’t end when the game is live. We monitor feedback, track performance, and are ready to roll out patches and updates as needed. This continuous support helps ensure the game’s long-term success.

The process of making a video game is complex, filled with creative challenges and technical hurdles. However, at Devoted Studios, we’ve refined a game development process that keeps everything running smoothly. From conceptualization to launch, we guide our clients through every step, ensuring that their vision becomes a reality.

By focusing on collaboration, quality, and efficiency, we take the unpredictability out of game development, making it a more enjoyable and successful experience for everyone involved. Whether you’re a seasoned game development company or a newcomer looking to bring your first game to life, Devoted Studios is here to help every step of the way.