The Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Game Art and Development

When it comes to game art and development, there are a lot of factors to consider. One of the biggest decisions studios have to make is whether to outsource or keep everything in-house. There are pros and cons to both approaches, so let's take a closer look at each.

Outsorsing Pros

  Cost-effective

You only pay for the work that's completed. You don't have to worry about paying for employee benefits, sick days, or vacation days.

  Access to a global talent pool

When you outsource, you're not limited to hiring locally. You can tap into a global pool of artists and developers, which gives you a wider range of talent to choose from.

  Increased flexibility

Outsourcing game development allows you to scale up or down as needed. If you need more manpower for a big project, you can hire more freelancers. If you need to cut costs, you can reduce the number of freelancers you're working with.

  Quick turnaround times

You can get the work done faster since you're not limited by the number of in-house employees you have.

  Free up internal resources

You free up internal resources that can be used for other tasks. For example, if you outsource art development, your in-house team can focus on coding and game design.

  Get outside perspectives

You get fresh perspectives from people who are outside your company bubble. This can be helpful for coming up with new ideas and solutions.

  Reduce overhead costs

When you outsource, you don't have to worry about paying for office space, equipment, or other overhead costs associated with running a studio.

  Tap into niche skillsets

When you outsource, you can find specialists who have niche skillsets that would be difficult to find in-house (e.g., 3D printing).

  No long-term commitment

When outsourcing, there’s no long-term commitment required. You can hire freelancers on a per-project basis as needed.

  Pay only for what you need

When you outsource artists, you only pay for the actual work that's completed rather than hourly wages .this could save a lot of money if working on a large project.

Outsourcing Cons

  Can be expensive

While outsourcing can be cost-effective in some cases, it can also be expensive if not done correctly. For example, if you use an inefficient platform like Upwork, you could end up spending more money than necessary on fees.

  Lack of control

When you outsource, you lose some degree of control over the work that's being done. This is because you’re relying on someone else to complete the task according to your specifications. There's also always the risk that they may not do the job as well as you hoped or expected.

  Quality control issues

Related to the lack of control issue, there's also the risk that you’ll receive subpar work from outsourced freelancers. This is why it's important to carefully screen candidates before hiring anyone.

  Difficulties communicating

Since you're working with people from all over the world, language barriers could make communication difficult. Time zone differences could also make it tough to get in touch with outsourced workers when you need them.

  Requires extra management

When you outsource workers, you'll need to spend extra time managing them and providing clear instructions/feedback. If you don't do this, it could lead t poor quality work or delays in getting the work done.

  Less loyalty/dedication

Since outsourced workers are usually working on multiple projects at once, they may not be as loyal or dedicated to your project as your in-house employees.

  Can be stressful

Working with outsourced freelancers can be stressful because there's always the risk that they may not do the job as well as you hoped or expected.

  May not be available when needed

Since outsourced workers are usually working on multiple projects at once, they may not always be available when you need them

  Legal / contractual issues

There are some legal and contractual issues to consider when outsourcing workers from other countries.

  Security risks

There are some security risks associated with sharing sensitive information with outsourced workers.

  Cultural differences

There could be some cultural differences that make it difficult t understand each other. In some parts of the world, political instability could make it difficult or even dangerous t work with outsourced employees.

Solution

As with anything else in life, there are pros and cons to outsourcing game art and development services. While it can save studios money and free up internal resources, it also comes with some risks (e..g., quality control issues). However, there’s a way to reduce the risks and enjoy working with your external development team - hire Devoted Studios.

We understand the importance of getting your project right from the start, so we take our time asking questions and planning. We provide unparalleled support to all the talent involved in order to make sure you avoid any costly mistakes down the line! As gaming is a global industry with many different cultures at play, having team members from 7+ countries who speak 5+ languages gives us an edge when it comes to navigating these cultural barriers that can disrupt production. With no ulterior motives or personal interests at stake, our focus lies solely on achieving your vision - making us patient and persistent guides along every step of development.