How to Port a Game?

Porting a game means adapting it to different platforms to increase the user base and provide players more options. There is no “one size fits all” solution to game porting, as many factors impact the process complexity.

If your game is based on an engine that supports the platform you’re porting to, the process will be simpler and take less time. If you’ve used a proprietary engine focused on one specific platform, you might have to rewrite the base code of the game, which will take much more time and resources.

A common process in game porting is performance optimization. If you want your game to run on less powerful platforms, you have to make sure that it feels the same as on high-end platforms and no lag ruins the experience. This is often achieved with a visual downgrade.

Another routine process in video game porting is controls optimization. Different platforms are equipped with different controls, and no matter if the player uses a mouse, a controller, or a touch screen – it should not impact their gameplay experience.

Speaking of gameplay – certain elements have to be adapted to suit the platforms as well. For example, actions that require great precision and camera control might suit a PC game but feel too difficult and unfair for PlayStation users.