Porting games is a must-do for various reasons, from reaching new audiences to developing new game experiences, but this process is always challenging. A successful port requires dealing with technical, platform-specific, and localization issues. Game developers and publishers must also understand the importance of testing and certification.

Developing a game is just the beginning of the journey. Expanding the reach of the game to different platforms can be a daunting task if you are not well-versed in the complexities of game porting. In this article, we will look at demystifying the process and equip you with the knowledge and skills required to master game porting.

Understanding Game Porting

Delivering an exceptional gaming experience across multiple platforms is what global game development is striving for. Game porting is a critical step in ensuring that the game reaches a wider audience and generates greater revenue.

The general process of game porting involves modifying the codebase and assets of a game to ensure compatibility with the new platform’s hardware and software. This includes optimizing the game’s performance on the new platform, adapting the user interface, and addressing platform-specific challenges. As developers, we must understand the intricacies of game porting and how it fits into the game creation process.

Game porting requires a deep understanding of the differences between platforms, both in terms of hardware and software and also in terms of legal and formal issues. We must also consider differences in input methods and display resolutions to ensure that the game is playable and enjoyable on any platform.

At the heart of game porting is the desire to provide an optimal gaming experience for players on all platforms. By understanding the intricacies of game porting, we can deliver games that are accessible, enjoyable, and profitable.

Technical Challenges

Adapting a game to different platforms involves completing a set of technical requirements that can be daunting for developers. Compatibility issues, performance optimization, and adapting user interfaces are some of the technical challenges that arise during game porting.

Successful porting requires optimizing code and assets to ensure the game runs smoothly on different platforms. Additionally, developers must consider the limitations of different platforms and modify the game accordingly, which may require significant changes to the game’s engine.

Platform-Specific Challenges

Each gaming platform comes with its own set of requirements and limitations, presenting platform-specific challenges for game developers during porting. These challenges can range from hardware limitations to software requirements, and developers must consider them to ensure the game performs as intended. A good example of this is working with Nintendo Switch. Nintendo’s platform’s technical limitations are caused by portability. Switch doesn’t have an SSD and only provides 3GB RAM, so porting a modern game to it requires a lot of optimization talent. 

Developers must also consider the differences in user interfaces and controls between platforms, which can affect gameplay and user experience. Adapting the game for different platforms requires attention to detail and careful planning to ensure a seamless gaming experience.

Localization Challenges

Localization is crucial for reaching a global audience, but it also presents challenges during game porting. Language, culture, and content adaptation are critical considerations for developers when porting a game to different regions.

Developers must ensure that the game is culturally sensitive and appropriate for different regions. This could mean adapting the game’s content, sound effects, and music to suit local preferences. Additionally, developers must translate and localize all textual content in the game accurately.

Overcoming these challenges requires careful planning, attention to detail, and collaboration with the development team. In the next section, we will discuss effective strategies for successful game porting that can help overcome these challenges and ensure a seamless gaming experience.

A screenshot from Strayed Lights – a project where Pingle Studio provided localization and Ukrainian translation.

Strategic game porting solutions

At the heart of a successful game porting process lies careful planning, effective communication, and collaboration with the development team. Below are some must-do strategies we regularly use for porting projects. 

Optimizing Code and Assets

Optimizing code and assets is essential for ensuring a smooth gaming experience across multiple platforms (especially on past generation consoles, mobiles, portable platforms, and low-tier PCs). This involves examining how the code and assets are structured and making necessary changes to make them more efficient. Additionally, assets such as graphics and audio may need to be adjusted to suit each platform’s requirements.

Collaboration with the Development Team

Collaboration with the development team is crucial for ensuring all members are on the same page and working towards a common goal. This involves keeping everyone informed of the progress of the porting process, addressing concerns and questions as they arise, and providing regular updates regarding any changes made.

Planning and communication

Planning and communication involves setting clear goals and timelines, creating detailed project plans, and communicating effectively with all stakeholders. Effective planning and communication can help ensure that the game porting process stays on schedule and meets the desired outcomes.

Porting-specified Testing

Continuous testing is critical for identifying and resolving issues as they arise. This involves testing the game across multiple platforms regularly to ensure that it is working as intended and that any bugs are identified and addressed in a timely manner. Testing should occur at various stages of the porting process, including during development and after the game has been ported to each platform.

Testing and Certification

In the game development process, testing and certification are crucial steps to ensure a seamless gaming experience. Testing allows developers to identify and fix bugs and errors in the game, while certification ensures that the game meets the platform requirements and standards.

Before releasing the game, it is essential to test it on various platforms to ensure compatibility and smooth functionality. This includes testing on different devices, operating systems, and browsers. It’s important to perform both functional and non-functional testing, which includes performance, compatibility, security, and usability testing.

Certification requirements vary for each platform, and it’s crucial to adhere to these requirements to ensure that the game is approved for release. Platforms may require specific features, such as multiplayer functionality or specific graphics, and it’s essential to meet these requirements to avoid delays or rejection.

Testing and certification may add time and cost to the game development process, but it’s a necessary investment to ensure a successful game porting experience. 

Overcoming Technical Challenges

When it comes to game porting, the technical challenges become even more visible due to platform-specific work.

One of the main technical challenges in game porting is compatibility. Each platform has its own set of hardware and software specifications that games must meet to run smoothly. Therefore, developers must ensure that their game code is optimized to work seamlessly on each platform.

Performance optimization is another technical challenge that developers face during game porting. Different platforms have different hardware capabilities, and games must be optimized to run well on each platform. To overcome this challenge, developers must analyze the hardware specifications of each target platform and make the necessary adjustments to their game code to ensure optimal performance.

User interface adaptation is another significant technical challenge that arises during game porting. Different platforms have varying display sizes, resolutions, and aspect ratios, which can affect the layout and functionality of game interfaces. Developers must design user interfaces that work well on each platform, adjusting them as needed to ensure optimal user experience. Overcoming these technical challenges requires technical expertise and attention to detail. 

Platform-Specific Challenges

Screen resolution, aspect ratio, and input controls differ across platforms are some of the most widespread platform-specific challenges, which can require adjustments to the user interface to optimize the game for each platform. Platform-specific functionalities, such as touchscreen controls for mobile devices or adaptive triggers for Sony’s DualSense controller, must also be considered and implemented.

In addition, certain platforms may have different processor architectures or graphic capabilities, which can impact the performance of the game. Developers must optimize the game’s code and assets to ensure optimal performance on each platform.

Furthermore, different platforms may have their own submission and approval processes, which can add to the development timeline. For example, game submissions to consoles require compliance with certification requirements and platform-specific guidelines, which can take additional time and effort.

Localization Challenges in Game Porting

Localization is an essential aspect of game development that presents significant challenges during the porting process. Adapting a game to a specific region or country requires more than just translation of language. Cultural differences and content adaptation must also be considered to ensure that the game is relevant and engaging to the target audience.

Language: One of the most obvious localization challenges is translating the game’s language to the target audience. This involves not only the game’s text but also voice-overs, subtitles, and on-screen text. It is important to note that direct translations can be awkward and may not convey the intended meaning. Therefore, hiring a professional translator or localization expert is crucial to ensuring accurate and culturally appropriate language adaptation.

Cultural: Another challenge is adapting the game’s content to the target culture. This involves adjusting game elements such as character names, art, music, and humor to suit the cultural preferences of the audience. For example, what may be acceptable or funny in one culture may not be appropriate in another. Thus, understanding cultural nuances is essential to delivering an immersive gaming experience.

Overcoming localization challenges requires careful planning, research, and collaboration between the game development team and localization experts. By doing so, developers can ensure that their games resonate with the target audience, leading to a positive gaming experience and increased success in the global market.

Best Practices in Game Porting 

After understanding the challenges involved in game porting and developing effective strategies, it’s crucial to follow industry best practices for optimal results. Here are some essential techniques to consider:

By incorporating these best practices into the game porting process, developers can ensure a high-quality gaming experience on all platforms. It’s also crucial to remain up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in game development to stay ahead of the curve.

Conclusion

As game developers, we understand the importance of delivering a streamlined and enjoyable gaming experience across multiple platforms. To achieve this, mastering game porting is crucial. By following the strategies and best practices discussed, we can overcome the porting challenges. 

Effective planning, communication, and collaboration with the development team are key to ensuring a successful game porting experience. Optimizing code and assets for different platforms, as well as testing and certification, are also crucial for a seamless game experience.

Technical challenges such as compatibility issues and performance optimization can be addressed through careful planning and implementation. Meanwhile, platform-specific challenges require developers to understand the requirements and limitations of each platform and adapt accordingly.

Localization is another important aspect of game porting, and developers must understand the unique challenges presented by language, culture, and content adaptation. By adopting effective localization strategies, we can appeal to a global audience.

Overall, we hope this guide has provided valuable insights into the world of game porting and its challenges. By applying the game porting strategies and best practices discussed, we can create successful game experiences that reach a wider audience and set new industry standards.