Considering Mobile Game Development Outsourcing? Here is what one should know

Mobile gaming has taken the world by storm, with more people than ever before choosing to play games on their smartphones and tablets. As a result, the revenue generated by mobile gaming apps worldwide is soaring. According to data from Statista, global mobile game revenue has reached $92.2 billion in 2022, up from $68.3 billion in 2019. This growth is fueling an increase in mobile game development outsourcing as more companies seek to take advantage of the lucrative opportunities presented by mobile gaming.

Outsourcing mobile game development has become a popular choice for companies looking to streamline their operations and/or reduce costs. This approach allows businesses to tap into the expertise of specialized developers and take advantage of their specific technical skills and industry knowledge. Outsourcing can also accelerate the development process, allowing companies to bring games to market faster and increase the chances of staying ahead of the competition.

However, outsourcing game development is not without its challenges, including communication and cultural barriers, intellectual property issues, and quality control. In this article, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing mobile game development and provide guidance on how to navigate the outsourcing process to get the best possible results for your business.

Reasons to outsource mobile game development

Developing your mobile game on your own is, of course, a great idea. However, the modern mobile game development market is a challenging place, so it may require solving a lot of problems, where mobile game development outsourcing companies may come in hand. Here are some good reasons for you to consider the concept of outsource mobile game development:

1. Access to specialized skills: Outsourcing your mobile game development can give you access to specialized skills that may not be available in-house. For example, you may not have a developer who is well-versed in Unity or Unreal Engine, but an outsourced development team may have extensive experience with these technologies.
2. Cost savings: Outsourcing can often be more cost-effective than hiring and training an in-house development team. You may be able to find a team that has the necessary skills and experience to develop your mobile game at a lower cost than it would take to recruit, train and pay an in-house team.
3. Faster time-to-market: Outsourcing can also speed up the development process, as an experienced development team can often complete a project more quickly than an in-house team. This can help you get your mobile game to market faster and stay ahead of the competition.
4. Focus on your core business: Outsourcing your mobile game development can free up your time and resources, allowing you to focus on your core business activities. You can focus on marketing and other aspects of your business while leaving the development to the experts.
5. Risk mitigation: Outsourcing can also help you mitigate the risks associated with mobile game development. An experienced team can help you identify potential risks and take steps to avoid them. They can also help you navigate any unforeseen issues that may arise during the development process.

Stages of mobile game development that can be outsourced

In today’s competitive mobile gaming market, developing a successful mobile game requires more than just technical expertise. It requires a strategic approach that takes into account various factors, such as market trends, player preferences, monetization strategies, and user engagement. A strategic approach to mobile game development can help developers create games that stand out from the crowd, attract and retain players, and generate revenue. In this section of the article, we will explore the importance of taking a strategic approach to mobile game development, including how to identify market opportunities, design for user engagement, optimize monetization, and measure success. By adopting a strategic approach, mobile game developers can increase their chances of success in a competitive and rapidly-evolving industry. Take a look at some of the most promising areas of mobile game development to outsource:

Mobile game art outsourcing

Professional game artists can create visually stunning graphics that capture the attention of players, enhancing the overall gaming experience. Outsourcing game art can also help mobile game developers focus on other critical aspects of game development instead of spending years on developing an art style and a team of professionals capable of fulfilling it. With the right outsourcing partner in the art perspective, game developers can ensure that their mobile games have high-quality art that meets their specific design requirements, allowing them to stand out in an increasingly competitive market in terms of visual impressions.

Mobile Game Modeling

Professional game modelers can create detailed 3D models that bring games to life and create immersive environments for players. By outsourcing game modeling, mobile game developers can focus on other aspects of game development. With a dedicated outsourcing team, developers can ensure that their game models meet their specific design requirements and are optimized for mobile performance, resulting in higher quality and more engaging mobile games.

Mobile game development

No matter if you target your game to mobile devices or you port your game to mobiles from other platforms, mobile game outsourcing can increase the efficiency of your project drastically. Professional Unity and Unreal Engine developers can create high-quality mobile games that meet specific design requirements and optimize performance for mobile devices. Outsourcing also enables game developers to focus on other aspects of game development.

Mobile game QA

The span of time on mobile games required to attract player’s attention is much shorter than on any other gaming platform. So that any dedicated mobile game developer should make sure their game wakes up the player’s attention in the first minutes of the gameplay.
Professional game testers can help ensure that mobile games are thoroughly tested for bugs, glitches, and performance issues before they are released to the market. Outsourcing game testing can also enable game developers to focus on other critical aspects of game development, such as programming and design. With a dedicated outsourcing team, developers can ensure that their mobile games are tested to the highest standards, resulting in a better gaming experience for players on both iOS and Android devices.

Mobile game UI/UX design

Professional UI specialists can help ensure that your mobile game has an intuitive and engaging interface that is optimized for mobile devices. Outsourcing UI design can also enable mobile game developers to focus on other critical aspects of game development. With the right outsourcing partner, developers can ensure that their mobile games have a user-friendly interface that enhances the gaming experience and drives user engagement, resulting in a better chance of success in the competitive mobile gaming market.

How to Outsource Mobile Game Development

The approach to mobile game outsourcing mostly depends on the details of your specific projects. But still, there are some basic steps that you’re likely to have when you plan to work with a mobile game development outsourcing company. Here they are:

1. Decide the type of game development outsourcing that fits your project. The main types of mobile game development outsourcing are:
   1.1 – full cycle – when you trust your outsourcing partner with every aspect of your future mobile game;
   1.2 – delegating particular parts of the project – when you only give the outsourcer a limited part of the job, like porting or optimization;
   1.3 – working with freelancers – when you pick not a team, but one or a few individual specialists to complete some particular development challenges.
2. Define the region for your outsourcing. The choice is mostly between picking a company from your region, or abroad. Working with a local company will be easier to manage due to no time difference and similar mentalities. Hiring a company from another region brings some management and communication challenges, but its advantages are scaling the development resources and speeding up the processes.
3. Pick a contractor with the relevant experience to fulfill your idea. Take a look at the company’s experience with the genre you work with and the platforms you chose. An outsources, who specializes in online shooters for consoles may not be the best pick for a mobile horror project.

The cost of creating a mobile game

The required budget for making your game with the help of a mobile game development outsourcing company also depends on dozens of factors, including:

• targeted platform – even for mobile games, you have to pick the OS (Android, iOS or both) and the set of devices your game should run well on. The weaker devices – the more resources you have to invest in optimization.
• complexity of visuals and VFX – more graphics means more money.
• the size of the game – the number of levels, the expected gameplay time.
• online features support – social features (social media sharing), multiplayer, crossplay  – adding these to your game increases budgets.

Business conditions are changing daily so the numbers may vary, but, if you need an approximate picture of the budget of your mobile game, take a look at this illustration:

Hire mobile game developers

Hiring a reputable game development studio is crucial for the success of any game project. Pingle Studio stands out as one of the best options in the market due to its extensive experience and outstanding reputation. Here are some of the advantages of hiring Pingle Studio for your game development needs:

1. Firstly, Pingle Studio has over 400 specialists in their team, which means we have a diverse set of skills and expertise to tackle any game development project. This large team allows them to handle multiple projects at once, while maintaining high-quality standards.
2. Secondly, Pingle Studio has over 15 years of experience in game development. This extensive experience has allowed them to develop a deep understanding of the industry and its trends. Their expertise is not only limited to game development but also extends to game design, marketing, and user acquisition.
3. Thirdly, Pingle Studio has worked with some of the biggest names in the gaming industry, including Epic Games, EA Games, Square Enix, Disney, Zynga, Focus Entertainment, Iron Galaxy Skydance Interactive, Riot Forge, Team17, tinyBuild, KRAFTON Inc, Annapurna Interactive, Embracer Group, and Good Shepherd. This extensive list of clients is a testament to their reliability, professionalism, and expertise.
4. Furthermore, Pingle Studio is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in game development. We use cutting-edge tools and software to ensure that their games are of the highest quality and meet the expectations of modern gamers.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, hiring Pingle Studio comes with numerous benefits for clients looking for a reliable and experienced game development partner. With our large team of experts, extensive experience in the industry, and a list of reputable clients, Pingle Studio is well-equipped to handle any game development project with professionalism and efficiency.