Own Team vs. Outsourcing: How to Best Create Your Game

The game design niche is developing really fast, and it's highly competitive. Companies hesitate between handling this activity internally and outsourcing it to a specialized studio.

The in-house team has its benefits and drawbacks. In most cases, delegation is a better choice. Keep reading and learn about the specifics of these two approaches!

Pros and Cons of In-House Game Development

Game development is one of the most dynamic sectors in the entertainment industry. Many studios face the decision of whether to build their projects with their team or outsource certain tasks.

An in-house approach has certain advantages and drawbacks that can shape the success of your project.

Main Benefits

An internal team allows you to maintain complete control over each process. Every member is fully aligned with the company’s goals and culture, so it's easier to manage

• Creative direction
• Quality standards
• Timelines

Collaboration happens more naturally when everyone works side by side. Your workers will come up with new ideas and innovative solutions much faster. It is especially important when creating complex video games that require different skill sets.

Also, keeping projects internal lowers the risk of leaks or intellectual property theft. You get tighter control over sensitive assets.

Plus, an in-house approach helps you build lasting expertise within your team. Designers gain experience across projects. So, you can refine processes and develop your own signature style.

Main Challenges

The main difficulty of maintaining a full internal team is the costs. You'll have to spend extra on

• Salaries
• Benefits
• Office space
• Equipment
• Training

These expenses can limit scalability or slow down production.

Your employees have fixed skills and resources. Your studio may struggle to adapt to new trends or requirements without significant retraining. Plus, finding top talent in this industry is quite difficult. Recruiting artists and testers with the right mix of skills can take months.

Not to mention the risk of burnout you might face. Your employees will experience intense workloads. Long overtime can lead to fatigue and higher turnover. Their burnout might also affect the quality of a final product.

All about Game Design Outsourcing

Game development is a complex process that combines creativity and coordination across multiple disciplines. It requires an extensive pool of skills and resources.

Many studios tried to handle all of this with in-house teams. However, game development outsourcing is a more efficient and strategic choice. Delegation of specific tasks to external specialists can help you optimize costs and improve efficiency.

Why does outsourcing offer you more advantages?

Access to Global Talent

One of the strongest benefits of outsourced game development is the possibility to work with specialists from all over the world.

A single studio might not have experts in every niche area, like

• Advanced physics simulation
• Lifelike character animation
• Immersive environmental design

You get access to a huge global talent pool through outsourcing.

This strategy is especially useful for smaller studios that can't afford to hire full-time specialists. These professionals can improve the overall quality of your video games.

Cost Efficiency

As you already know, running a full in-house team is expensive. These costs remain even during downtime between projects. It puts a lot of financial pressure on studios.

In contrast, outsourcing video game development allows you to pay only for the specific services you need. For example, you may only need a motion capture team for a few weeks or additional testers during the final polishing stage.

Delegation will help you keep costs variable and predictable. It makes budgeting easier. You can direct resources toward creative innovation rather than operational expenses.

Faster Project Scaling

Video game creation is rarely predictable. Deadlines move, and projects may suddenly require more workforce than initially planned.

Scaling up an internal team takes time for

• Recruitment
• Onboarding
• Training

Game art outsourcing solves this issue by providing immediate access to additional talent. You can quickly bring dozens of artists or testers to handle workload spikes. It allows you to reduce production delays.

Higher Flexibility

It is quite risky to invest in a large permanent staff. You might have more employees than needed after the project ends. It usually leads to financial strain or layoffs.

Delegation decreases this risk by making teams more flexible. You can bring in external help during development peaks and lower commitments when the work slows down.

This method not only saves money. It also keeps your studio agile in responding to industry changes.

Choosing the Best Game Development Provider

Outsourcing is an effective solution for studios that want to produce quality games. However, the success of your project depends on your partner choice.

A great provider will have a track record in delivering projects similar to yours. They should demonstrate

• Strong portfolios
• Successful case studies
• Versatility across different genres

Also, look for studios that provide technical support or co-development.

Make sure the provider offers flexible models that can adapt to your needs. This adaptability is a sign of a mature and client-focused studio.

Gamepack Studio is a great solution if you need game art outsourcing. They can become your reliable and experienced partner. They have specialists in

• 2D and 3D art
• Animation
• Technical development

The studio has successfully collaborated with major names. They also offer multiple partnership models. Plus, this company specializes in developing marketing creatives that help your projects stand out in the market.

Conclusion

Internal game development offers control and benefits for building a strong creative identity. Yet, it also presents substantial financial and operational challenges.

Outsourcing video game development is often a better solution. It can offer you

• Access to global talent
• Cost savings
• More flexibility
• Fast project scaling

Make sure to find the right partner who has worked in your niche and can adapt to your needs.