Co-development
Ongoing coverage on Co-development.
Latest coverage
Saber exec: The game industry must look beyond North America and dilute risk
Saber Interactive's Tim Willits argues the game industry needs to look beyond North America to mitigate rising development costs and financial risks. He highlights Saber's success with titles like SnowRunner and World War Z, which were developed economically with smaller teams, contrasting this with the expensive, overscoped projects often seen from North American publishers. Willits also advocates for slate funding and co-development to dilute risk and ensure profitability.
CodeDev Group launches dev studio Full Spectrum Interactive
CodeDev Group, also known as The Unreal Guys, has launched a new game development studio named Full Spectrum Interactive. The studio is led by UK industry veterans Matt Southern, Christian McKinney, and Rob Williams, and will focus on developing small to AA titles while also offering co-development services. Full Spectrum Interactive aims to leverage talent from CodeDev Group and its optimization division, The Performance Guys.
Ex-Sumo Group CEO Carl Cavers joins co-dev studio Vertpaint as non-exec director and shareholder
Co-development studio Vertpaint has appointed former Sumo Group CEO Carl Cavers as a non-executive director and shareholder. Cavers cited the talent and passion of the Vertpaint team as key reasons for joining, and believes the studio is well-positioned to adapt to the evolving co-development landscape. He also noted that while the industry faces challenges, he anticipates a return to more buoyant times within the next year.
"I'm not a creative. I like spreadsheets" – The low-profile team that powers Marathon, Subnautica 2, NBA 2K, and more
Wolfjaw Studios, founded by Mitch Patterson, specializes in providing essential backend infrastructure and co-development services to major game studios, rather than developing original titles. The Troy, New York-based company has worked on franchises like Destiny 2, Marathon, NBA 2K, and Subnautica, focusing on the 'boring but essential' aspects of game development that creatives often avoid. Patterson emphasizes their stability, long-term client relationships, and their goal to make game development more accessible with manageable budgets.
"If I work on that, my kids will think I'm Gandalf" – Blackbird Interactive on the highs and lows of external development
Blackbird Interactive discusses the challenges and rewards of external development, balancing work-for-hire projects with original titles. President Rory McGuire and Director Alex Delamaire highlight the importance of team excitement, client management, and leveraging diverse skill sets to succeed in the external development space.
"It's not like the Eye of Sauron is looking at everything we're doing" – Silent Hill F developer NeoBards on why trust is essential for co-dev
NeoBards Entertainment's Jean-Marc Morel and Wonder Lin discuss the importance of trust and communication in co-development and outsourcing, particularly with Japanese partners like Konami. They highlight how face-to-face interactions and building strong relationships are crucial for successful collaborations, especially given the increasing complexity of AAA game development.
Following Xbox split, South of Midnight devs Compulsion are looking for work as a co-development or support studio
Following layoffs from Xbox, Compulsion Games, the studio behind South of Midnight and We Happy Few, is now operating as an independent developer. The company is actively seeking co-development or support roles with other studios to secure funding and leverage its team's talent while working on its next original game.
Welcome to ExDev Week
This week-long feature on GamesIndustry.biz explores the present and future of external development in the games industry. It highlights the role of external studios in creating major games and discusses themes such as balancing work-for-hire with original IP creation and building client trust. The analysis also considers external development as a potentially more sustainable alternative to large internal teams amidst industry transformation and job losses.
Can co-development save the game industry?
This article discusses co-development as a potential solution to the game industry's economic challenges, highlighting how external studios can assist both large and small developers. CEOs from Blackbird Interactive, Sweet Baby Inc, and Wolfjaw Studios share insights on the practice's role in preserving professional employment.
"Mission Impossible is high on my list" – how Paramount plans to use co-dev to exploit its archive, while building its own all-new IP
Paramount has merged its video game divisions into the new Paramount Games Studio, led by EVP Dan Prigg. The studio aims to leverage Paramount's extensive IP archive through co-development and internal projects, targeting PC, console, Roblox, and mobile platforms. While exploiting existing franchises like Mission Impossible and Star Trek is a focus, the studio is also developing original IP, aiming for games to potentially inspire future linear entertainment.
Rocksteady worked as co-developer on new LEGO Batman
Rocksteady Studios co-developed the upcoming game LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, as revealed in the game's credits. Approximately 24 developers from Rocksteady contributed to the title, which is developed by TT Games. The game is set to release soon on most platforms, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version delayed.
"We now have a clear vision for how Sumo fits into the new world" - inside the slimmed-down Sumo Group
Sumo Group, now co-led by Gary Dunn and Andy Stewart, is refocusing exclusively on co-development and work-for-hire services for partners, moving away from self-funded IP. This strategic shift follows staff reductions and the divestment of several studios, with support from parent company Tencent. The company aims to leverage its expertise in working with established IPs and offers flexible funding models, including co-funding, to collaborate on projects across various platforms like PC, consoles, and Roblox.
