In the dynamic world of game development, successful co-development hinges on seamless cooperation and strategic collaboration. Leveraging the expertise of external teams can unlock a multitude of benefits and propel projects towards success. As industry veterans, we understand the pivotal role communication, documentation, and clarity of objectives play in fostering fruitful long-term partnerships in game co-development.

 1. Co-Development Communication Pipelines

Effective communication stands as the cornerstone of any co-development endeavor. Establishing robust communication channels from the outset ensures alignment between in-house teams and external partners. By designating dedicated project managers or senior staff, both parties can streamline exchanges, troubleshoot issues promptly, and maintain project momentum. A well-defined communication protocol fosters clarity, minimizes misunderstandings, and safeguards against potential delays, fortifying the foundation of a productive collaboration.

2. Prepare Documentation

Empowering co-development teams with comprehensive documentation expedites their integration and minimizes learning curves, particularly when custom tools or engines are involved. Clear guidelines on reporting structures, deliverable formats, and workflow expectations enhance operational efficiency and mitigate friction points. Whether utilizing proprietary or off-the-shelf solutions, establishing a standardized documentation framework facilitates seamless onboarding, enabling co-development teams to hit the ground running and contribute meaningfully to project advancement.  

3. Know What You Want

Clarity of vision is paramount in guiding co-development initiatives towards success. Clearly articulating project goals and requirements from the outset sets a solid trajectory for collaboration. Amidst the intricacies of development, maintaining a laser focus on overarching objectives prevents scope creep and aligns efforts towards tangible milestones. By delineating expectations and delineating deliverables, stakeholders can navigate the development journey with purpose, ensuring that co-development efforts are strategically aligned with project ambitions.

These are just three key practices that can help co-development run smoothly. If you’d like to hear more about our co-development practices, or some of our other services such as game porting or VFX, we’d love to hear from you.