Greetings to ExDev Week

This week, GamesIndustry.biz focuses on the external development sector, shedding light on the vital contributions of studios that play significant roles in creating major global game titles, yet rarely receive public recognition.

The concept of external development is expansive, covering areas such as co-development, asset creation, and engine support, among others. While a single week cannot encapsulate everything, the intention is to explore key themes relevant to this field. These include juggling work-for-hire projects versus developing new intellectual properties, and the crucial role of building client trust.

In recent years, the gaming industry has faced significant changes, characterized by widespread job cuts in major firms due to escalating costs and decreasing profit margins. Many view external development as a potential solution, offering a more viable alternative to keeping large in-house teams that may face layoffs post-project completion. But how does this potential compare to the current landscape, and what lies ahead?

These questions are central to our exploration during this week. Industry leaders from external development firms provide insights into possible future scenarios, including structures resembling film production models.

Features for ExDev Week will be released daily, alongside our standard news coverage on the GamesIndustry.biz main page. Feedback is encouraged and can be sent to our editorial team at editorial@gamesindustry.biz.