How Testronic Continues to Adapt and Meet the Evolving Needs of the Gaming Industry

It has been over a year since Steve Trowbridge took the helm as CEO of Catalis Group, the parent company of Testronic, Secret 6, Giant Worldwide, and Curve Games. Following the departure of Testronic's former CEO, Mike Betti, earlier this year, Trowbridge has been actively involved in the company's operations, overseeing its art, development, QA, localization, and player support services. As Testronic undergoes significant growth and transformation, including office expansions, technological investments, and new working methods for its teams, Gamesindustry.biz had the opportunity to sit down with Trowbridge and discuss the company's latest initiatives and ambitions for 2025 and beyond. To begin, can you walk us through Testronic's current office portfolio? Where are they located, and do they specialize in specific service lines? Testronic boasts a robust global presence, with over 2,000 employees across 11 major offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Our services encompass a comprehensive suite of art, development, and testing solutions. While the specific services offered in each location may vary, our commitment to delivering high-quality services remains consistent across all offices. Since joining Testronic, I've been impressed by the consistency of service commitment and support that our clients receive, regardless of whether they're working with our teams in New Orleans or Manila. This consistency has been a core tenet of our services and has helped establish our reputation as a trusted partner to innovative gaming and entertainment companies worldwide. In late 2022, you acquired Secret 6, a 2D and 3D art specialist based in Manila. How has the company been integrated into Testronic, and what are your plans for the office going forward? The acquisition of Secret 6 was a significant step for Testronic, bringing us expertise in art production and development, as well as operations in Manila and Madrid. This has enhanced our ability to offer end-to-end creative solutions alongside our traditional QA, localization, and player support services. Looking ahead, our expanded Manila office, which formally opens next week, is a major milestone for Secret 6 and Testronic as a whole. We see Manila as both a creative and testing hub and will continue investing in resources, talent, and infrastructure to expand our capacity and capabilities. Do you have plans to open new offices in the coming months, and if so, where and why? Yes, we are excited to be formally inaugurating our new Manila facility next week. The space is fully equipped to meet the high-specification and security standards that our AAA partners expect, and it will further solidify our presence in the region, enabling us to meet the growing demand for both QA and creative services. Additionally, we have recently expanded our Lisbon office and are actively exploring opportunities for further growth in Central Europe and the Americas. We're taking a strategic approach to expansion, ensuring that we match client demand and leverage a rich talent pool. Beyond these, we're constantly reviewing markets to ensure our footprint aligns with the evolving needs of our clients worldwide. Following the deal with Secret 6, and previously with Whyttest, do you envision further expansion via acquisitions going forward? Strategic acquisitions are an integral part of our growth strategy. We focus on identifying opportunities that allow us to enhance our service offerings, expand our geographic reach, extend our technology capabilities, and deepen relationships with new and existing customers. Every acquisition is guided by the question, 'Does this make us a better partner to our clients?' If the answer is 'yes,' we pursue it. This philosophy has driven the successful integration of Secret 6 and Whyttest and will continue to shape our approach in the future. Similarly, having added art to your service lines, are there other areas that Testronic might be interested in diversifying into? We see Testronic as a comprehensive partner to the gaming and entertainment industry, not just a service provider. As the industry evolves, so do the needs of our clients, and we're constantly looking for ways to anticipate and meet those needs. While I won't provide specifics, we're deeply interested in exploring areas that complement our existing services. This includes further advancements in technology, such as AI-driven solutions, and expanding our creative offerings to provide even greater value. How many testers do you currently have, and where do you see that figure in six to 12 months? I should clarify that we're not just a QA company; we have multi-disciplinary teams across art, engineering, test, and player support. We currently have over 2,000 colleagues worldwide, and that number is steadily growing. With the expansion of our Manila and Belgrade offices, as well as increased demand for our services, we anticipate this figure will rise in the next six to 12 months. I should also mention that we're not just seeking to add headcount, but we're also actively investing in the professional development of our teams. Each of our colleagues has a vital role to play in supporting some of the world's largest and most successful video games. Investing in the professional development of our teams is critical to ensuring we're delivering the very best service to our clients and keeping pace with the fast-evolving nature of the games industry. You're about to introduce a globally remote workforce program. What's the thinking behind this, and how will it be deployed? Flexibility and agility are the cornerstones of our service delivery. We've seen a number of clients drive a return-to-office program, and we've been a supportive partner in making these moves happen. However, we've also sought to maintain a strong base of remote workers, as it's a model in which we believe very strongly. It helps us access the best talent worldwide, unbound by geographical constraints. Testronic embraced remote working well before it became a necessity during the pandemic. As early as 2015, we began investing in advanced technology and streamlined management processes to establish a secure and reliable delivery model. Over time, this model has only grown stronger, bolstered by continued investments both during and after the pandemic, ensuring we remain at the forefront of flexible and efficient service delivery. The benefits are manifold. For our clients, it means faster turnarounds and broader expertise. For Testronic, it solidifies our position as an innovative and adaptive partner, and for our teams, it provides the benefit of flexibility in the way they work. You're also investing in new technology – tell us about this and what it will bring to Testronic and its clients. Technology is at the heart of what we do. Across Testronic, we're actively integrating AI and automation solutions into our workflows, from enhancing player support with intelligent systems to streamlining back-office operations. In addition, we're actively exploring partnerships with cutting-edge tech providers to bring best-in-class solutions to our clients. This dual approach – developing internal capabilities while leveraging external innovations – ensures we stay ahead of the curve. What are the biggest challenges currently facing QA and localization vendors like Testronic, and what are you doing to tackle them? The biggest challenge for our clients is the need for flexibility in an unpredictable market. As a partner, our role is to provide that flexibility, scaling services up or down as needed and adapting to evolving requirements. We're also mindful of the technological disruption in our industry. Rather than resist it, we embrace it, using new tools and methodologies to enhance efficiency and maintain the highest standards of quality. By staying client-focused and innovative, we turn these challenges into opportunities for growth. In 2026, we'll all be talking about… By 2026, I believe we'll see a resurgent global market, driven by recovering economies and an explosion of new content in games, TV, and film. AI will move from early adoption to the mainstream; it will be a fully embedded solution in workflows and many aspects of day-to-day life – rather than being a technological solution searching for commercial and practical applications. For Testronic, 2026 will be about continuing to lead the charge in providing flexible, agile, and innovative solutions that keep pace with a dynamic and exciting industry.