Former Riot Developers Introduce Open-Source Tool to Revolutionize Game Development

The Believer Company, founded by Riot Games veterans, has launched its internal development tool Friendshipper as an open-source project, aiming to streamline the game development process. The studio, currently working on a next-generation open-world multiplayer game, has been utilizing Friendshipper to enhance development efficiency, such as rapid implementation of bug fixes during playtests. According to CTO Landon McDowell, the primary goal of Friendshipper is to enable swift code changes, facilitate rapid builds, and expedite the testing process for both developers and testers. McDowell attributes the decision to share this technology to the belief that 'there's a better way to develop video games.' The studio's vision is to create a more efficient development process, allowing for more frequent playtesting and minimizing crunch time. With a team of 65, only a handful are dedicated to Friendshipper's development, but the CTO emphasizes that the tool is just one potential solution to the industry's challenges. The Believer Company aims to build a community around Friendshipper, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing to improve game development methodologies. By doing so, the studio believes that players will ultimately benefit from developers having a more enjoyable and efficient game development experience.