The Future of AAA Games: Embracing External and Distributed Development

The scope of game development has expanded significantly in recent years, with projects now requiring larger teams and longer development times. This is due to the increased size and complexity of games, as well as the need for cutting-edge expertise. As a result, external development has become increasingly popular, with companies outsourcing parts of development to third-party specialists. Distributed development is another model that involves multiple teams working collectively on a project worldwide, allowing studios to tap into global talent and expertise. By unifying development and project management, studios can save time, money, and resources. Many successful games, including those from Ubisoft and Activision, have been developed using these models. Virtuos, a leading external development partner, has worked with numerous major developers to provide specialized skills and expertise. The company's global network of studios allows developers to access a wealth of talent and expertise, accelerating development cycles and improving game quality. With the games industry facing challenges such as brain drain and increasing project complexity, distributed development is becoming an essential solution for studios. By partnering with a company like Virtuos, developers can focus on realizing their vision for a game while accessing the specialized skills and expertise needed to bring it to life. This approach can also benefit gamers, with more games being released regularly and on multiple platforms. For example, Virtuos worked with 2K on the development of Marvel Midnight Suns, providing optimization, bug fixing, and cinematic development services. The company's global network of studios allowed for around-the-clock development, giving the game's developer, Firaxis, the edge it needed to bring the game to market. As the games industry continues to evolve, external and distributed development are likely to play an increasingly important role in the creation of high-quality, engaging games.