Source: https://usv.edu/blog/game-design-as-a-new-art-form-for-expression/ Art outsourcing is especially beneficial for:
- Indie Developers: Often operating with limited budgets and personnel, indie developers can extend their capabilities without the overhead of hiring full-time artists.
- Large Studios: Even well-established studios outsource art to manage workload peaks, meet project deadlines, or achieve a specific art style in which their in-house team might not specialize.
- Startups: New companies in the gaming industry use outsourcing to hit the ground running without the immediate need for a large staff.
There are
several benefits for game developers to embrace collaboration with outsourcing studios:
- Cost Efficiency: Reduces the need for permanent staff and the associated costs like salaries, benefits, and workspace.
- Flexibility: The ability to scale art production up or down based on the project's phase and needs.
- Specialization: Access to artists with specific skills or unique artistic styles that might not be available locally.
- Speed: This can significantly accelerate production timelines, helping games reach the market faster.
Ubisoft has frequently hired studios worldwide to help create the “Assassin’s Creed” series, ensuring a mix of art styles and detailed historical settings. Epic Games has teamed up with various studios to keep "Fortnite" visually fresh, allowing them to quickly release updates and new content. CD Projekt Red also outsourced much of the art for "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt," helping them create a vast, richly detailed game world. Additionally, the
character skins in the “Dota 2” shop have been outsourced to Argentics, highlighting the common practice among game developers of utilizing external artists to enhance visual diversity and meet production timelines efficiently.
Outsourcing is a smart move for game developers because it helps them save time and money while making their games look amazing. By leveraging global talent pools, developers can access specialized skills in 2D game art and 3D game art, allowing for the creation of everything from flat, stylistic sprites to rich, immersive environments. This approach streamlines development by reducing lead times and costs and enriches the game's aesthetic diversity. Whether game developers need classic 2D graphics or detailed 3D models, outsourcing gives them the freedom to achieve their vision without being limited by local resources.