Graphics are one of the key factors in a successful game. Brilliant visual design grabs players’ attention from the first second and immerses them in the game’s atmosphere. But not every studio has the resources to hire a team of experienced artists and designers. Outsourcing of game graphics is a solution for developers with a tight budget.
How do you find a reliable partner who will bring your ideas to life? We have analyzed companies offering outsourcing of game art and selected the best of those that can be entrusted with complex projects.
We’ll tell you more about the 14 best companies that specialize in game development outsourcing. You’ll be able to read about their strengths, experience, and portfolios. This will help you make an informed decision and find the right partner for your game graphics outsourcing needs.
We will also share advice about what you need to consider when choosing a subcontractor.
The advantages of outsourcing game art
These are the benefits game developers enjoy when they entrust art creation to an outsourcer:
- Budget savings
With outsourcing, there’s no need to keep a team of artists and designers on salary or maintain workspaces for them. You pay only for the volume of work required for your project.
- Access to talent
Outsourcing gives you access to the best talent in the world, which would be hard to hire on a permanent basis. This allows you to select designers who work in a style that fully fits the concept and atmosphere of your game.
- Flexibility in processes and solutions
You can easily scale the team of artists, increasing or reducing its size depending on the requirements of the specific project. There’s no need to maintain a big team if they’re not needed at the current stage of work.
- Reduced implementation times
With outsourcing, you can assemble a big team of talented designers and illustrators without the hassle of hiring staff. This means you can speed up the process of creating 3D art — concepts, 3D models, textures, etc. As a result, all game art can be obtained in a shorter time frame.
- Focus on key tasks
If routine tasks are outsourced, then the in-company team can concentrate on more high-priority work. For example, on programming gameplay and promoting the project.
- Access to innovation
The leading outsourcing studios regularly invest in acquiring and mastering the latest technologies for creating game art. Thanks to this, when you choose to outsource you get access to innovative solutions.
- Reliability and stability
A professional outsourcer guarantees the deadlines, volumes and quality of the agreed work. The client gets stability and predictable results.
Selection criteria: How to evaluate a game art studio
Study the company’s portfolio carefully:
- Be sure to check all the sections of the portfolio on the studio’s website — concept art, 3D models, animation, user interfaces, etc.
- Evaluate the quality and level of detail of the work in the portfolio.
- Look how closely it fits your required artistic style — realist, stylized, minimalist, etc.
- Make sure they have experience in your genre of game — MOBA, RPG, shooters, etc.
- Pay attention to the variety and depth of the portfolio in terms of subject matter
Find reviews from real clients of the studio:
- Look at reviews from independent sources like Clutch and GoodFirms.
- Pay attention to any mention of deadlines — were there delays or penalties?
- Check if there is any mention of the quality of the results produced.
- See if any specific issues with communication or feedback are mentioned.
- Separately, check out reviews from companies in the gaming industry.
Ensure that the company has well-established business processes and there are clear guarantees at each stage of the work:
- Ask them to explain their standard working process on projects to you.
- Ask them to clarify what guarantees of quality, deadlines, and rights to intellectual property they offer.
- Examine a standard contract, paying attention to the liabilities of both sides.
- Find out how approval of each stage of work and implementation of corrections will take place.
Examine the composition of the project team:
- Ask for the resumes and portfolios of the artists in the potential team.
- Evaluate how well their skills match the requirements of your project.
- Pay attention to their experience working in the style and genre you require.
- Find out if third-party freelancers will be used, or only the outsourcer’s in-company staff.
Pay attention to the studio’s values and principles, as well as their approach to CSR (corporate social responsibility).
- Study information about the company’s values on their website and from open sources.
- Pay attention to whether or not they have CSR programs, and how significant and systematic they are.
- Check to see if they have certificates, awards, or prizes in the HR field.
- Track down feedback from employees about working at the company and its corporate culture.
A list of the best game art outsourcing companies
We have analyzed data from independent sources including Clutch, GoodFirms, and Design Rush to find reliable game art outsourcing companies. For each company, we checked:
- Technical expertise in the game industry.
- Quality of work according to their portfolio.
- Reviews from real clients.
- Work experience on game projects.
As a result, we have compiled a list of the 14 best game art outsourcing companies that you can trust.
Below, we’ll tell you more about each of these studios — their strengths, the projects they have implemented and why it’s worth choosing them as outsourcers.
Inlingo
Inlingo is a multifunctional studio that specializes in game art outsourcing and game localization. Founded in 2012, it has since completed more than 2500 projects. The studio has worked with companies including Crytek, Focus Entertainment, Belka Games, MyTona, Fun Plus, and Nekki.
Work is carried out by a team of experts with considerable experience in the field of game creation. Each project is implemented with sensitivity to the client’s requirements. The team is focused on results for the client and understanding the client’s business objectives.
If you need reliable outsourcing services at every stage of creating your game , from developing graphics to localizing your game for foreign markets, it’s worth choosing Inlingo.
Services:
- game art: creating characters in 2D and 3D, designing weapons, icons, animation
- localizing games
- localization testing (LQA)
- narrative creation
- voiceover
3D-Ace
3D-Ace is a company that performs complex tasks for AAA studios. Their portfolio comprises a wide variety of work: slots, 2D and 3D products, VFX, UI, animation and more.
Over the course of 13 years, the company has worked with major names in the gaming industry, including Unity, Wargaming, GSN Games, Namco, Bigpoint, Pixomondo, and Sany Group.
One of their key advantages is their in-depth expertise in the field of 2D and 3D animation. 3D-Ace is a subsidiary of the company Game-Ace and parent company Program-Ace. which provides extra confidence in them as a reliable partner.
Services:
- creating 2D elements
- 3D modeling
- creating animation
- NFT art
- creating visual effects
Nuare Studio
Nuare Studio was founded in 2006. As well as game graphics outsourcing, the company works on development in the fields of AI and web development. Nuare Studio also offers services for porting games to different platforms.
Among Nuare Studio’s clients are Capcom, Gameloft, and Bethesda. The studio contributed to the development of the popular games Fallout 76 and The Last of Us Part II.
Services:
- developing comprehensive art style
- animation
- 2D art and 3D modeling
- VFX (visual special effects)
- collaborative development of games
1518 Studios
Acquired by PTW in 2021, 1518 Studios is an outsourcer that offers creation of 3D art and development of games.
The company has worked with Brainseed Factory and Redemption Games on the games Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Services:
- creation of 2D and 3D content
- animation
- virtual and augmented reality
- development of video games
Concept Art House
Since 2007, Concept Art House has released more than 1000 games and collector’s editions for some of the most prominent global brands. It has contributed to the creation of such popular games as Fortnite, Hearthstone, and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.
Services:
- production of 2D and 3D content
- animation
- creation of VR products
Bosi Art Studios
Bosi Art Studios was founded in 2006. It worked on the development of New World from Amazon Games, Fortnite, Hearthstone, and Warcraft III: Reforged.
Bosi Art Studios isn’t just an outsourcing company, they have used their game art experience to found an art education service for a new generation of game developers. In this way, the company invests in the preparation of new talent for the game development industry.
Their successful projects with different companies and their investment in education show that they have a good understanding of how the gaming industry is developing.
Services:
- production of 2D and 3D design
- animation
- 3D modeling
- VR/AR
Art Bully Productions
The company Art Bully Productions was founded in 2008. It has amassed in its portfolio such famous game projects as Rage 2 and Fortnite. The company has worked with leading game studios including Epic Games and Valve.
The studio’s expertise is not confined to the design of game art, they also boast superior skills in key animation, skinning, cleaning, and motion capture rigging.
Art Bully Productions will suit those who need complex solutions throughout the game development process, from artistic design to complex animation projects.
Services:
- design of game characters, weapons, transport
- creation of 3D models
- development of game animation
- motion capture rigging and animation
Keywords Studios
Keywords Studios has been in business since 1998. They create game art of any variety or complexity thanks to their high qualifications and 25-year experience in the field.
Keywords Studios operates in 22 countries in Asia, Australasia, Europe, and America. They are partnered with 16 game platforms all over the world.
Services:
- creation of 2D and 3D art
- animation
- visual effects
- UI/UX game interfaces
Bon Art Studio
A veteran of the game outsourcing industry, Bon Art Studio was founded in 1998. The company offers full-cycle solutions in the fields of art and development.
Among the major companies they partner with are Capcom Vancouver, Rare, Propaganda Games, Gameloft, and Hesaw. The studio has contributed to such projects as Dead Rising 3, Sea of Thieves, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Armada of the Damned.
Bon Art Studio’s services are worth choosing if you want to obtain not just art, but a finished game product. Bon Art Studio offers turnkey development of video games.
Services:
- creation of art concepts
- 2D art
- 3D art and animation
- cinematics
- development
Rocket Brush
The company Rocket Brush has been producing graphics and art for developers of mobile and PC games since 2016.
Among their clients are game industry leaders such as Paradox Interactive, G5 Games, and Romero Games, which demonstrates their ability to implement successful projects.
Services:
- concept art
- 2D art, illustrations, characters, inventory, weapons
- 3D design and modeling
- UI/UX design
AAA Game Art Studio
The company’s clients include famous brands such as Konami, Bandai Namco, and HarperCollins.
AAA Game Art Studio focuses on transparency of processes, precise management, and meeting deadlines. They also use cutting-edge tools to optimize work processes.
Services:
- development of 2D and 3D graphics
- creation of game animation
- design of user interfaces (UI/UX)
- full-cycle development of game style
Kevuru Games
The company will take on projects of any complexity, from development of separate art elements to full-cycle production of video games. Even if the client doesn’t yet have a fully-formed concept, the studio’s game designers can offer ideas.
In 10 years of business, the studio has implemented more than 100 game art projects for companies such as Lucasfilm, Epic Games, and EA. Around 70% of clients return to work with the company again.
Services:
- 2D/3D art
- concept art
- animation
- gamification
- game development
ZVKY
ZVKY has been in business since 2009. In the last 10 years, the company has implemented more than 350 projects with publishers such as Zynga, Ubisoft, and Activision.
ZVKY has a particularly strong portfolio in the sphere of slot art, as well as broad experience working with art for games in the HOPA genre.
If you need high-quality art at an accessible price, this company is the optimal choice.
Services:
- 2D and 3D art
- animation
- UI/UX design
Room 8
The distinguishing feature of this company is the high level of photorealism in their game graphics.
Room 8 Studio has worked with such publishers as Remedy, Ubisoft and Gameloft. The company is a good choice for developing large-scale projects with realistic graphics.
This studio is worth choosing if you’re planning to make a large-scale game with realistic graphics. If you need more straightforward art, for example for casual games, then you are better off looking elsewhere.
Services:
- development of photorealistic 3D models and animation
- creation of cinematic clips and trailers for video games
- full development of video games for PC, consoles, and mobile devices
How to choose an outsourcing company
Now that you have a list of potential partners offering game graphics outsourcing solutions, you need to make a choice. Here are your next steps:
- Check that the company has experience developing games in your genre. For example, if you need to develop an RPG , you should give preference to a company that specializes in the genre.
- Arrange a discussion with representatives of the company to clarify all details of collaboration. Discuss work processes, deadlines, budget, and the format for communications.
- Check how quickly the company responds to inquiries.
- Compare prices from different companies and make sure that they suit the budget you have allocated. But remember, quality is more important than a low price.
- Carefully study the contracts you are offered and ensure they contain all conditions, deadlines, and rules of collaboration. Consult a lawyer if necessary.
- Consider geography and time zones. It’s worth choosing a company whose working hours coincide with yours. This will allow you to get answers faster and speed up the approval of project stages.
- Check what support is offered after the project is completed. Discuss what support will be provided after completion of the project. For example, what will happen if there are errors or it becomes necessary to make changes to the project?
- Compare all factors, the conversations you’ve had, and the details you’ve discussed, then make an informed decision based on this data.
Why you should choose Inlingo
If you choose Inlingo as a game art outsourcing partner, you will get:
- An individual approach
We assemble an individual team specially for each project, ensuring we consider all the client’s requirements and preferences.
- 11 years of experience
In this time, we have implemented more than 2500 projects for major studios throughout the world.
- We work to project specifications
We discuss project specifications in detail, clarify all issues, and agree a final version. This helps to avoid any misunderstandings and to start work with a complete understanding of the goals and tasks of the project.
- Global reach
We have offices in the UK, Serbia and the UAE. We also work with freelancers all over the world. You get access to the best talent with no borders.
- Quick answers
We answer any work questions within 30 minutes.
Order outsourcing of game art from Inlingo. Submit a request, and we will contact you to discuss the details of your project.
