In today’s intensely dynamic game development industry, an increasing number of studios turn to freelance game developers to meet time-constrained deadlines and handle specific elements of their projects. But what exactly are they, and how can you find the right freelancer for your game?
In this article, you’ll find the answers to everything about them: their definition, where to find them, and the pros and cons of working with freelance game developers. Whether you’re an indie developer or a larger development studio, partnering with these flexible and specialized professionals might be the leg up you need to unlock the full potential of your gaming projects – so let’s get started!
Understanding freelance game developers: what do they do?
First, let’s tackle what it means to be a freelancer: they are independent professionals who offer services on a per-project basis instead of being employed by a single company.
For this reason, they enjoy the flexibility that comes with their job, allowing them to work from the comfort of their home as much or as little as they see fit, providing them with total control of their work-life balance. But it’s not all flowers and sunshine, as they must stand out from the crowd and handle business and administrative tasks – after all, they’re a one-man business!
Game developers, on the other hand, are professionals with the skills and expertise necessary to contribute to the production stage of a game. While the term is more associated with programming, game developers can also work on a swathe of other areas, such as art, game design, audio, visual effects, environments, and worldbuilding.
These professionals are usually experts in one area and a few tools relevant to their line of work. For instance, a game programmer will have deep knowledge about algorithms, data structures, their game engine of choice, and the programming language associated with it, and game artists will be masterful artisans with Photoshop (for 2D assets), or Blender/Maya (for 3D assets).
By combining both concepts, you have the freelance game developer, a highly capable professional who you can hire on demand for your game development projects.
How to find freelance game developers
While finding the right freelance game developer for your project might sound daunting, using the right approach can make it a quick and highly rewarding process. There are many ways you can explore and discover talented developers to work on your project, which we’ll see below:
- Online freelance platforms: websites like Fiverr, Upwork, and Freelancer provide a seemingly infinite pool of freelancers with varying levels of expertise from anywhere in the world. They let you browse through potential hires’ profiles, portfolios, and reviews, and even contact them for further clarifications.
- Game development forums and online communities: you can always scout and engage with online communities, like the official Unity and Unreal Engine forums, game development subreddits (like those on the sidebar of /r/gamedev), and specialized forums, to find new talents for your project. As a bonus, they often feature a section for job postings, making it easy for freelancers to connect with you;
- Social media platforms: even though not the best avenue, platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and even specialized groups on Facebook can be great for finding skilled freelancers. Posting about your project in detail, searching for relevant hashtags, and reaching out to individuals showcasing their skills are great ways to find new talents for your project;
- Networking and referrals: attending conferences, events, and meetups in the industry can be an excellent opportunity to network with fellow professionals and discover potential new talents. Reaching out to colleagues or professionals and asking them for recommendations can also mark the start of a fruitful collaboration with freelancers.
It’s critical to remember to thoroughly evaluate potential developers based on their profiles, portfolios, experience, and reviews, making sure they’ll be a good fit. Great communication skills are also a must-have as you’ll have to communicate your project requirements clearly, set expectations early, and establish a working arrangement that benefits both parties!
Pros and cons of working with freelance game developers
Collaborating with freelance game developers offers several advantages, but it’s also important to consider its disadvantages. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons!
Pros of hiring freelance game developers
As discussed before, freelancers provide the most flexibility in project scaling and resource allocation. Most of them will be happy working for you on a per-project basis, which lets you adapt the team size according to your needs, but some will be comfortable being paid by the hour.
These developers are also very cost-effective relative to hiring full-time employees. This happens because you can save on overhead costs, like office space, software licenses, powerful equipment, benefits, and more. Additionally, there’s no need to run a selection process, which saves a lot of precious time. This makes hiring freelancers a great solution for smaller and indie game studios, as hiring a full-time employee might hurt their already constrained budget.
A final, yet unexpected advantage freelance game developers bring to the table is their fresh perspective and innovative ideas. As they work with a variety of clients and projects, these professionals have been exposed to different genres and projects, leading to potentially unique insights and creative solutions to pesky development challenges.
Cons of hiring freelance game developers
There might be some communication challenges due to potential language barriers and their location in the world – after all, time zones are a thing! Establishing an effective communication channel and keeping updates regular is a way to mitigate this issue, but doesn’t always eliminate it.
Availability and commitment might also be an issue as freelancers might be working on multiple projects at a time, impacting their total commitment to your project. Discussing project timelines, availability, and deliverables upfront helps set expectations for both parties from the get-go to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Finally, while managing a freelancer or two might be fine, the situation can quickly spiral out of control when we’re talking about multiple freelance game developers. This can be time-consuming and might require additional effort to ensure the project says on track. A dedicated project manager helps with this issue, but that might incur further additional costs.
Conclusion
As seen in this article, freelance game developers are an excellent option when you’re in a pinch and need some extra help with your game, bringing their lifelong expertise and polished skills to the table.
Their flexibility is unparalleled, their fresh perspectives might result in creative solutions, and they’re usually quick and easy to hire if you’re contacting them through a freelance platform. Having said that, it’s essential to consider potential communication challenges, project management issues, and timezone differences, which could impact their efficiency.
While freelance game developers can be a great choice for deliverables that are smaller in scope, there are instances where outsourcing services can provide a much more streamlined and efficient solution.
By partnering with game studios like Main Leaf, you can leverage their entire talent pool, comprising over 70 highly specialized professionals in all areas of game development – like art, programming, game design, audio assets, and even blockchain-related services. With Main Leaf, you enjoy the convenience of working with a single entity with a proven track record that spans over a decade in the gaming industry.
From concept to completion, this leading game studio can work on projects for multiple platforms with Unity and Unreal Engine, offering comprehensive development solutions tailored to your specific needs, be it a desktop, mobile, or console title.
To get started with the creation of your upcoming masterpiece, partner with Main Leaf today by filling out the contact form below – you’ll get a reply from us within 24 hours!
