While there are dedicated milestones at every step, the overarching goal of our game development cycle is efficiency without compromising quality. We also place a significant emphasis on transparency, ensuring that clients are consistently updated on the progress and that their vision is meticulously upheld throughout the journey.

What Are the Stages of Game Development?

• Planning
• Pre-production
• Production
• Testing
• Pre-launch
• Launch
• Post-production

 Let’s dig a bit deeper into each of them.

Step #1: Effective Planning Is a Crucial Step in the Game DevelopmentPipeline

Brainstorming to outline a plan

Whether in mobile game development or any other type, the planning stage typically begins with brainstorming sessions where we determine how to implement the client’s requirements in the most efficient and cost-effective way. 

We also analyze market trends, player preferences, and platform considerations. The objective here is to build a comprehensive plan for delivering an advanced solution that aligns with the client’s vision and goals.

Market research, how a skilled game studio does it 

Here, we delve deeper into the overall industry trends and assess the competition’s offerings. We identify the potential gaps and plan how to seize the opportunities in the market. The result of this sub-stage is that we get a clearer understanding of the environment and how to develop a game that stands out on the market.

Defining style and vision to achieve best game style and identity

Once we’ve validated all the requirements and have a clear vision of how we will proceed, we start shaping up the implementation details. We will start outlining the game’s overall style, player experience, and identity in general.

Creating a preliminary budget and schedule

The planning step also involves creating a preliminary budget and schedule for the project. This includes estimating the financial resources required for development and other associated costs. The schedule will outline the timeline for different phases of development, each with its own set of deadlines and objectives.

Assembling the team that can deliver all the necessary game development services

When all the previous steps have been taken care of, we can start assembling the right development team for the gamedevelopment process, including designers, 2D and 3D artists, VFX artists, programmers, sound engineers, and other specialists. A wide range of experts with diverse expertise works at Stepico, so on each project, we ensure that the skills and expertise of the team members align perfectly with the project’s requirements and vision.

Step #2: Pre-production Is Where Initial Creative Work Happens in the Video Game Development

The pre-production is built on the concepts and plans established during the first stage. It involves detailed documentation and initial creative work. Its goal is to ensure there is a solid foundation before the actual developmentbegins. It, too, has several sub-steps: 

Game Design Document (GDD)

The pre-production stage begins with the creation of a comprehensive GDD, which will serve as a blueprint for the entire game. It describes the game’s concept, mechanics, characters, storyline, and other essential elements. The GDD puts everyone on the same page – it provides a clear reference point for the development team and aligns everyone involved on the title’s vision and goals.

Creating concept art and prototypes

Visual representation of the game begins with the creation of concept art and, in some cases, prototypes. Concept art helps visualize the game’s characters, environments, and overall aesthetic. Prototypes, the simplified “trial” versions of the game, may also be developed to test and validate key gameplay mechanics and features. These prototypes will play the role of a PoC and aid us in making informed design decisions further along the way.

Outlining technical requirements

Next, we identify the technical requirements. This involves determining the hardware and software specifications necessary for the game’s development. The key decisions related to the game engine, programming languages, and other technical aspects are made at this stage. 

Planning the storyline and characters

Then, we go on to flesh out the game’s narrative and characters. Storyline elements, including plot points, character arcs, and key events, are thought out thoroughly. This information is going to be crucial for artists, writers, and animators during the production phase.

Establishing game mechanics

Here, we define and perfect the game’s mechanics. This includes outlining how the game will be played, specifying controls, and determining the core gameplay loop. Prototyping may also play a significant role in this phase, allowing the team to experiment with different options and iterate on them based on feedback and testing.

Creating a detailed production plan

The production plan, breaking down the development process into a series of tasks, serves as a roadmap for the team, helping to organize and prioritize work. It includes timelines for different tasks, resource allocation, and dependencies between various components of the game.

Setting up development tools and environments

Finally, the pre-production phase includes the setup of development tools and environments. This step involves configuring software, version control systems, and collaboration platforms that the team will use throughout development, which ensures that the environment is optimized for efficiency, contributing to a smoother workflow during the production phase.

Stage #3: Production Is Where Everything Comes Together in the GameDevelopment Process

The production stage in game development is where the concepts, plans, and designs from the earlier stages start to come to life. It involves the core creation of the game, the implementation of features, and the assembly of assets. The substeps here are the following:

Coding the game mechanics and features 

The heart of the production stage lies in coding the game mechanics and features outlined in the GDD. Programmers begin implementing the systems that will define how the game functions. The codebase is continually iterated upon as the development team refines and optimizes the gameplay experience till it matches the client’s requirements completely.

Creating 3D models, animations, and assets

Then, our artists and animators work on creating 3D models, animations, textures, and other visual assets, which align with the concept art developed during pre-production. Consistent communication between the art and programming teams is essential to ensure that the visual elements seamlessly integrate with the gameplay mechanics. 

Developing levels and environments properly is crucial to game design process

Level designers focus on creating the various levels and environments that players will experience. This involves crafting the layout, placing assets, and designing challenges to engage players. Iterative testing occurs as levels are developed to ensure they provide desired difficulty, engagement, and progression. Complementing the level designers’ efforts, environment artists play a crucial role in creating landscapes, settings, and atmospheres that enrich the visual appeal and emotional depth of the title, further immersing players in the gameplay. 

Integrating audio and visual elements

Sound designers integrate audio elements, such as music, sound effects, and voiceovers. This enhances the game’s immersive quality and contributes to the overall player experience. The integration of audio and visual elements is an iterative process, with continuous refinement based on testing and feedback.

Continuous optimization is a key game development stage

Optimization is an ongoing process during production. We keep improving performance, reducing load times, and ensuring that the game runs smoothly on various platforms. Additionally, the team may conduct playtests and gather player feedback to identify areas that can be further optimized to enhance the quality of the user interaction.

Stage #4: Testing Must be Particularly Thorough to Ensure Comprehensive Evaluation and Successful Game Development

QA testing in the game development cycle is a systematic process where dedicated testers evaluate the game to identify bugs, glitches, and other issues. This phase is crucial for ensuring the game’s functionality and performance. Testers follow predefined test cases and scenarios, checking different aspects of the game, including gameplay mechanics, user interfaces, audio-visual elements, and overall stability.

Debugging 

Developers identify the root causes of issues discovered during testing and resolve them promptly. This stage is about fixing coding errors, addressing compatibility issues, and ensuring that the game functions as intended. This iterative process continues until the game reaches an acceptable level of stability.

Performance testing and optimization

Performance testing is essential to ensure the game runs smoothly on various platforms and devices. Testers assess factors such as frame rate, load times, and overall responsiveness. Optimization efforts may involve tweaking code, adjusting graphics settings, or streamlining assets to improve the game’s performance. This step is critical for delivering a seamless and enjoyable player experience.

Compatibility testing

Compatibility testing ensures that the game works seamlessly across different platforms, devices, and hardware configurations. This includes testing on various operating systems, consoles, and PC setups. Identifying and resolving compatibility issues is crucial to ensure a broad and inclusive player base.

Regulatory and compliance testing

Games may undergo regulatory and compliance testing depending on the target markets to ensure they meet industry standards and legal requirements. This can include content ratings, localization testing for different languages, and adherence to specific guidelines set by regulatory bodies.

Documentation and reporting

Throughout the testing stage, detailed documentation is maintained. Testers document the steps taken, issues identified, and the results of testing procedures. Reports are also generated and shared with the development team, providing clear insights into the status of the game and the progress made in addressing identified issues.

Beta testing

Beta testing involves releasing a pre-release version of the game to a selected group of external users. These users, often representing the game’s target audience, provide valuable feedback from diverse perspectives. Beta testing can uncover issues that were not identified during internal QA testing. It also serves as an opportunity to gather insights into player preferences and expectations.

Stage #5: Pre-launch Is Where the Game Production Process Turns Into Reaching Out to the Community

As the game approaches launch, a final round of testing is conducted to catch any last-minute bugs or issues. This ensures that the game is as polished and bug-free as possible before reaching players. The development team works diligently to address any issues identified during this phase, maintaining a focus on delivering a high-quality, stable product.

Marketing, how it’s done in companies with lots of game development experience 

The pre-launch stage is also characterized by intensive marketing and promotional efforts to build anticipation and awareness about the upcoming game. This includes the release of trailers, teasers, and other promotional materials. Developers may engage with influencers, gaming journalists, and content creators to generate buzz around the game. Social media campaigns, press releases, and other marketing strategies are employed to reach the target audience.

Setting up support systems

In anticipation of player inquiries and issues, developers set up support systems, including customer service channels, FAQs, and community forums. The goal is to ensure that players have access to assistance and information, fostering a positive experience and addressing any concerns that may arise during the initial launch period.

Engaging with the community

Pre-launch is also an appropriate time to engage with the gaming community. Developers may participate in forums, respond to player inquiries, and gather feedback from early adopters. Building a positive relationship with the community contributes to long-term player retention and can provide valuable insights for future updates and improvements.

Step #6: Launch Is When Game Developers Are Done With All the Preparations

This is the moment we release the game to the public, making it available for players to purchase, download, or access. It marks the culmination of the development journey and the beginning of the game’s presence in the market. 

Distributing the game

The launch process begins with the distribution of the game to various platforms. This may involve releasing the title on digital distribution platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, app stores for mobile games, or console platforms. Developers ensure that the game files are correctly uploaded and that all necessary information, such as pricing and system requirements, is accurate.

Monitoring 

We closely monitor the launch to address any immediate issues that may arise. This includes tracking server loads, addressing potential technical glitches, and ensuring that players can access and download the game without significant issues. Real-time monitoring tools may be employed to gather data on player activity, server performance, and other critical metrics.

Addressing issues

Right after launch, unexpected issues might arise. Rapid response teams are in place to address immediate concerns, such as server crashes, connectivity problems, or unforeseen technical issues. Communication channels, including social media, community forums, and customer support, are actively monitored to provide quick responses to player inquiries or reports of issues.

Analyzing user feedback

Developers actively collect user feedback during the launch phase. This includes feedback on gameplay mechanics, bugs, and overall player experiences. Analyzing user feedback helps prioritize post-launch updates and patches, addressing any issues that may have emerged after a wider audience began playing the game.

Stage #7: Post-launch Is the Last but Not Least Game Development Stage

The post-production stage focuses on ongoing support, updates, and improvements. This phase is crucial for maintaining player satisfaction, addressing any issues that may arise, and enhancing the overall experience.

Monitoring player feedback

Continuous monitoring of player feedback is a key aspect of post-production. We actively listen to the community, including forums, social media, and other communication channels, to understand player experiences and concerns. Analyzing feedback helps identify areas that may require attention, whether it be addressing bugs, improving gameplay elements, or implementing player-requested features.

Addressing post-launch bugs

Post-production involves ongoing bug fixing and issue resolution. The development team prioritizes identified problems based on severity and impact on player experience.

Releasing patches and updates

Regular patches and updates are deployed to the game to introduce new features, improvements, and fixes. These updates may also include performance optimizations, balancing adjustments, and additional content. The release schedule for patches is often informed by the feedback received from players and the development team’s internal priorities. 

Planning and developing additional content

Post-launch, we often plan and create additional content to keep the player base engaged. This may include downloadable content, expansions, or updates that introduce new levels, characters, storylines, or other features. The goal is to provide players with fresh and compelling experiences, extending the longevity of the game.

Final words

While this article provides insights into the overall stages of the game development process at Stepico, it’s important to note that no blog can comprehensively cover it, as the specifics of each project depend solely on the client’s needs. For example, a blockchain game development project differs in key aspects from the conventional processes involved in the production of Unreal or Unity games. 

If you’d like to learn more about how we create outstanding titles or if you want our assistance in launching a revolutionary game of your own, feel free to contact us right now.

What You Can Do For Free

Yes, competent promotion is not only about money. If you want to reach maximum effect with your ads, you need to take a few steps before getting started. And the first of them is a competent presentation of your project.

ASO In The App Store And Google Play

Before inviting users to the download page, make sure that you have correctly filled it. It will help you to present the game and also generate free user traffic. Do not forget that many players are looking for new entertainment using keywords. And if there are enough of them in the description, then the chances that a new user will find your game increases.

The correctly filled card contains:

• keywords in title and description;
• localized text;
• captivating screenshots and video trailers.

Remember that the game is greeted precisely by the screenshots. Even if your gameplay is super addicting, players won’t know about it if they don’t download the game. So choose the most spectacular and colorful frames that catch your eye. And be sure to add a video.

Do not use enhanced content. The picture must fully convey what the player will see in the game. Otherwise, you will face an unpleasant situation from the “expectation/reality” series – and you will receive a sea of negative reviews. Of course, your game must be great. So make sure that you choose the right game dev company.

By the way, about the reviews! Make sure that you motivate users to rate the game and share their experiences. The higher the rating of the game in the store and the more positive comments, the more confidence it can inspire in new players. The main thing is that the reviews must be honest.

Update the description regularly to highlight the latest updates and features in the game. Also, be sure to check the texts and screenshots for relevance.

Landing Page

An effective landing page is another way to increase interest in your game. Unlike a product card, here, you will have a full-fledged space to attract attention. You can make a free version with a minimum of content or create a full-fledged website with bright animation and modern features. It all depends on your budget and time.

If you want your landing page to be as effective as possible, make sure it includes:

• Links to the App Store and Google Play.
• Exciting game trailer and gameplay.
• Call to action + download bonuses.
• Reviews from specialized publications, if you have them.
• Links to your communities in social networks.

You can use this page to collect player contact information and make them subscribe to the newsletter. Or involve people in communities so that they are the first to know about updates. Such landing pages are especially relevant for projects that are still in development. If the game is not released on some platform, then you can collect players in the waiting list through a google form. Or give access to audience thought a closed test tool, for example Test Flight for AppStore. With their help, you can generate interest in the game even before the release. And don’t forget SEO optimization. Utilizing an seo checker like Serpstat can significantly enhance your game’s visibility online, ensuring that your promotional efforts reach the right audience through optimized web content and keywords, driving organic traffic to your game’s landing page or social media profiles.

Communities On Social Networks

It is a powerful tool for organic traffic. Create a Facebook group, Youtube channel, Twitter, Tik-Tok, or Instagram profile and use your creativity. You can attract players for free with viral content, memes, jokes, or colorful screenshots. If you create quality content that is fun and engaging, people will share it for free!

You can also use contests and activities to increase your social media reach. You can use in-game items and currency as prizes, which will be another magnet for attracting new players. Once you’ve won 500 gold coins, you probably want to download the game and see what you can spend it on, right?

Plus, there are many tools on social media to boost organic reach. Arrange a challenge, write posts on discussion topics – and then your publications will attract users without paid promotion.

Let’s Talk About Paid Methods

All the methods listed in the previous section are must-haves for promotion. They not only save the budget but also serve as a base for paid activities. If you have a high-quality landing page, a well-designed app card in the store, and a community on social networks, then you will have a place to direct your traffic. So, before launching Sponsored Ads, prepare a platform for your audience.

Target Ads

This is the easiest and most obvious way for mobile applications. A smartphone is always at hand. So users can go directly to the application page and download the app after seeing an ad on social networks. The shorter the customer journey, the more effective the advertising. The main advantage of targeted advertising is that you can select an audience by interest, use retargeting and study the portraits of your potential players.

Video Advertising Inside Games

Usually, mobile gamers play more than one game. So advertising some games within others is a very effective strategy. You can place an advertisement in a free version of the same game or use another game with similar mechanics and meanings. Alternatively, you can use your other projects for cross-promo.

Bloggers And Streamers

Twitch and other streaming services are becoming more and more popular. Today people can hear about the new game from the broadcasts of their favorite blogger or watch the walkthrough on YouTube. Find bloggers talking about games in your genre and request a review or ad.

Thematic Resources

And, finally, another way to promote is to order an article or post on a thematic resource dedicated to games. Online gaming publications and social media groups with an active audience will help you increase your reach and draw attention to your project.

Don’t Want To Promote Video Games Yourself? Trust The Professionals!

The Stepico company can not only offer custom full cycle game development, but also care about the promotion, publishing and Live operations of the game. We will prepare the entire base for advertising your project, help you make impressive art and trailers, create a selling landing page, and give all the recommendations for an effective promotion of your game on any platform. Do you want to create a game or promote it? Then check our services now.

It’s hard to imagine the modern game industry without indie projects. It is not a genre or a direction, but everyone understands what an indie game is. However, the boundaries of this game development form are rapidly blurring. Today “indie” is not only “made for a penny by a team of enthusiasts” but also popular projects made by professional teams. So what makes indie games different? Let’s figure it out.

What Is Indie Game Development

The main characteristic of an indie game is independent development. That means that large studios like EA, Ubisoft, or Rockstar are not in charge of the process. You can create an indie game alone, but often it is done by small teams of 5-10 people.

So, “indie” means independent of major publishers. And from their financial support, of course, but difficulties make the process even more challenging. Despite the high competition and lack of support from big studios, indie games have their advantages.

• You can embody any ideas: even the most non-standard and risky ones. Actually, in the absence of large budgets, this will be the main feature. Indie games catch on not with ultra-modern graphics and complex mechanics, but mainly with stories.
• You don’t need to look at the market standards and trends and organize audience research. Indie developers can do what they like.
• There are no studio bosses, no deadlines. So you can work at your tempo, especially if you are working alone. You don’t need to rush or sacrifice cool ideas to get to the next checkpoint.

It’s getting easier and easier to develop your own game. While you are reading this text, probably a dozen more indie horrors or shooters have appeared. So, if you want to create your own indie game, the idea must be at least original.

How to make a successful indie game

The main thing in an indie project is not to stop halfway. There is no one-size-fits-all recipe for a successful indie game, but these tips will help you bring your idea to reality.

Choose quality, not quantity. Studios with large teams can easily manage several projects at once. But indie developers should focus all resources on one thing.

All you need is a great idea. Yes, we already talked about this in the last paragraph. But, believe us, this is very important! When there are no cool technical capabilities, you need to rely on creativity. A strong script and original approach to gameplay are the keys.

Don’t forget about promotion. Release trailers, make press releases, post information about your game wherever possible, and remember that there are never too many ads.

Think about how to keep people interested in the game. You can use new endings, bonus materials, and additional information about the game world. All these features will help maintain interest in the game and increase the percent of replaying.

Monetize your game. In-app purchases, ads, and cross-promotion are ways to monetize almost any game. However, you need to do it carefully. Otherwise, there is a risk of a low score on Metacritic, failed sales, and oblivion.

The game is like a child. It is necessary to maintain it (patch), listen to feedback (communicate with the players), and remind everyone how good it is. And do not be confused that you are selling your child because, after all, this is just a game. Create a thematic community on Reddit or a group on Facebook, where you can collect feedback and tell about updates.

By the way, outsourcing is a great idea! If you feel that your skills in, for example, drawing, are only enough for the image of a Christmas tree (and you drew a star cruiser), then feel free to seek help from professional artists. Or look for good composers. Or find those who will write you the code. Or connect with the Stepico team because we can help you at any stage! If you want to learn more about our services, check this page.

How to form an Indie game development team

We have already mentioned outsourcing, so now is the time to talk about those without whom you can’t create the game. The minimal crew should include:

• game designer
• artist
• programmer
• sound engineer
• tester

Good news: you can do all these roles alone. And by the way, in 99.9% of cases, you will have to be the project manager. You will explain tasks to the team, set deadlines, and control everything that can be controlled.

Indie game development costs

The budget for an indie game can be microscopic, or you can expand it to enormous proportions. In the first case, the authors usually do everything alone or with a team of friends. You can use free engines, write music in Garage Band and do all stages on your own. The results are always different. You can make an indie masterpiece: like To the Moon, Minecraft, or Five Nights at Freddy’s. Or you can make another clone of games that are gathering dust on the virtual shelves.

In the second case, you can invest your funds and finance in a full-cycle development. If you don’t have enough money, you can find people interested in your game on crowdfunding sites: Patreon, Indiegogo, and CrowdFunder.

The most important thing is to be clear about your vision and follow it.

Let’s create!

Indie game development is an incredible adventure in which you can bring your brightest, wildest, and craziest ideas to life. There can be a lot of obstacles, but this is not a reason to stop! Go ahead, and Stepico will be your reliable partner when you need resources at any stage of creating your unique indie game.

Looking for Game Development Partner?

Games are no longer just entertainment. Today it is a rapidly developing industry in which, according to Statista, almost a third of the world’s population is involved. People of all ages regularly play on mobile devices, consoles, and PCs. Esports tournaments with huge budgets are held all over the world. And virtual worlds have transformed from a gaming space into a place where you can meet with friends.

There is no doubt that the gaming industry will grow. But in which direction? To find out, we’ve collected the latest gaming trends in this article.

1: Cloud Gaming Trends

Source: Global Web IndexPreviously, gamers’ experience was limited by two factors: the device and its technical capabilities. Companies created games for specific platforms. And the quality directly depended on the characteristics of the console, smartphone, or PC. Today, the number of exclusives has decreased. Of course, unique games remain, both for consoles and PCs. But you can play a game of any genre on anything. And cloud technologies allow you to run resource-intensive applications on any hardware.

It is beneficial not only for the players but also for the developers. Cloud technologies will help remove technical limits and reach a wider audience. Users won’t have to buy high-quality gaming PCs or consoles to play. There will be no need to download or install games.

The key to the successful development of this area is the fast Internet. Today, image quality suffers when transferring data. But with the improvement of technology, this problem will disappear. Just imagine: you will have an opportunity to play AAA games from even the simplest devices! And that brings us to the next trend.

2: Mobile game development

Source: StatistaMobile games today differ from projects for consoles or PCs, but the boundaries are rapidly blurring. Video game design companies adapt popular titles for smartphones and develop new mobile projects that are becoming no less popular.

About 2.2 billion people all over the world play games on smartphones. And there is no difference between gender. According to MMA Global, 51% of mobile players are women, and 49% are men. Unlike PCs or consoles, this type of gaming is popular with people of all ages and 14% of active players are from 16 to 24 years old, while  24% are from 35 to 44 and 20% – from 45 to 54. So mobile games are not entertainment just for teenagers. Everyone plays them.

Your smartphone is always at hand, so you can play everywhere: on the way to work, at home, or when you are waiting in the queue. The capabilities of smartphones are improving every year, so games for mobile devices are becoming more challenging and fun. And fast data and new communication standards will open up endless possibilities for gaming. So mobile games will be actively improved and developed in the future.

3: Multiplayer games

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people were looking for other ways to communicate. And multiplayer online games have played an important role in socialization. Unable to meet friends in a park or cafe, people began to spend more time playing games. They began competing against each other in Fortnite, getting together as a team in Call of Duty or DOTA 2, or spending time in numerous MMORPGs.

The latest genre is especially interesting from the point of view of the development of the industry. Unlike battles – solo or team – in MMORPGs, you can spend long hours rather than short sessions. These are separate worlds that you can explore, contacting other players. Previously, such games were relevant only for the PC. But with the development of technology, it became possible to play them on smartphones.

However, Battle Royale games are not losing ground either. The genre began to gain popularity in 2017, and the number of fans of this format continues to grow. In games like this, everyone fights against everyone until there is only one winner left. Battles take place on colorful maps with resources, and each new game starts from scratch.

One of the most popular games in the genre is PUBG. Only on Steam, this game had over 444 thousand concurrent players in August 2021. And that’s not counting the players on consoles and the mobile version, where indicators are much higher. More than 50 million people played the PUBG mobile daily in Q3 2020. Another 70 million have played the Chinese version of Game for Peace, which accounts for over 50% of PUBG Mobile’s revenues. This game is free-to-play, and according to the latest data, 730 million users have installed it, and the number of daily active players is 30 million.

Fortnite is another popular Battle Royale game. It differs from PUBG in its cartoonish graphics and the ability to create objects right on the battlefield. In September 2021, up to 4 million people played Fortnite simultaneously on all platforms every day.

The ability to compete not with NPCs, but with other people has always attracted players. Cooperative modes and the ability to share the game with friends appeared long before modern online battles. And if we consider that today most of life flows online, the direction of multiplayer games will develop actively.

4: Gambling and e-Sports

Esports has played a huge role in the interest in online multiplayer games. Why did we make it a separate trend? Because to compete, games must have special mechanics. And if you want to create a new Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, or DOTA2, you need to think about the possibilities for battle at the idea stage.

After numerous lockdowns, people who were unable to attend their favorite matches switched to eSports. If in 2019 the audience of people who watched cybersport events at least once a month was about 440 million, then by the end of 2021 this number may increase to 550 million.

International DOTA2 Championship

Major game championships are held annually, and the prize pools are amazing. For example, The International 2021 tournament, which took place from October 7 to 17 in Bucharest, had a prize pool of $40 million. Thanks to such high-profile events, gaming tournaments have long ceased to be something underground. Today, a DOTA2 match can easily compete with a football or basketball championship in views.

Esports have come into play in a variety of genres. For example, summoners war is neither a shooter nor a MOBA, but tournaments are held in this game. Competitions are also held on mobile platforms: PUBG Mobile, Clash Royale, Clash of Clans, Garena Free Fire, etc.

So games with a lot of competitive potential are a promising niche. If you have ideas for such projects, you can always contact Stepico for full-cycle development.

5: Blurring the boundaries between games and movies

The graphics in games are becoming more realistic. If you’ve seen the trailer for the new Forza Horizon 5 or played one of the latest releases from top game design companies, then you probably understand what we are talking about. Unlike movies, game worlds are not limited by the laws of physics. You can choose any setting and create anything from an underwater laboratory or a lost space station to a medieval city inhabited by fantastic creatures.

Twenty years ago, it was difficult to imagine the level of realism that modern games have reached. Imagine what awaits us in another twenty years! Endless possibilities allow you to create whole open worlds that live by their laws. No matter how fascinating the universe of the film is, you cannot immerse yourself in it. And in games anything is possible.

But along with open worlds, there is another genre that blurs the lines between games and movies. It is a genre of interactive film where the player makes choices that influence the plot. Interestingly, both industries are developing in this direction. Interactive films and TV series appear, and gaming studios regularly release cinematic games.

For example, projects like Until Dawn, Detroit Become Human, and the entire series of Dark Pictures. These games are focused not on the process but the story. You need to make choices that will affect the fate of the characters and lead you to one of several endings. This synthesis of film and game provides deep immersion in the story. You don’t need special skills to play, and this is a great way to relax.

6: More Remakes, Reboots and Nostalgia

When so many new things appear, we feel a longing for the old. Some people miss pixel arcades, others remember the games they played in their childhood. It is not surprising that the industry responds quickly to such trends. Today, you can find modern platformers that create the illusion of games from the past, and once-popular titles are getting a new wave of popularity with remakes and remasters.

People are willing to pay to re-play their favorite games in an updated version: Mafia definitive edition, Demon Souls, GTA etc. Not only games with outdated graphics receive the update, but also those that look modern. For example, TES: Skyrim, released in 2011, or Witcher 3, a game that has long remained at the top of the ratings of the most realistic projects, will soon receive an improvement in graphics.

Also, the interest in the old games in their original form does not fade away. WoW made a classic version for players dissatisfied with modern game updates. On Xbox, thanks to backward compatibility, you can play Perfect Dark, Black, Morrowind, and other games. And the extended version of Nintendo Switch Online includes Nintendo 64 and Sega games from the 16-bit era.

7: VR and AR game development

From super realistic graphics, it’s easy to go full immersion. And virtual reality technology can provide a similar experience. It is available today, but it has not yet become something commonplace. Today VR is more entertainment than a full-fledged element of gameplay. But in the future, with the development of technology, the situation may change.

The demand for virtual reality has grown during the pandemic. People, unable to experience the familiar sensations in everyday life, began to pay more attention to the game worlds and new opportunities for immersion in them. 360-degree video content and high-quality graphics create a sense of presence and make the gameplay more vivid and immersive.

​​With VR, you can control an airplane in Microsoft Flight Simulator or fly on a spaceship in Star Wars: Squadrons. Or you can destroy enemies in Half-Life: Alyx and in the incredibly stylish SUPERHOT shooter. Many games get a VR version or update: for example, Resident Evil 4 or Dota 2.

Today people are more likely to go to VR clubs rather than buy these devices. But, if we look into the past, we will remember that the passion for games also began with arcade machines. So, VR may very soon become a part of our everyday reality.

What does the future of gaming hold for us?

Games have become an integral part of everyday life. We play on smartphones, consoles, and PCs, spend time with friends in exciting online battles and dive into game worlds that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from reality. And if you don’t want to play by yourself, you can watch the stream. Thanks to broadcasts on Twitch and videos on YouTube, even those who do not have the equipment to play will find out about great projects.

Source: Global Web Index

How will the industry develop further? We believe that in the future:

• games will become even more realistic;
• most multiplayer games will move to VR
• there will be a great emphasis on personalization;
• lots high-quality projects of the past will sooner or later receive an upgrade;
• VR and AR technologies will become part of everyday user experience;
• there will be more competitive games to watch;
• the genre of interactive cinematic games will be actively developed;
• retro style will become one of the most popular trends;
• there will be more monetization opportunities – for example, blockchain technologies.

Our team is constantly exploring new possibilities for creating exciting game projects. We use modern technologies and improve standards and development processes to create impressive projects in our game design portfolio. If you want, you can learn more about our services.

Looking for Game Development Partner?

Whether building your own game as indiee, large studio or working as a game vendor, one of the most important elements of any multiplayer game is the very thing that carries the information between players or from player to central server(s). This layer of connectivity is Protocol, and choosing the right one for your game is a crucial step of planning architecture setup.

First of all, you’ll need to decide, what protocols you can use with your technology stack of choice and try to classify then as detailed as you can. Later this classification will help you point out their strengths, weaknesses and core utility.

Basic high-level protocol solution can be dichotomized using following criteria (among many others, of course): underlying low-level carrier protocol, persistence of connection, reliability, state preservation, encryption, human readability, compression, proprietary. Lets look on utility and common examples of protocols in some of the above categories.

Check Our Case Study With “Century Siege: TD Battle” Full-Cycle Game Development

Persistence Of Connection

This factor is one of the most important that influences a decision on what protocol solution to pick for your game. There is basically only two options in this category, but choosing one basically is the most important decision one can make when looking at protocol solutions. Persistent connection means, that protocol creates a connection “tunnel” between two endpoints that is persistent and constantly reused throughout the session. This one is massively favoured for any real-time experience, especially MMO, multiplayer FPS, real-time RPG and RTS kind of games.

Another advantage of this approach is ability to send data both ways, without a need of permanent network identification for all the participants of the communication process, as they can just send data through the already established connection. Non-persistent connection means that you can only rely on tunnel existing when you make a new request. Here you’ll have to “find” an endpoint you wish to connect to within the network every time, establish the connection and pour data you want into it. Connection “tunnels” may actually persist for some time, to improve performance of the connection establishing, but you can not rely on this being true every request.

This approach, though sacrificing speed, saves a lot of resources, especially on central servers, where free sockets can be a commodity resource. This type of connection is perfect for turn-base games, where preserving state and slowness of data transfer can be easily masked by end-turn animations or other effects, that don’t influence the gameplay. In the persistent camp you can find solutions like UNet, Forge, Photon, Smartfoxserver and HTTP 1.1 (kind of, with magic and correct keep-alive properties being respected on all sides).
Non-persisten are usually based on TCP/HTTP solutions and WebRequest in Unity.

Reliability

Another key factor, that severely influences the way one is planning the development process around is protocol reliability. Should you wait until you get the data package or timeout? Should you assume it will never come through and extrapolate the result? That’s were reliability comes into play. Reliable protocols claim, that they will either explicitly deliver the data in exact order, or let you know they didn’t. Unreliable protocols do no such thing. With those you’ll get much more speed, ignoring the checks for hashsums and package orders, but you’ll need a lot more development on client or server logic compensating for this. Reliable protocols are either based on TCP trasport layer (HTTP, some flavours of smartfoxserver and Photon) or use their own delivery checkup functionality (like reliable-udp flavour of Photon PUN). Unreliable protocols are usually based on udp or direct websockets.

Other important factors you always need to consider are encryption (https and other ssl based protocols) vs speed and simplicity, human readability vs compactness and need for state preservation (e.g. fetching any unsensitive data can be completely unencrypted and stateless, maximizing simplicity and speed).

Summing Up

Whenever you start development of a new game, that requires multiplayer, or any other kind of client-server connectivity, you now know what flavours and categories of protocol you can choose from. Take a look on a game you plan, decide on security and performance challenges standing before you, come to a compromize and reach into the category of a protocol you feel is best suited for decisions you’ve made.

About Stepico Games

Founded in 2014, Stepico Games is an international games developer, focused on the fast-growing Mobile and PC gaming market. On this way Stepico became Leading Game Development Partner in US & Europe. Working with NBC Universal, Rovio, Section and others company built a team of experts to deliver solutions at all levels of Game Development.