Game Development Outsourcing in China
11 verified game outsourcing studios are listed in China, most often offering Animation (9), 3D Art (9) and 2D Art (8). Compare portfolios, services, and engine coverage before you reach out.
Working-hour overlap with China
Assuming a 09:00-18:00 working day on both sides. Ranges reflect daylight saving, which the two sides do not always shift on the same dates.
None. A Chinese workday (09:00-18:00 CST) runs 20:00-05:00 the previous evening in ET. The only live window is a US evening against a Chinese morning.
Two to three hours at the start of the European day: 09:00-11:00 CET is 16:00-18:00 in China, and a little wider in European summer.
Why this matters more than the hourly rate: how overlap hours decide the pace of a project.
What the China outsourcing market actually looks like
China's 11 listed studios are the most animation-heavy group in this directory relative to their size. Animation appears on eight of ten profiles, level with 3D art, and 2D art is close behind. Programming and game design do not make the cohort's top three services at all. These are art and animation production houses, and that is what they should be hired for.
Engine coverage is near-total across both major engines: nine of ten list Unity and nine list Unreal, with a single custom-engine listing. For asset delivery that matters less than it sounds, since most of this work arrives as source files rather than as engine-integrated features. The cohort is established, with a median founding year of 2006.
The friction is operational rather than creative. There is no usable overlap with US working hours and only two to three hours with Western Europe at the start of the European day. Contract enforcement and IP protection need real attention: written specs, staged milestone payments, and explicit terms on ownership of source files and intermediate assets. Payment routing takes longer than with European suppliers. None of that is a reason to avoid the market, but it does mean the admin overhead is higher than the rate difference alone suggests.
Where China is strong
- The most animation-heavy cohort in the directory relative to its size. Animation appears on 8 of 10 profiles, level with 3D art, and 2D art is close behind at 7.
- Near-total coverage of both major engines: 9 of 10 list Unity and 9 list Unreal.
- An established group, median founding year 2006. These are production houses that have been running for a while.
What to watch for
- No overlap with US working hours and only two to three hours with Western Europe.
- IP and contract terms need explicit attention, particularly ownership of source files and intermediate assets. Use staged milestone payments.
- Programming and game design do not appear in the cohort's top three services. Hire here for art and animation.
- Payment routing and invoicing take longer to set up than with European suppliers, so the admin overhead is higher than a rate comparison suggests.
Editorial assessment written from the directory data. The counts in the breakdown below are recomputed on every page load.
What China studios offer
Counted across all 11 listed China studios. A studio can appear in more than one row.
Why Asia?
Typical rates in China
Often near the low end of market rates
Studios in China usually sit at the lower end of the published rate ranges. Entry-level 2D art tends to start around $25-40/hour and mid-range 3D art around $50-100/hour, with senior talent climbing toward the upper bands ($100-200/hour) for AAA-level work. Across the market, hourly rates run roughly $25-150 for 2D art, $30-200 for 3D art, $35-250 for programming, and $30-200 for audio, moving up with seniority. China is one of the more affordable places to outsource, though Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are exceptions and price closer to Western studios. Budget extra time for review cycles and timezone gaps when working with the lower-cost markets here.
These are general market ranges, not quoted studio rates. For a full breakdown by service and seniority, see the game outsourcing cost guide. Need a specific engine? Compare Unity and Unreal Engine studios.
All 11 game outsourcing studios in China
About Winking Studios Winking Studios is a game art outsourcing and development company founded in 2003, now headquartered in Singapore. Listed on both London and Singapore Stock Exchanges, they're the third-largest game outsourcing studio in Asia with 1,400+ employees across 13 studios. Company Overview Founded: 2003 Headquarters: Singapore Founder: Johnny Jan Team: 1,400+ employees Studios: 13 worldwide Owner: Majority owned by Acer Gaming Listed: London Stock Exchange, Singapore Exchange Global Studios Singapore (HQ) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Taipei, Taiwan (R&D hub) Shanghai, China Nanjing, China Suzhou, China Tianjin, China Dalian, China Services Art Outsourcing Game character design 3D art production 2D art production Animation Game Development Full project development Co-development Platforms PC Mobile Nintendo Switch Xbox One PlayStation 4 & 5 Industry Position Third-largest in Asia Fourth-largest globally Serves 22 of top 25 game publishers Taiwan R&D Taipei studio hosts majority of R&D team in Neihu Technology Park, focusing on latest tools and technologies. Why Choose Winking Studios Dual-listed LSE + SGX 1,400+ employees major scale 22 of top 25 publishers served 20+ years proven track record Acer Gaming backing
About Original Force Original Force is a Chinese CG and game art powerhouse founded in 1999 in Nanjing. With 2,200 employees across China, Thailand, and San Francisco, they provide art services for AAA games and Hollywood films, contributing to God of War, Baldur's Gate 3, and DreamWorks productions. Company History Founded: 1999 Founder: Harley Zhao Headquarters: Nanjing, China Team: 2,200 employees Funding: $58.3M raised Global Presence Beijing, China Chengdu, China Wuhan, China Thailand San Francisco, USA Services Game Art 2D art 3D modeling and texturing Complete art pipeline Technical services Animation CG production Hollywood animation Cinematics Game Development Full game development Creative design Content production Major Game Projects God of War Ragnarök Baldur's Gate 3 Call of Duty Black Myth: Wukong The Last of Us franchise Hollywood Work DreamWorks' Dragons: Riders of Berk Tales of Arcadia trilogy NeZha 2 (2025 global hit) Major Clients Microsoft Activision Electronic Arts Sony Disney Rockstar Market Position Top 5 global game outsourcing vendor (with Keywords, Virtuos, Room 8). Why Choose Original Force God of War, Baldur's Gate 3 credits 2,200 employees massive scale Hollywood + games dual expertise Since 1999 industry veteran China + USA global presence
About Xindong (XD Network) Xindong (XD Network) is a Chinese game developer and publisher founded in 2003 in Shanghai. Listed among China's top 100 Internet companies, they've raised $39M+ and operate a game publishing platform, publishing titles like Ragnarok M: Eternal Love. Company Overview Founded: 2003 Founder: Huang Yimeng Location: Shanghai, China Status: Public company Funding: $39.33M raised Business Areas Game Development Mobile game creation R&D operations Publishing Platform Game publishing services Developer support Distribution Additional Ventures Animation production Idol entertainment Notable Games Ragnarok M: Eternal Love (Developer and publisher) Various mobile gaming experiences Investors Bilibili Alibaba Orient Securities China Culture Industrial Investment Fund Recognition China's Best Operating Platform Top Ten R&D Company Best Self-developed Game Manufacturer Top 100 Internet Company in China Why Choose Xindong Top 100 Internet China recognition Ragnarok M major title Publishing platform full services Shanghai-based China expertise Alibaba, Bilibili investor backing
About Mindwalk Studios Mindwalk Studios is a Beijing-based digital art and animation studio, part of Keywords Studios since 2016. Founded in 2004, they provide AAA-grade 3D content for clients including EA, Disney, and Zenimax. Company History Founded: 2004 Founders: Ashley Liu, Michael Gagnon Acquired: Keywords Studios (April 2016, $5.5M) Locations: Beijing, Yanjiao, Qingdao Services 3D Characters Character modeling Sculpting Texturing Rigging Environments & Props Environment art Prop creation Asset production Animation Motion capture cleanup Hand-keyed animation Rigging and weighting Major Clients EA LucasArts Disney Zenimax Online Studios Notable Projects The Elder Scrolls Online (11+ years partnership) Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (DICE Action Game of the Year 2024) Star Wars character work The Simpsons Game Client Testimonials "We have worked with Mindwalk for eleven years on The Elder Scrolls Online, and the quantity and quality of their contributions over the years cannot be overstated." - Jesse Blake, Zenimax Online Studios Differentiators High-touch services Lean, agile organization Strong process and workflow Cultural communication ability AAA-grade quality Why Choose Mindwalk Keywords Studios backing Elder Scrolls Online 11+ year partner Spider-Man 2 credits EA, Disney client roster Beijing-based Chinese expertise
About BOSi Art Studios BOSi Art Studios is a premier art outsourcing company founded in 2006, headquartered in Shanghai with studios across China and a business center in San Francisco. With 300+ veteran artists, they deliver full-pipeline art production for games, film, XR, and toys. Company History Founded: June 6, 2006 Headquarters: Shanghai, China Business Center: San Francisco, USA Team: 300+ veteran artists Studio Locations Shanghai, China (HQ) Nanjing, China Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China San Francisco, USA Additional team members in Seattle, LA, Canada, Brazil Services 2D Production Game art and illustration 2D animation Concept art UI design 3D Production 3D modeling 3D animation Technical art Motion capture VFX Art Styles Hyper-realistic Historical and military Sports realism Stylized and Eastern-influenced Anime and cartoon Cozy Modern streetwear Cyberpunk Organic vegetation Fantasy and Sci-Fi realism Major Clients Activision-Blizzard Amazon Games 2K Games Naughty Dog (Sony) Epic Games Electronic Arts Notable Projects WWE 2K22 (2K) New World (Amazon Games) Warcraft III: Reforged (Blizzard) Hearthstone (Blizzard) Diablo II: Resurrected (Blizzard) Diablo IV (Blizzard) Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard) Call of Duty Mobile (Activision) The Last of Us Part I (Naughty Dog) Star Wars Hunters (Zynga) Fortnite (Epic Games) Battlefield Mobile (EA) Plants vs Zombies (EA) Client Testimonials "Remastering Warcraft III was a huge undertaking, which could not have been accomplished without BOSi Art Studios. BOSi was instrumental in helping create assets not only in top quality but also on a very tight schedule." Why Choose BOSi 300+ veteran artists with years of experience Blizzard, Naughty Dog, Epic client roster Full-pipeline art outsourcing Multiple art styles specialization Global presence with Chinese efficiency
About Yingpei Games Yingpei Games is a Shanghai-based game development and art outsourcing company, originally founded in 2006 as Epic Games China. Led by veterans from Ubisoft Montreal and Shanghai, they provide AAA content production and license Unreal Engine 3 across China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. Company Overview Founded: September 2006 (as Epic Games China) Renamed: March 2012 (to Yingpei Games) Location: Shanghai, China Background: Former Epic Games division Services Art Outsourcing AAA quality content production Game asset creation Character art Environment art Game Development Full game development Multi-platform support (PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation, Xbox) Publishing services Unreal Engine UE3 licensing (China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia) Local technology support Professional training (Mandarin and English) Cost Advantage China development costs: <$4,000/man month vs $9,000 in North America and $8,500 in Europe/Japan. Team Background Run by team responsible for content development at: Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft Shanghai Platforms PC iOS Android PlayStation Xbox Why Choose Yingpei Games Epic Games origins proven heritage Ubisoft veterans experienced leadership Shanghai-based China cost advantages Unreal Engine licensed partner Multi-platform comprehensive coverage
About Gamestar China Gamestar (China) Ltd. was the first independent game outsourcing company in China, founded in 2002 in Shanghai by David Zhu. Acquired by Disney Interactive Studios in 2008, the studio has produced high-quality art and technology solutions for the interactive entertainment industry. Company History Founded: 2002 Founder: David Zhu (former Ubisoft Shanghai) Location: Shanghai and Wuhan, China Acquired: Disney Interactive Studios (April 2008) Team: 90+ people (at acquisition) Background Gamestar was opened as the first independent game outsourcing company in China. The studio initially started contributing to casual game titles for WildTangent. The team consisted mostly of former Ubisoft Shanghai employees. Services & Expertise Art Production High-quality art production Next-gen art projects Cross-platform art assets Technology Solutions Technology solutions for interactive entertainment Game engine development (PSP) Platform Experience PlayStation 2 GameCube Xbox PSP Cross-platform multi-SKU projects Notable Projects Midway Arcade Treasures 3 (cross-platform multi-SKU) WildTangent casual game titles Various next-gen art projects Disney Acquisition In April 2008, Disney Interactive Studios acquired Gamestar, noting the company's "six-year track record producing high quality art and technology solutions for interactive entertainment software development." Why Gamestar Matters Pioneer of China's outsourcing industry Disney acquired (quality validation) Ubisoft Shanghai alumni team Cross-platform development expertise 90+ person studio at acquisition
About Shanghai ArtCoding Shanghai ArtCoding is a leading independent game developer in China providing offshore outsourcing services to international publishers. Founded by Ubisoft veterans, they've worked with Activision, Electronic Arts, and Vivendi Universal Games on console and PC platforms. Company Overview Location: Shanghai, China Founded by: Ubisoft veterans Focus: Offshore game development Standards: Western business practices Services Game Development Full game development Offshore outsourcing Co-development support Platform Support PlayStation Xbox Nintendo GameCube PC Art Production Game art assets Environment art Character art Notable Clients Activision Electronic Arts Vivendi Universal Games International publishers Independent studios Industry Position Set the standard for multimedia industry in Shanghai as an independent game developer, providing offshore development services at significantly lower cost than Western studios. China Outsourcing Context Part of China's growing game outsourcing industry: 86% of major studios use outsourcing 40% of studios outsource background/environment art Significant cost advantages Growing technical capabilities Partnership NewMarket China entered two-year cooperative contract for outsourcing services, initially targeting North American customers. Why Choose Shanghai ArtCoding Ubisoft veterans founded by industry pros AAA clients EA, Activision, Vivendi Shanghai-based China cost advantages Multi-platform PS, Xbox, Nintendo, PC Western practices quality standards
Yanxi Technology is a professional game art outsourcing company headquartered in Chengdu, China. Our core services include concept design, character illustration, skin design, and illustration creation. We boast a network of over 400 artists with diverse styles from across the globe, working in close partnership with us. We collaborate closely with leading game developers worldwide, infusing every character with vivid life through our artistic expertise.
About Thunder Cloud Studio Thunder Cloud Studio is a Vietnamese AAA game art outsourcing company founded in 2013 in Hanoi. With nearly 100 artists and leadership from Double Negative UK and Rare Studio UK, they serve as Scopely's Global Elite Partner, working on Invincible, WWE Champions, and projects for HoYoverse. Company Overview Founded: 2013 Location: Hanoi, Vietnam Founders: Dzung Phung Dinh, Zoey Hoang Team: ~100 artists Experience: 12+ years Services 3D Art Character creation Environment art Level assembly Engine optimization 2D Art Concept art Game design Stylized art Realistic art Animation 3D CGI animation Cinematic outsourcing Rig and animation Integration with client setups Notable Projects Invincible WWE Champions Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus DreamWorks School of Dragons HoYoverse promotional videos and trailers Major Clients Scopely (Global Elite Partner) HoYoverse Petrol Ad YooZoo Games Philosophy "Japanese mastery with German discipline" - documented processes, timed stand-ups, daily task completion. Game Development Division Lucid Realms - new game development studio focused on Unreal Engine projects. Why Choose Thunder Cloud Studio Scopely Elite Partner trusted vendor HoYoverse AAA credits ~100 artists Hanoi team 12+ years experience Full pipeline 2D to animation
About Aimsound Studio Aimsound Studio is a professional audio production firm for interactive games based in Shanghai, China. Founded in 2009 by Wu Kaihong after leaving Konami Shanghai, the studio provides comprehensive game audio services. Founding Founded: July 2009 Founder: Wu Kaihong (former Konami Shanghai) Location: Shanghai, China Services Music Composition Original game scores Adaptive music systems Interactive audio Sound Production Sound design Sound effects Audio implementation Leadership Wu Kaihong - Founder, with solid music composition experience and excellent project management skills Xiang Xiaofeng - Leading the audio team Notable Work Multiple successful XBLA (Xbox Live Arcade) titles Various interactive game projects Client Testimonials "Mr. Xiang is leading a great audio team in Shanghai. We have worked together on several successful XBLA titles. Their music expertise really helped a lot to the products." "Wu is a nature leader, he always works overtime and give us full support... He has solid experience of music composing and excellent project management skills." Why Choose Aimsound Studio Konami alumni founding team Shanghai-based with Asia market understanding XBLA experience with successful titles Professional and hard-working reputation Comprehensive game audio services
FAQ: game outsourcing in China
We list 11 verified game development outsourcing studios in China. The most common services across them are Animation (9), 3D Art (9) and 2D Art (8). On engines, Unity (10) and Unreal Engine (10). The count updates as studios join the directory.
With US Eastern: None. A Chinese workday (09:00-18:00 CST) runs 20:00-05:00 the previous evening in ET. The only live window is a US evening against a Chinese morning. With Western Europe: Two to three hours at the start of the European day: 09:00-11:00 CET is 16:00-18:00 in China, and a little wider in European summer. Both assume a 09:00-18:00 working day on each side.
Across the 11 China studios listed here, the most common services are Animation (9), 3D Art (9) and 2D Art (8). The platforms they cover most often are PC (10), PlayStation (9) and Xbox (9). The most animation-heavy cohort in the directory relative to its size. Animation appears on 8 of 10 profiles, level with 3D art, and 2D art is close behind at 7.
We do not publish per-country rates, because we do not have reliable rate data for individual studios. As a general market reference, hourly rates run roughly $25-150 for 2D art, $30-200 for 3D art and $35-250 for programming, moving up with seniority. Ask two or three China studios to quote against the same written brief; that comparison is far more useful than a country average.
Keep looking
- Widen the search to every Asia studio in the directory.
- Filter the directory to China studios with services, engines and platforms.
- See only China studios offering animation, the most common service here.
- Work out a budget with the game outsourcing cost guide.
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Emerging hub with timezone advantage for North American clients.
Premium studios with deep industry experience and strong communication.
Emerging game development hub with growing talent and investment.
High-quality studios with strong creative and technical capabilities.
Need a specific service in China?
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