Game Development Outsourcing in Sweden
5 verified game outsourcing studios are listed in Sweden, covering 2D and 3D art, programming, animation, and audio. Compare portfolios, team sizes, and what each studio actually ships before you reach out.
Why Sweden?
Typical rates in Sweden
Toward the top of global rates
Studios in Sweden price at the higher end of the global table. Mid-range 3D art commonly runs $100-200/hour and senior programming reaches the top band near $120-250/hour, with junior work rarely dipping to the cheapest global figures. 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. You pay more here, but you often get easier communication, overlapping working hours for Western clients, strong IP and contract frameworks, and teams that have shipped AAA titles. For complex or NDA-heavy projects, that premium frequently pays for itself in fewer surprises.
For a full breakdown by service and seniority, see our game outsourcing cost guide. Need a specific engine? Compare Unity and Unreal Engine studios.
Companies in Sweden
## About LocalizeDirect LocalizeDirect is a Swedish game and software localization company founded in 2009 by ex-game developers. With 500+ translators, 65+ languages, and 1,000+ localized games, they serve 800+ gaming companies worldwide. ## Company History - **Founded:** 2009 - **Location:** Helsingborg, Sweden - **Founders:** Christoffer Nilsson, Mattias Wennerholm - **Funding:** $1.18M (July 2020) ## Services ### Localization - Game translation (65+ language pairs) - Software localization - Native-speaking translators ### Quality Assurance - Linguistic Quality Assurance (LQA) - Game testing - Native game testers ### Technology - **LocDirect Platform:** Online localization system designed by game developers for game developers ## Scale - 500+ native-speaking translators and testers - 65+ language pairs - 1,000+ games localized - 800+ gaming companies served - Project managers in all time zones ## Notable Projects - **Sniper Elite series** (6+ years, 9 languages, millions of words) - **INSOMNIA: The Ark** (160,000+ words) - Various AAA and indie titles ## Technology Platform LocDirect is an online localization system tailor-made for the games industry, designed to handle complex in-game asset localization and achieve simultaneous worldwide release. ## Why Choose LocalizeDirect - **1,000+ games** localized - **65+ languages** supported - **LocDirect platform** purpose-built - **Ex-game developer** founded - **Sweden-based** EU quality standards
## About Pieces Interactive Pieces Interactive was a Swedish game development studio founded in 2007 in Skövde, acquired by THQ Nordic in 2017. Known for Alone in the Dark reboot and Titan Quest series, the studio was closed in 2024. ## Company History - **Founded:** 2007 - **Location:** Skövde, Sweden - **Founders:** 9 people - **Acquired by:** THQ Nordic (2017, 2.8M kr) - **Closed:** 2024 ## Notable Games ### Original Development - Puzzlegeddon (PC, XBLA, PSN) - Fret Nice (XBLA, PSN) - Kill to Collect - Robo Surf (iOS, Android) - Roby Tumbler (iOS, Android) ### Paradox Partnership - Magicka: Other Side of the Coin - Various Magicka DLC packs - Magicka 2 - Leviathan: Warships ### THQ Nordic Era - Titan Quest series work - Alone in the Dark (reboot) ## Studio Philosophy Specialized in smaller scope but high quality, unique digital distribution games. ## Closure Closed by Embracer Group in 2024 as part of cost-cutting restructuring. ## Note Pieces Interactive is closed. Entry exists for historical reference. ## Why Pieces Mattered - **Alone in the Dark** reboot - **Titan Quest** series - **Magicka 2** development - **Skövde, Sweden** university hub - **THQ Nordic** partnership
## About Goodbye Kansas Studios Goodbye Kansas Studios is a leading VFX and game cinematics studio with 300+ talents across Stockholm, London, Belgrade, and Mumbai. They create high-end visual content for film, TV, games, and advertising. ## Company Scale - **300+ talents** globally - **Offices:** Stockholm (HQ), London, Belgrade, Mumbai ## Locations - **Stockholm, Sweden:** Hammarbyterrassen 3 (HQ) - **London, UK:** Dunstan House, St Cross Street - **Belgrade, Serbia:** Knez Mihailova 33 - **Mumbai, India:** Paradigm Tower, Mindspace ## Services ### Film & TV - VFX production - Full production services ### Game Services - Game cinematics - In-game content - Trailers ### Production Services - Motion capture - 3D scanning - Visual development - Character and environment design - Art direction - Pre-production to post-production ### Advertising - Commercial VFX - Brand content ## Notable Projects - **Game of Thrones: War For Westeros** - **Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate** - **Indiana Jones & The Great Circle** - **Cronos: The New Dawn** ## Specializations - Game cinematics - New IP creation - Cutting-edge technology - High-end visual effects ## Why Choose Goodbye Kansas - **300+ global team** for scale - **Game of Thrones & Destiny 2** credits - **Mocap & 3D scanning** capabilities - **4 international studios** coverage - **Film + games** crossover expertise
## About Sharkmob Sharkmob is a AAA game development studio founded in 2017 in Malmö, Sweden by veterans from Ubisoft Massive and IO Interactive. Acquired by Tencent, they develop shooter titles powered by Unreal Engine 5, including Bloodhunt and Exoborne. ## Company Overview - **Founded:** 2017 - **Location:** Malmö, Sweden + London, UK - **Founders:** Ubisoft Massive and IO Interactive veterans - **Owner:** Tencent - **Focus:** AAA multiplayer shooters ## Studios ### Malmö, Sweden - Headquarters - Historic downtown buildings - State-of-the-art UX lab - Sound studios - Streaming studio ### London, UK - Second studio - Unannounced project ## Games ### Bloodhunt (2022) - Battle royale - Vampire: The Masquerade universe - First released title ### Exoborne - Tactical open-world extraction shooter - Apocalyptic US setting - Forces of nature mechanics ### Unannounced Project - London studio development ## Technology - Unreal Engine 5 - Online multiplayer focus - PC and console development ## Malmö Gaming Hub Part of a thriving ecosystem: - 1,500+ developers - 70+ studios - The Game Assembly - Game Habitat - Nordic Game conference ## Why Choose Sharkmob - **Tencent-owned** AAA backing - **Ubisoft, IO Interactive** veteran founders - **Unreal Engine 5** cutting-edge tech - **Malmö + London** dual studios - **AAA shooters** multiplayer focus
## About Fatshark Fatshark is an independent game developer based in Stockholm, Sweden. Founded in 2007, they have grown from subcontractor work to becoming a self-publishing studio with over 200 employees, best known for the Warhammer: Vermintide series. ## Company Scale - **Founded:** 2007 - **200+ employees** - **Location:** Södermalm, Stockholm, Sweden - **Status:** Independent, self-publishing ## Founders - Martin Wahlund - Rikard Blomberg - Joakim Wahlström - Johan Jonker ## Notable Games ### Warhammer Franchise - **Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide** (2015) - **Warhammer: Vermintide 2** (2018) - 25+ million players - **Warhammer 40,000: Darktide** (2022) ### Other Titles - **Lead and Gold** (2010) - First published game (with Paradox) ## History Originally worked as subcontractors on AAA titles. In 2009, co-founded Bitsquid (game engine), which was acquired by Autodesk in 2014. The sale funded development of Vermintide. ## Acquisitions Acquired Swedish developer A Sweet Studio AB to expand capabilities. ## Specializations - First-person action games - Co-op multiplayer experiences - Warhammer universe games - Live-service operations ## Why Choose Fatshark - **25+ million players** for Vermintide 2 - **200+ person** experienced team - **Independent** and self-publishing - **Warhammer expertise** with Games Workshop - **Live-service** experience
FAQ: game outsourcing in Sweden
Sweden carries higher salaries, stronger legal and IP protection, and a deep pool of senior, AAA-experienced talent. Senior 3D art and programming routinely sit at the top global bands ($100-250/hour). The trade-off is fewer communication gaps and lower project risk.
For high-fidelity, console, or NDA-sensitive work it usually is. Overlapping hours and clear contracts cut the hidden costs that erode savings on cheaper markets. For simple, well-defined 2D or mobile tasks, a lower-cost region may give better value.
Senior specialists here generally price at the upper end of the global ranges, roughly $100-200/hour for 3D art and up to $250/hour for expert programming. Most studios quote per project or per milestone rather than strict hourly billing.
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Known for strong technical talent, competitive rates, and cultural alignment with Western clients.
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Diverse market from cost-effective solutions to high-end AAA quality work.
Emerging hub with timezone advantage for North American clients.
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