How to Outsource a Game Port
This page explains how game porting is scoped, certified and priced. 16 studios in this directory take porting work — see the [ranked list of game porting studios](/best/game-porting-studios) when you are ready to shortlist.
A port is rarely a recompile. It is a performance problem, an input problem, a storage and memory problem, and a compliance problem at the same time. Bringing a PC title to Switch means finding a way to hold a frame rate on far less memory and bandwidth. Bringing a console title to mobile means rebuilding input and often rethinking session length. Bringing anything to console means passing the platform holder's technical requirements, which is a defined body of work regardless of how good the game already is.
Certification is where schedules break. Each platform has its own technical requirement set covering save behaviour, suspend and resume, controller disconnect handling, storage messaging, achievements, and dozens of other cases that never came up on PC. A failed submission normally costs weeks. Studios that port regularly work from a live checklist against current requirements and will tell you which items your build is likely to fail before you submit.
How porting contracts are scoped
- Target platforms and SKUs, including which console models must hold the target frame rate
- Performance target: resolution, frame rate, and whether it is locked or variable
- Whether the port includes platform features such as achievements, cloud saves, rich presence and store integration
- Who owns certification submission and how many re-submissions are covered
- Access to your source, build pipeline and any middleware licences that need per-platform terms
- Post-launch patch support window, since the first patch after a console launch is almost always needed
What to check before signing a porting deal
Ask which titles the studio has actually shipped on your target platform and how recently, since platform requirements change between hardware generations. Confirm they hold current approved devkits and a registered developer account, because acquiring those takes time you would otherwise spend porting.
Middleware is the quiet risk. Every third-party library, plugin and engine feature in your build needs a licence valid for the target platform, and some do not have one. Have the studio audit your dependency list before the contract is priced, not after work starts.
For a fuller walkthrough of the process and what to expect at each stage, read the game porting outsourcing guide.
Ready to shortlist Porting studios?
16 studios in this directory cover Porting. The ranked list shows each one's engines, platforms, location and portfolio, and contacting them is free.
Porting outsourcing: common questions
What does game porting involve?
More than recompiling. A port typically means solving performance on tighter hardware budgets, rebuilding input for a different controller or touch, handling platform storage and save behaviour, integrating achievements and store features, and passing the platform holder's technical requirements before submission is accepted.
Why does console certification affect the schedule so much?
Each platform holder has a technical requirement set covering save behaviour, suspend and resume, controller disconnect handling, storage messaging and more, none of which typically arise on PC. A failed submission usually costs weeks rather than days, so experienced porting studios work from a current checklist and flag likely failures before submitting.
What should I check before hiring a porting studio?
Confirm which titles they shipped on your exact target platform and how recently, since requirements change between hardware generations. Verify they already hold approved devkits and a registered developer account, and have them audit your middleware and plugin licences for target-platform validity before the contract is priced.
Does a porting contract include post-launch patches?
Only if you negotiate it. The first patch after a console launch is almost always required, and a contract that ends at certification leaves you re-engaging the studio at short notice. Agree a post-launch support window with a defined scope and a response time for critical issues before signing.
Ready to shortlist porting studios?
Filter by country, engine, platform and team size, then contact studios directly. Browsing is free and needs no account.