Uploaded February 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Co-dev studios don’t make the headlines as often as original IP studios do. But larger studios with volatile retention between projects often rely heavily on co-dev teams to build their AAA projects. They can also provide additional job security in that they commonly have a slate of work that no one project’s success or failure can destabilize. Many a developer will work at a co-dev studio during their career. Monica Fan and Ken Barnes talk through some of the advantages and disadvantages of work-for-hire studios, with a specific focus on devs from marginalized groups.
Ken Barnes
Assoc Design Manager
Pipeworks Studios
Monica Fan
Game Designer
Pipeworks Studio
Co-dev studios don’t make the headlines as often as original IP studios do. But larger studios with volatile retention between projects often rely heavily on co-dev teams to build their AAA projects. They can also provide additional job security in that they commonly have a slate of work that no one project’s success or failure can destabilize. Many a developer will work at a co-dev studio during their career. Monica Fan and Ken Barnes talk through some of the advantages and disadvantages of work-for-hire studios, with a specific focus on devs from marginalized groups.
Ken Barnes
Assoc Design Manager
Pipeworks Studios
Monica Fan
Game Designer
Pipeworks Studio
