Top 10 UK Game Development Outsourcing Studios 2026: Co-Development Partners

Quick Overview

The UK is home to many skilled game development outsourcing studios. Whether you want a partner to handle your game from concept to launch or need a team with AAA experience, you’ll find a good fit here. This guide highlights the top 10 studios, focusing on their strengths, clients, and what sets them apart. You’ll get English-speaking teams, easy time zone coordination, and strong IP protection – everything you need in a development partner.

Introduction

Choosing the right development partner can be tough. You’re putting your game, your budget, and your studio’s future in someone else’s hands. But with the right match, you can achieve great results.

The UK is now one of the top places to find game development outsourcing partners. While it may not be the cheapest, UK studios are experienced, speak your language, and will support your project from start to finish.

The UK has over 2,500 studios, generating £32 billion each year, which is more than the film and music industries combined. Some studios have been around since the 1980s, while others are newer and bring fresh ideas. All have a history of releasing games that people play.

If you’re also comparing studios outside the UK, it can be useful to look at a broader overview of game development outsourcing companies worldwide.

This guide introduces 10 UK outsourcing studios you should know. We’ll explain what each studio does best, who their clients are, and when they might be the right choice for your project.

The Top 10 UK Game Development Outsourcing Studios

1. Whimsy Games

Whimsy Games uses a smart approach by combining London-based project management – so you work with people who understand your time zone and speak fluent English – with highly skilled developers from across Europe.

Where they are:  London

What they do: Everything, really – full-cycle game development

Platforms: Mobile, PC, Console

Tech: Unity, Unreal Engine

What they’re good at:

Taking your game from “I have this idea” all the way through to “it’s live, and people are playing it.” That includes:

• Figuring out what your game should actually be (concept and design)
• Building the whole thing (full development, including Android game development and iOS)
• Making it look good (2D/3D art and animation)
• Keeping it running after launch (live ops)
• Getting it working on different platforms (porting)
• Both Unity and Unreal Engine work

Why they stand out:

Flexibility is a key strength. If you need a dedicated team for six months, they can provide it. If you prefer to hire them for individual projects, that’s also possible. They have delivered action games, strategy titles, puzzle games, and simulations, so they don’t limit themselves to one genre.

When you work with a London-based team, you benefit from their understanding of Western business practices, clear contracts, and smooth communication. At the same time, you avoid paying London rates for every developer.

Best for:

Studios that want one partner to handle everything, publishers who need teams that can scale up fast, and anyone who values clear communication alongside solid technical work.

2. Keywords Studios

Keywords is a major player in the game services industry. Instead of being a single studio, they are a network of studios that have joined together. In the UK, their group includes Climax Studios, Studio Gobo, Electric Square, and Lively.

Where they are: London headquarters, but honestly, they’re everywhere

The deal: EQT bought them for £2.2 billion in 2024

Keywords is a major player in the game services industry. Instead of being a single studio, they are a network of studios that have joined together. In the UK, their group includes Climax Studios, Studio Gobo, Electric Square, and Lively.

What they do:

• Full game development or co-dev support
• Porting your game to every platform under the sun
• Art production (characters, environments, weapons, vehicles – all of it)
• Animation (2D, 3D, mocap)
• Technical wizardry (VFX, technical art)
• Engineering support
• LiveOps for ongoing games
• QA testing
• Localisation
• Audio

Why they’re different:

Scale is their advantage. If you need something done, they have a studio that specializes in it. Their global network allows projects to move across time zones, so work continues around the clock.

One drawback is working with a large corporation. Some clients value the stability and wide range of services, while others prefer the personal approach of a smaller, more flexible studio.

3. Sumo Digital

Where they are: Sheffield, plus Newcastle, Nottingham, Leamington Spa, Warrington, Brighton

Also: Studios in India, Poland, and the Czech Republic

What they offer:

Full-service development from “what if we made a game about…” through to launch day. They’re particularly strong at co-development, where they slot into your existing team and just make everything move faster.

Why studios hire them:

They are large enough to handle big projects but still work with the drive of a smaller company. With several UK studios, they can bring in specialists from across the UK. Their experience spans many genres, including racing, action-adventure, and live-service games.

4. Climax Studios

Climax has been in the industry longer than most current developers. They have experienced every trend, survived industry changes, and grown from making their own games to becoming one of the UK’s most respected co-development studios.

Where they are: Portsmouth, Liverpool, London, Edinburgh

Parent: Keywords Studios

Services:

• AAA co-development
• Platform porting and optimisation
• Engineering and programming
• Art production (characters, environments, VFX)
• QA

Why they’re respected:

They are reliable and do not overpromise. If they commit to something, they deliver. Their expansion in Edinburgh in 2024 shows they are still growing and investing in new talent.

5. Studio Gobo

Brighton is a seaside town with a thriving games industry. Studio Gobo is at the center of this community and has built a strong reputation for character-action and adventure games.

Where they are: Brighton

Parent: Keywords Studios

Revenue: Around $20 million

Specialty: Character-action games

What they do:

Co-development for AAA projects, but they can also handle full games from start to finish. They cover production, code, R&D, art, animation, design, audio, and QA.

Their approach:

They use an “Always Playable” approach, so you can play the game at any stage of development. You do not have to wait months to test ideas. This makes collaboration easier, as you are not limited to reviewing design documents.

Why studios like them:

They are truly collaborative. Instead of simply following instructions, they work with you to find what actually works. They adapt to your tools, processes, and preferred ways of working.

6. Electric Square

Electric Square is a sister studio to Studio Gobo, but operates across three continents. This multi-location setup is their main advantage.

Where they are: UK, Singapore, Malta

Parent: Keywords Studios

Setup: Sister studio to Gobo

Electric Square is a sister studio to Studio Gobo, but operates across three continents. This multi-location setup is their main advantage.

What they offer:

• Concept art and visual development
• 3D characters and creatures
• 3D weapons and vehicles
• 2D and 3D animation
• Props and environments
• Technical art and world-building
• UX/UI design
• Engineering across multiple locations
• Platform support and porting
• Co-dev and full game development

The multi-location advantage:

Work continues 24 hours a day. When the UK team finishes, the Singapore team takes over, followed by Malta. For projects with tight deadlines, this arrangement is a major advantage.

7. Lively

Leamington Spa is a Midlands town that is home to Playground Games, Codemasters, and many other studios. Lively is located at the heart of this active game development community.

Where they are: Leamington Spa

Parent: Keywords Studios

Location note:

“Silicon Spa” – where UK gaming happens

Services:

• 3D character and creature art
• Weapons and vehicles
• 2D and 3D animation
• Props and environments
• Technical art
• UX/UI design
• Distributed engineering
• Platform support
• Porting and remastering
• Co-development
• Full game development
• LiveOps

Why the location matters:

Being surrounded by major studios encourages talent to move between companies, share knowledge at local events, and raise the overall quality standard. Lively benefits from being part of this ecosystem.

8. Wushu Studios

Liverpool has developed a strong games industry, and Wushu is part of that growth. They handle AAA co-development work across various genres and platforms.

Where they are: Liverpool

Focus: AAA co-development and work-for-hire

What they handle:

• AAA co-development
• Work-for-hire projects
• Engineering support
• Art production
• Quality assurance

The Liverpool angle:

Liverpool is more affordable than London, has strong talent from local universities, and is well-connected by train to other UK gaming hubs.

9. Pixel Wings Ltd

Pixel Wings are technical experts. They are the team to contact when you need your game to run on new platforms or improve its performance.

Where they are: London

Specialty: Porting and making games run better

What they do:

• Cross-platform porting (PC, console, mobile)
• Performance optimisation
• Engine programming
• Co-development support
• Solving technical headaches

When to call them:

If your game runs at 30fps on Switch and needs to reach 60, or you built for PC and now need console versions, or you are targeting mobile but performance is poor, this is their specialty.

10. Red Kite Games

Red Kite is a smaller studio that offers straightforward work-for-hire services. They do not try to cover everything; instead, they focus on their strengths and stick to them.

Where they are: Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

Model Work-for-hire, flexible terms

What they offer:

• Project-based development
• Team augmentation (need three Unity devs for four months? They’ve got you)
• Flexible engagement terms
• Regional pricing (Yorkshire is cheaper than London)

Why consider them:

Sometimes you do not need a large studio with hundreds of people. You just need reliable developers who deliver quality work without complications. Red Kite is a good choice for this.

Why UK Outsourcing Makes Sense

Everyone Actually Speaks English

This may seem obvious, but it is important. UK studios speak native English, so requirements are clear, feedback is understood, and problems are discussed effectively. Communication is smooth.

Time Zones That Don’t Suck

UK time overlaps with US mornings and European business hours. You can have real-time conversations without anyone having to stay up late. This is more important than it may appear.

Your IP Is Protected

UK intellectual property law is strong, and contracts are enforceable. If something goes wrong, you have real legal recourse, which is not always the case in some offshore locations.

They’ve Shipped Real Games

UK studios have worked on Forza Horizon, Total War, Alien Isolation, and many other well-known titles. They are not using your project as a learning experience.

Government Support

Video Games Tax Relief provides up to 20% back on qualifying development costs. This makes UK development more competitive than the daily rates might suggest.

They Get Your Audience

Cultural alignment matters. UK developers understand Western markets, player expectations, and what actually works in your target regions.

Technical Chops

Decades of gaming heritage mean deep technical knowledge. These studios know engines, platforms, and emerging tech because they’ve been doing this for a long time.

Quality Standards

UK studios maintain high-quality standards. Many have ISO certifications and follow established development methods. You will not encounter unprofessional coding practices.

How to Actually Choose a Studio

Figure Out What You Need

Be specific about your needs. Saying “We need help” is not enough. Do you need full development, art only, porting, or co-development? Different studios have different strengths.

Look at Their Work

Review their portfolio for games similar to yours. Genre and platform are important. If they have never developed for mobile, it may not be wise to hire them for your mobile game.

Have an Actual Conversation

Initial calls reveal a lot. Are they responsive? Do they ask thoughtful questions? Do they understand your goals? Good communication is a strong indicator of project success.

Verify Technical Stuff

Ensure they are familiar with your game engine, whether it is Unity, Unreal, or another. Confirm they have shipped games on your target platforms. Check they’ve done the technical requirements you need.

Talk to Their Past Clients

Request references and contact them directly. Ask about reliability, quality, how the studio handles problems, and whether the client would work with them again.

Understand the Money

Clarify the pricing models. Is it fixed price, time-and-materials, or a dedicated team? Ensure contracts define the scope, milestones, and what happens if requirements change.

Check They Can Scale

Consider what happens if you need more people or if requirements change. Check their capacity in advance, so you do not discover mid-project that they cannot handle growth.

Think About Location

All UK studios have their strengths, but London is more expensive than Manchester. Brighton offers a different kind of talent compared to Edinburgh. Location affects both cost and the team you will work with.

What UK Outsourcing Actually Costs (2026)

Regional Differences:

• London: £400-800/day per developer (you’re paying for premium talent and location)
• South East (Brighton, Cambridge): £350-650/day
• Midlands (Leamington Spa): £300-550/day
• North England (Manchester, Liverpool): £250-500/day

Project Ballparks:

• Casual mobile game: £50,000-200,000
• Mid-core mobile: £200,000-800,000
• PC indie game: £100,000-500,000
• AA console game: £1M-5M
• AAA co-development: £5M-20M+

Keep in mind that these are rough estimates. Actual costs depend on the project scope, quality expectations, and the studio you choose. Always request detailed quotes.

Questions People Actually Ask

Why pay UK rates when I can outsource to cheaper regions?

This is a fair question. Cheaper regions can be effective. However, UK studios provide native English communication, convenient time zones, strong IP protection, and proven AAA experience. Sometimes the higher cost is worth it for lower risk and better results, but it depends on your project and risk tolerance.

How long until we can actually start?

Initial discussions and scoping take 1-2 weeks. Contracts require another 1-2 weeks. Getting the team started takes 2-4 weeks for small teams and 8-12 weeks for large co-development partnerships. Expect 4-16 weeks from first contact to the start of work.

Can they use our tools and processes?

Professional studios adapt to your infrastructure. Whether you use Git, Perforce, Jira, Trello, Slack, or Teams, they will work with your tools. Good studios integrate smoothly rather than forcing you to change your processes.

Do I own everything they create?

Standard contracts give you full IP ownership. Reputable studios include clear clauses ensuring you own all code, art, designs, and deliverables. But verify this in your specific contract before signing anything.

How do they handle confidentiality?

NDAs are standard practice. Most UK studios work with major publishers under strict confidentiality. UK law strongly protects trade secrets and confidential information. Just ensure all paperwork is in place.

What’s the minimum project size?

Varies wildly. Big studios like Keywords and Sumo typically want projects of £100,000+ in size. Smaller studios like Pearl Lemon Games and Red Kite Games will work with £20,000-50,000 budgets. Always ask about minimums upfront.

Can I visit during development?

Most studios welcome visits for milestone reviews, sprint planning, or kickoffs. London is easy to reach from abroad. Regional studios are also worth visiting to experience their local ecosystems and meet teams in person.

Is outsourcing actually cheaper than hiring?

Outsourcing is usually 30-50% cheaper than hiring full-time staff, when you factor in salaries, benefits, office space, equipment, and management overhead. While hourly rates may be similar, you avoid fixed costs and gain flexibility. Calculate the costs for your specific situation.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right development partner involves research, intuition, and sometimes luck. The UK has many excellent studios, from large operations with proven track records to smaller teams offering new ideas.

The key is to be honest about your needs, thorough in your vetting, and clear in your communication from the start. The right UK studio is not just extra development capacity; they are a partner invested in your game’s success.

Whether you need full-cycle development from Whimsy Games, AAA expertise from Keywords or Sumo, or specialized services from boutique studios, the UK offers many options.

The gaming industry is becoming more complex, with bigger budgets, tighter timelines, and higher expectations. UK outsourcing studios are here to help you manage these challenges and deliver games that players want.

Decide what you need, research potential partners, and find the studio that fits your team and vision. The right partner is out there.

If you are ready to begin, explore game development outsourcing services and find the ideal UK partner for your project.