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According to DataHorizon Research, video game art outsourcing has become an invaluable resource in modern game development. This approach not only frees your team to focus on core gameplay elements but also elevates your game's visual appeal, helping it stand out in today's crowded marketplace through specialized artistic expertise.
But what are the actual costs involved? This question doesn't have a simple answer, as pricing varies significantly based on art style, project complexity and your specific goals.
In this guide, we'll break down typical cost ranges, explore the key factors that influence pricing, and provide practical advice for selecting the ideal outsourcing partner for your project. Let's dive in.
Here’s an index for your convenience to navigate through the article:
Overall, the pricing range depends on the style and quality. These two aspects will drastically influence the price and the final output.
Let’s take a closer look at the pricing for both of them separately, for the particular services required.
This pricing guide reflects our standard rates for different game art services. Each project receives a custom quote based on specific requirements, complexity and timeline.
| 2D Art Service | Simple/Casual | Moderate/Stylized | Premium/Realistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D Character | $250 - $1,000 | $500 - $2,000 | $750 - $3,000 |
| 2D Environment | $500 - $2,000 | $1,000 - $4,000 | $1,500 - $6,000 |
| 2D Prop | $200 - $800 | $400 - $1,600 | $600 - $2,400 |
| UI Design (Per Page) | $100 - $400 | $200 - $800 | $300 - $1,200 |
| 2D Character/Prop Rig | $200 - $800 | $400 - $1,600 | $600 - $2,400 |
| 2D Character/Prop Animation | $100 - $300 | $200 - $600 | $300 - $1,200 |
| 3D Art Service | Basic, low-poly | Mid-poly, additional details | High-poly, rich in detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Character | $1,000 - $2,500 | $2,500 - $4,000 | $5,000+ |
| 3D Location | $1,500 - $5,500 | $5,000 - $15,000 | $15,000 - $35,000 |
| 3D Objects/Props | $100 - $800 | $800 - $1,500 | $1,500+ |
| 3D Character/Prop Rigs | $500 - $2,000 | $500 - $2,000 | $3,000+ |
| Animation Type | Quick cycle (2-3 sec.) | Moderate cycle (5-8 sec.) | Lengthy cycle (10+ sec.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3D Character/Prop Animation (Per cycle) | $200 - $1,000 | $400 - $1,600 | $600 - $2,400 |
Need a custom quote? Email us at sales@rocketbrush.com with your project details and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Generally, video game art outsourcing services vary in pricing in terms of difficulty, used tools, required effort and other factors which end up affecting the price range.
While both 2D and 3D outsourcing services are influenced by time required, project complexity and the experience of artists working on art, there are some more subtle differences between these two types of art. Let’s look at these.
2D video game art outsourcing final cost is generally impacted by common things: style and additional details. Some aspects are unique to two-dimensional work, though:
3D art outsourcing prices tend to be higher. Have a look at what influences the final cost:
In addition, a regional difference also matters. Studios from different regions will ask a different price: if you want to outsource video game art in India and Eastern Europe, it will be cheaper than doing so in American and European countries.
These price differences are usually influenced by local salaries, the cost of living and regional demand for video game art outsourcing services.
As you can see, these prices tend to be very different in regions and are influenced by many factors we described above. If there is a studio that seems to be working effectively with your direction, have an extensive portfolio and a collection of testimonials, be sure to reach out to them and discuss your project and overall price in detail.
There are, of course, several options that allow you to come up with budget-friendly solutions. We decided to list some of them, which may assist you in the game development process.
Here are some general tips that you can use to decrease the cost figures.
Planning is immensely crucial for decreasing the final price of a game art outsourcing. Careful pre-planning allows you to establish preset cohesive visuals from the start. In addition, it allows you to avoid rush jobs and crunches. Which not only increase costs but also makes unnecessary stress on the team.
It can be used to see things and see if any changes are required before collaborating with outsourcing studios. When you're confident with each stuff you can avoid spending on unnecessary art and start completing all the things that are more important for you.
Different types of objects and assets can be designed with the intention of reusing them. You can outsource video game art (objects and props) 1 without the new, additional design. Basic modular objects, things that fly by or similar things will allow you to save up money and spend it on something like a main character art, which should be worked on the max and crafted with much bigger passion than a tree or an additional object. In some other cases, asset store can be used.
Create modeling or drawings may be done by in-house teams of artists, while outsource the visual style and can coordinate with the tech team quickly and effectively. However, detailed work, like rigging environmental design and other things, can be easily outsourced.
Spend time finding different options to find top art outsourcing studios is something for convenience: for game developers too it may lead to better prices, flexibility and quick turnaround – since video game art outsourcing studios already understand your methods, style and have collaborated with you before.
Some video game art outsourcing studios provide different types of solutions for different projects. In some cases, you may agree on a 'package deal' that a large amount of working hours, instead of paying per model/asset, which will grant you a discount.
Outsourcing services’ cost can vary depending on numerous factors we described above. And yet, on the big picture, it remains a flexible, effective way to create and ship fun, visually gorgeous games that make your audience happy.
At RocketBrush Studio, we have teams of talented artists for both 2D and 3D art services with years of experience and expertise in different kinds of projects: from games to animation.
We established trustworthy partnerships with leading industry names: we collected testimonials from Supercell, Paradox Interactive, Uken Games, G5 Games, John Romero’s Romero Games and many more.
Our strong portfolio contains projects of various scales and complexity: from 3D game-ready animated characters and 3D props to 2D art in many styles: from cartoonish to pixelated.
We would love to help you with the project and establish a long-term relationship that will prosper and bring your audience new experiences that immerse them and can’t be easily forgotten. Feel free to reach us and tell us about your project!
