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The gaming industry continues to grow yearly: more players crave unique interactive experiences, more publishers invest in the gaming market, and more developers hire more people and plan even more new projects.
The industry is growing rapidly, and so is the world of game art outsourcing. New tech, tools and practices appear regularly in all spheres, from game design to art outsourcing, changing the way artists work on game art. Being aware of what to expect in the following year is obligatory if you’re in the process of collaborating or even planning to collaborate with outsourcing studios.
We are going to look at the latest trends in art outsourcing in particular and see how they can assist you in achieving the perfect results with your upcoming project.
What started as a pretty niche game market segment has been gaining momentum since 2016. Virtual helmets no longer require a powerful PC setup and won’t cost you thousands of dollars. Games made in previous years by small indie studios (SUPERHOT Team, Stress Level Zero) and big companies (Valve, Capcom, Sony) helped shape the market for immersive technology. In addition, more developers, attracted by the creative possibilities of futuristic VR tech, still keep venturing forward and developing fully established high-budget projects for VR (Batman: Arkham Shadow, Metro: Awakening, Alien: Rogue Incursion, all released in late 2024).
The VR and AR market has reached the point where not only enthusiasts and hobbyists but also casual players and families now own it as a part of their home entertainment system. Thanks to Meta’s recent addition to fully autonomic and affordable VR helmet selection, Oculus Quest 3S, and its expansive library of apps and games, virtual reality and augmented reality have slowly but surely become an accessible and demanded product. VR headset volumes worldwide grew by two million last year and the amount keeps growing because of 3S’s affordable price, making it a perfect gift for holidays.
And don’t forget that Apple’s recent hot device, which many company fans want, is a virtual reality helmet, meaning that even bigger companies are eager to explore VR and AR. The potential ways to dive into these fields even further are massive, and possibilities for outsourcing game art for VR and AR projects are also getting pretty big.
A popular entertainment technology that is rooted in immersive and highly-detailed depictions of reality benefits greatly from striking art direction. RocketBrush Studio provides a wide selection of game art suitable for virtual reality nowadays, from assets and objects, rich in details, to smooth animations that allow virtual reality to feel more humane and engaging.
According to Statista, more than 40% of game developers asked have used AI in their development in 2024. Judging by such a dynamic, it’s likely to grow even bigger in the following years. Love it or hate it, but AI trends are difficult to ignore in modern times. It occasionally leads to a saturated market and regular discussions on AI’s ethical and environmental side.
The potential of AI and algorithmic art is radical and grows exponentially every day, with new tools being integrated into trusted software such as Blender, along with the development of new versions of AI (such as ChatGPT). It also remains one of the most cost-effective solutions nowadays for companies with limited budgeting.
Combining AI with the expertise of skilled artists speeds up the concept art process, enabling faster production of sketches and generating more unique ideas. This provides developers and publishers with a wider range of options for the game’s visual direction, helping them select the most optimal approach. Such a method is both cost-effective and efficient — exactly what’s needed during the pre-production phase.
A lot of game art outsource studios have started to use cloud-based art tools, allowing them to collaborate and work together seamlessly in real time with other artists worldwide. In addition, such tools ensure the security and protection of artists’ input, leading to a great choice for artistic and creative expression. Unity’s Cloud Content Manager, along with Autodesk’s cloud services, are some examples of such tools that ensure smooth collaboration among artists in outsourcing teams.
Animation standards are higher than ever, with motion capture technology ensuring precise and seamless movements in games. Big companies such as Rockstar and Naughty Dog have been constantly increasing animation quality, establishing new heights with new releases. Since the competition on the market tends to be intense, it’s very important to pay attention to the fluidity and realism of your in-game animations, ensuring they match the high modern standards. However, it creates a challenge since not every developer can use a complex technology.
Is it possible to use an outsourcing studio for mocap?
It is! At RocketBrush Studio, we provide motion capture services for your needs, ensuring that your characters, objects and props will all feel life-like. Additional animation services are also available: we provide an expansive variety of possible solutions for your project, from creating character animation to facial animation and even cutscene animation.
A lot of games nowadays put a lot of effort into the storytelling aspect of the medium, sometimes blending it with films or literature. That’s why there is a big spike of interest in narrative and environmental storytelling. Along with your game’s meticulously written texts and dialogues, visuals can be a great way to convey a memorable story that players will remember. Game art outsource can assist you with this type of production for your game, ensuring the art style blends well with the story you’ll tell players.
This trend is anticipated to grow since many games of various scopes do their best to not only make a game but also to tell a story that will resonate with players. It can be seen in raising interest in visual novels, RPGs with a heavy narrative emphasis and even mobile puzzle games.
That was our short list of trends for 2025, which will be shaping game art outsourcing services. As you can see, the gaming industry evolves rapidly, driven by technological advancement with creative approach of artists. Thanks to modern tools, services and outsourcing studios, you can always ensure that complicated aspects of a challenging game-making process will be done effectively and quickly.
At RocketBrush Studio, you can outsource game art of any scale, style, or genre. We offer a full range of services — from animations to concept art, 2D character design to 3D modeling, covering genres from mobile casual games to sci-fi and zombie survival titles. Take a look at our portfolio for examples.
We have been working since 2016, and established ourselves as a trustworthy partner, collaborating with many prominent industry studios (such as Paradox Interactive, Romero Games, Applovin, Supercell and many more). Our testimonials can be read here.
Let’s see what the future holds!