What are the key elements of successful external development contract negotiation?

Successful external development contract negotiation for games includes clear deliverable specifications, milestone-based payment structures, intellectual property rights, quality assurance processes, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Professional procurement services ensure these elements protect the studio's interests throughout the project lifecycle.

What are the benefits of using professional procurement services for game development?

Professional game development procurement services save time and money by leveraging industry expertise to identify qualified vendors, structure competitive bid processes, and negotiate favorable contracts. These structured procurement game studios services help avoid common pitfalls in external development relationships and secure better partnership terms.

How do you evaluate vendors during game outsourcing bid processes?

When evaluating vendors during game outsourcing bid processes, assess technical capabilities, portfolio quality, team experience, communication approaches, pricing transparency, and contract terms. A systematic game development vendor selection approach helps identify partners who deliver quality work within budget and timeline constraints.

What should be included in a game development RFP?

A comprehensive game development RFP should include project scope, technical requirements, milestone schedule, deliverable specifications, quality standards, budget parameters, and evaluation criteria. This documentation creates the foundation for effective external development contract negotiation and ensures vendors can provide accurate proposals.

How does a structured RFP process benefit game development?

A structured RFP process in game development creates clarity around project requirements, attracts qualified vendors, enables fair comparison of proposals, and establishes clear expectations. This systematic approach to game development procurement services reduces risks, controls costs, and increases the likelihood of successful external partnerships.

What is the game development procurement process?

The game development procurement process involves defining project needs, shortlisting qualified vendors, soliciting competitive bids, negotiating contracts, and establishing work processes. A structured procurement approach ensures studios find the right external development partners while maintaining quality control and budget efficiency.

What if I only need introductions, not full support?

Choose CDR Matchmaking. We present a curated short-list of vetted studios and facilitate first meetings. No long-term engagement or operational oversight is required. You pick the level of help you need: matchmaking, full-stack support, or anything in between.

Procurement · CDR ExDev

Roadmap

Scope Your Project Needs

We work with you to define goals, budget and timeline. Then we translate your needs into best-in-class RFPs.

Shortlist Top-Fit Candidates Globally

We use AI to map the entire studio ecosystem and identify the rare few who've actually solved challenges like yours. Then our team vets them for capability, culture and execution.

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Solicit Competitive Bids

We manage the full bidding process to secure best-fit teams and pricing. A structured, apples-to-apples comparison gives you the clarity to make smart hiring decisions quickly and transparently.

Trusted Contracts

We handle all negotiation to get you clear, fair, and production-ready terms. With hundreds of game deals negotiated, we ensure scopes, expectations and protections are in place.

Let’s Get Started

CDR provided our studio with the ExDev guidance we needed, producing a tailored list of pre-screened candidates that perfectly matched our requirements. We greatly appreciated his feedback and collaboration throughout the process, which encouraged us to think creatively about hiring and team organization.

I highly recommend working with CDR to discover the best hiring solutions for your game studio.

Dan Lavender

Director of Engineering, Carbon Counts

Previously

Engineering Lead

CTO

CDR’s hands-on approach enabled us to secure and onboard multiple outstanding game teams, perfectly matched to our organization, for the development of four original titles. By leveraging a robust talent network and ensuring seamless alignment across creative and technical teams, CDR made complex collaboration feel effortless.

I highly recommend CDR to any organization seeking to bring ambitious projects to life through external partnerships.

Seth Sivak

Chief Creative Officer, Stealth Startup

Previously

VP of Development

CEO

CDR’s unique blend of strategic insight, technical knowledge, and extensive network within the gaming industry has enabled Oooh to execute an outsourcing strategy that has yielded substantial ongoing value to our organization.

I highly recommend CDR for any organization considering any type of external production.

Paco Viciana

VP & Studio Head, Scopely

Previously

Executive Director

Technical Director

CDR helped us find the ideal partner for our game's PC to Switch port and Delivered considerable financial savings. They expertly managed the project, aligning multiple parties - our team, the service partner, and publisher - and ensured nothing was missed throughout the process.

Highly recommend CDR for any studio looking for a service partner for their game.

Sebastian Cardoso

COO, Flatter than Earth

Previously

Engineering Lead

CEO

CDR was an invaluable guide for Whitethorn Games, providing our publishing studio with a global list of specialized porting resources and administering a competitive proposal process that gave us confidence in the bids we received.

Any independent game studio or publisher looking to expand externally would greatly benefit from CDR's expertise.

Dr. Matthew White

Founder / CEO, Whitethorn Games

CDR’s experience in external development and games industry partnerships has been a great resource for Skymap Games. His strategic approach helped us better communicate our studio’s value to potential buyers, increasing our visibility and impact in the market.

For any company looking to improve their sales, marketing, or partnerships, I recommend CDR. His industry knowledge and network have been really helpful for us.

Neal Laurenza

CEO, Skymap Games

Expert Partner Procurement  That Saves Time & Money