In 2022, the worldwide gaming market was estimated to be worth $200 billion, and in the ensuing five years, this amount is predicted to double. The market is oversaturated and competition is fierce as ever, that why being distinctive is crucial. Of course, gameplay, mechanics, and plot make games enjoyable and iconic, but without proper visual appeal, your game will be lost among competitors. There is nothing like a distinctive visual style that draws attention to the game, everything else is secondary.
For this reason, we compiled a list of the top game art outsourcing companies that can help you make your game stand out with their game art outsource expertise. All of them are experts in their field who have worked both on small indie projects and highest-grossing AAA titles. These companies offer a range of outsourcing services, including concept art, illustration, character creation, CGI animation, VFX, game cinematics, motion capture, modeling, you name it.
1. N-iX Game & VR Studio
A part of a major European software development firm with 1700+ professionals and more than 20 years on the market, N-iX Game & VR Studio was established in 2012 and now employs over 240 experienced game development specialists. 2D/3D art and animation, UI/UX design, motion capture, and visual effects production are just a few of the services offered by N-iX Game and VR Studio in terms of art outsourcing. In addition to providing style coherence and visual perfection assurances, the company provides art direction guidance during all production phases.
This game art outsourcing company has worked on a variety of AAA and significant games over the past years, including Victoria 3, The Devil in Me, Sniper: Ghost Warrior Contracts 2, and other renowned projects.
Apart from art production, N-iX Game & VR Studio offers a vast scope of game development services, including Unreal Engine and Unity game development, VR and NFT solutions, QA testing, cloud integration, etc.
2. 1518 Studios
This game art outsourcing firm is based in California and specializes in the creation of 3D artwork and video games. Its services include concept design, illustrations, user interface design, logo design, 3D art and animation, motion capture, cinematics, and other forms of 2D art.
1518 Studios has partnered with Splash Damage, Brainseed Factory, and Redemption Games. The studio contributed to a number of well-known games, including Borderlands 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and others.
3. Ocellus
Lyon, France-based Ocellus is one of the top game development and game art outsourcing companies. The studio has a unique aesthetic and focus, and their team specializes in producing art for stylized video games. They have made contributions to games including Tom Splash Force, Armello, Clash of Clans, and Clash Royale.
N-iX Game & VR Studio had a good opportunity to work together with Ocellus. Through close collaboration, our teams produced outstanding character art for Asterix & Obelix XXL 3.
4. Roarty Digital
This game art outsourcing company was founded in 2017 and focuses on character creation for video games. They provide a wide range of game art outsource services, such as the creation of 3D characters, rigging, animation, concept design, advertising, co-development, and hair styling.
Roarty Digital works with reputable companies like Epic Games, Electronic Arts, Gunfire Games, and others. Regarding the portfolio, this art company contributed to New World, Killing Floor 2, Risk of Rain 2, and other video games.
5. Lemon Sky Studios
Malaysia-based Lemon Sky Studios is among the best game art outsourcing companies that specialize in CGI animation, VFX, game cinematics, concept art, IP development, animated feature film, animated series, and other art outsourcing services
The company has expertise in producing artwork for a variety of popular games, such as Mortal Kombat 11 and Warcraft III: Reforged.
6. Secret 6
This game art outsourcing studio was established in 2005 and has offices in San Francisco, Madrid, as well as the Philippines. With more than 200 experts on staff, the company can provide a variety of game development services, including 2D and 3D game art outsource and full-cycle development with broad platform support.
The business collaborates with well-known game development studios such as CD Project Red, Naughty Dog, Konami, and Blizzard Entertainment. Their artists worked on games like Rage 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and The Last of Us Part 2 among others.
7. Nuare Studio
Nuare Studio was founded in 2006 in Windsor, Canada, and today, the company is renowned for its proficiency in animation, 2D art, and VFX. The studio collaborated with Bethesda, Capcom, Gameloft, and other companies on projects like Fallout 76, The Last of Us Part II, and Marvel’s Avengers.
The game art outsourcing firm also provides co-development, web development, VR/AR solutions, QA services, as well as porting and remastering to its clients in addition to outsourcing art.
8. Art Bully
Since its establishment in 2008, this game art outsourcing company has grown to a team of more than 100 artists and managed to contribute to more than 35 game titles. Today, it offers a whole spectrum of art production services, including concept art development, 3D modeling, texturing, skinning, rigging, animation, etc.
Their team took part in art production for such popular video games as Rage 2, Fortnite, Godfall, Smite, and Call of Duty Vanguard.
9. Concept Art House
Initially founded in Shanghai, China as a strictly 2D art production company, Concept Art House later moved its headquarters to San Francisco, USA. As many other game art outsourcing companies, the studio expanded its scope of services, and now it also offers 3D art outsourcing, animation, VR production, console games, and more.
The company also has solid expertise behind its back having worked with some of the industry’s most renowned publishers and titles, such as Fortnite, PUBG, Hearthstone, and others.
10. Elite3D
Founded in 2005, this game art outsourcing company is situated in Valencia, Spain, and is offering game art outsourcing services. The specter of services that the company provides includes environment design, game art, modeling, concept design, 3D characters, vehicles, props, and weapons, among others.
Games like Hitman 3, Diablo 2 Resurrected, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Crash Bandicoot 4, and Diablo 2 Remastered are among the many of the company’s art projects.
Why Choose N-iX Game & VR Studio As Your Art Outsourcing Partner
Flexibility and scalability. N-iX Game & VR Studio is a part of one of the biggest European software development organizations N-iX. This allows us to access immense resources to offer flexibility and scalability for our clients and their projects. Moreover, to avoid any hiccups as your project may expand, we have a strong business brand and employ successful recruiting techniques.
Variety of services. N-iX Game & VR Studio offers a variety of services to cover any needs, not just game art outsource. We got you back with Unreal Engine (C++) and Unity (C#) development, XR and NFT solutions, QA, full-cycle development, etc.
Reputation. N-iX Game & VR Studio has established itself as a trustworthy game art outsourcing business partner with a high client retention rate. Most of our clients have been with us for more than three years.
Our Portfolio
Victoria 3
Since the beginning of our fruitful collaboration with Paradox Interactive in 2017, N-iX Game & VR Studio has consistently offered first-rate 3D and 2D art creation services for their grandiose strategy games.
Our artists have worked on the majority of their titles and DLCs, including Stellaris, Crusader Kings III, Hearts of Iron IV, Europa Universalis IV, Imperator: Rome, and the most recent one Victoria 3.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2
SGW Contracts 2 is the long-awaited continuation of the hyper-realistic sniping game franchise. The team at N-iX Game & VR Studio was tasked with producing a collection of top-notch 3D weapon models for this project. Due to the importance of realism in SGW Contracts 2 (both graphical and mechanical), our artists scrupulously examined the design and components of the necessary weapons to produce flawless digital copies.
After the Fall
Epic VR action-first-person shooter After the Fall features exciting co-op gameplay at its core. The team of artists at N-iX Game & VR Studio was tasked with producing a variety of realistic 3D models for the game. All the 3D components have to visually reflect aging and cold since After the Fall takes place on an ice-covered Earth 20 years after the horrific events. Our designers created a range of snow-covered models that were the ideal fit for the post-apocalyptic setting.
