GDC Panel: Outsourcing Without the Overhead: Practical Tips for Smarter Collaboration

​Whether it's audio, codev, art, or QA, working with external contributors is the norm in today's game development cycles. But misalignment costs time, money, and morale. In this conversation between outsourcers and outsource managers from different disciplines, key insights will be shared to help developers build better workflows with outsourced teams—with a focus on clear ownership, defining goals, adapting schedules, and planning around a budget. Whether you're commissioning work for the first time or refining long-term vendor relationships, this session offers real-world advice on managing external collaborations with less friction and better results.

​Takeaway

• ​Actionable strategies for working more effectively with outsourced teams - whether you're a producer, artist, or engineer.

• ​How to set clear expectations, integrate deliverables into your workflow, and avoid common traps that cost time and money.

​Speakers

• ​Matthew Schulz - Senior Account Manager, Virtuos

• ​Mathieu Lavoie - Senior Director, Music and Sound, Side

• ​Sam Carlisle - Co-Founder - XDS Spark, Board Member - XDS Advisory Committee, XDS

• ​Maciej Glomb - Lead Producer, Bloober Team

​*Please note that a GDC pass is required to attend this talk.