The Importance Of Game Testing And QA In Today’s Gaming Industry

How many times has it been that you were excited for a new game, but when it came out, it was full of bugs and performance issues? Kinds of put the damper on the whole excitement thing, doesn’t it? We have Unreal Engine 5 to thank for the performance issues, but it’s also true that some of these problems could’ve been detected and fixed prior to shipping the product. This is exactly why game QA is so integral.

With indie development on the rise, I know its hard for small studios and individual passion projects to spare the resources, but a little can go a long way here. You don’t know how people will react to your project, so getting a second opinion on it before making it public can often prove more helpful than you think. And by extension, it creates a fantastic opportunity for gamers with knowledge and insight to spare. Today, you can make game testing a side gig to get things running, and even start getting paid to watch videos; it’s a good incentive for young, fresh minds.

A Key Cog In The Development Machine

Game testing and QA are often considered optional finishing touches, something that can be easily done once the whole thing is ready. However, that can’t be further from the truth. It’s a meticulous process that demands critical thinking and methodic repetition; you’ll be playing one section again and again, trying to break the game in some way, and then understanding how and why it breaks. See, you’re not playing games for fun here. 

Okay, so we’ve established it’s not an easy task. Now then, should QA be conducted just at the end when the game is pretty much ready? Again, if you ask me, game testing and QA need to be an inherent part of the development pipeline, continuing step-by-step with every other milestone. It’s not as simple as checking for bugs at the end. This way, a lot of problems go undetected, and we end up with the usual buggy and broken messes.

"To all the game devs out there that undervalue and hold back QA: 80% of GotG (Guardians of The Galaxy) game was written by former testers." – Jocelyn Baxter writer at Eidos Montreal and GotG
byu/NYstate inGames

When QA people are taken along the whole development journey instead of just being consulted after the damage is done, they can do their job more effectively. Every production stage is vetted and analyzed as the game development proceeds. Bugs and problems can be studied as they appear, and it honestly creates a more streamlined work process for everyone. Basically, when QA is given equal standing as every other role, the game turns out all fulfilled and error free. AAA studios should never skimp out on game testing, and I think even indie games can benefit a lot with a different set of eyes.

Game Testing, An Entrypoint For Passionate Gamers

Yes, a stronger emphais on QA might rid the world of these broken game launches we’ve honestly grown tired of, but that isn’t the only benefit. Above all, it can be a financial sanctuary for gamers genuinely passionate about the craft, and interested in contributing to its betterment. A major part of game QA is user experience, and who better to tell you that than a hardcore gamer with thousands of hours worth of sleepless nights?

Finding game-breaking issues isn’t all game testing is about. It’s also a measure of how much the game is enjoyable, replayable, and overall engaing in its current state, and what exactly can be done to improve all these factors. After all, you don’t want your game to be something people get bored of in the hour. You need hands-on analysis and feedback as much as the bug report. This is something only actual gamers with experience can tell you.

URGENT: I discovered a gamebreaking bug that allows you to deploy planes without cost. Please fix this.
byu/Yoshida5000 inBrokenArrowTheGame

Manual game testing is something that doesn’t necessarily require advanced degrees. It’s got a lot more to do with your sense of understanding gaming. Thus, it’s a good way to break into the game development industry. Learning QA is a genuinely rewarding experience, and a gateway to something bigger. The constant layoffs in the game industry are certainly regrettable, and very discouraging I know. But if you love games, are tired of the stale AAA gaming today, and wish to make a change, nothing will happen until you take the plunge.