Emerging markets across APAC are rapidly becoming not just player growth engines, but critical hubs for external development. From co-development studios to full-scale outsourcing partners, these regions offer access to high-quality talent, cost efficiencies, and scalable production models that can significantly accelerate game development while reducing financial risk.

But building a successful external development strategy in these markets requires more than cost arbitrage. Teams must navigate cultural differences in communication and creative ownership, evolving regulatory landscapes, and varying levels of infrastructure maturity across regions. Misalignment in expectations, workflows, and technical standards can quickly erode the very efficiencies teams are seeking.

In this interactive discussion, we’ll explore how leading teams are leveraging APAC-based external development to unlock growth while maintaining quality and control. Joined by leaders such as some APAC studio heads and some industry peers that invested heavily in APAC, we’ll share practical lessons on building resilient partner ecosystems, avoiding common pitfalls, and identifying where external development truly creates leverage.

Example Discussion Points:
• What types of work are best suited for external development in emerging markets (live ops, art, full co-dev, etc.)?
• How do you build long-term, trust-based partnerships vs. transactional vendor relationships?
• Where do cultural differences most impact delivery (feedback loops, ownership, timelines)?
• How do local regulations or business practices affect contracting and operations?
• What technical or infrastructure gaps (tools, hardware, connectivity) should teams plan for?
• How do you maintain quality, consistency, and creative alignment across distributed teams?
• What are effective ways to pilot and scale external partnerships while minimizing risk?