Naavik Gaming Podcast The Role of Co-Development in Modern Game Development
Apr 14, 2026
Ninel Anderson, founder and CEO of Devoted Studios, builds remote co-development teams that handle engineering and end-to-production art. She breaks down what co-development really means versus outsourcing. The conversation covers why pipelines and process matter more than cheap labor, how studios retain creative vision, and practical practices for successful partnerships.
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Years Of Work Hidden By NDAs
- Devoted often can't publicize major projects because of NDAs, which hampers their portfolio.
- Ninel described teams pouring years into titles they cannot show, limiting new client trust despite deep experience.
Treat Co-Dev As Shared Ownership
- Do treat co-development as shared ownership, not task execution.
- Ninel defines co-dev as partners who help shape how something is delivered and make production or creative decisions together.
Share Vision Not Just Specs
- Do share vision, not only specs, when you bring on a co-dev partner.
- Without clear vision the partner will over-question, create overhead, or deliver technically correct but misaligned work; kickoff and regular alignment prevent that.