External Development as the Backbone of AAA Production

As games grow in size, scope, and complexity, external development has shifted from a cost-saving measure to providing both strategic and creative advantages. External development leadership from Sony, Wizards of the Coast, Warner Bros Games & Game Caviar explore how co-development and outsourcing are shaping pipelines, accelerating delivery, and enabling creative ambition. This session unpacks the challenges of managing global vendor ecosystems, how partnerships and co-development are being redefined, and what infrastructure the industry could benefit from, to make external production predictable, scalable, and sustainable.