290. 10 x Co-Development Trends: Why the Best Studios Are Scaling Without Hiring

Deconstructor of Fun

Mishka Katkoff sits down with Carla Rylance - external development expert, XDS Advisory Committee Chair, and Head of Business Solutions for XDS Spark - to dive deep into the 2025 XDS Insights Report.

In this episode:
Key trends in external development, co-development, and industry shifts following the pandemic. The growing role of AI in game development: how publishers and service providers are using (or not using) AI. Budget trends, rates, and the business realities facing external studios. Why publishers are sticking with trusted partners and the importance of security, flexibility, and due diligence
https://xdsummit.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlarylance/https://deconstructoroffun.com/slack

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & technical mishaps

02:00 – What is the XDS Insights Report?

06:00 – Trends in external development & co-dev

15:00 – Budgets, rates, and industry shifts

25:00 – The rise of AI in game development

35:00 – Security, trust, and partner selection

45:00 – Q&A and closing thoughts

#ExternalDevelopment #XDS #Podcast #GameIndustry #AI #CoDevelopment