LogInFrom the importance of platform licensing to why the multiplayer component should be treated as a core system – here are five lessons for game developers wishing to get into porting shared with us by Room 8 Group's Yann LeTensorer and Yoan Aleksiev.
In the games industry today, players expect titles to launch on multiple platforms, and for game-makers, it's almost never a bad idea to do so. Cross-platform play is also the norm these days for multiplayer games. Yet many developers still treat porting as an afterthought.
This can create expensive problems. Modern engines like Unity and Unreal make development accessible, but they also create an illusion of simplicity that tricks teams into thinking they can worry about porting only near release. In reality, proper porting demands deep strategic planning.
At Room 8 Group, we've been asked to port many projects that learned this lesson the hard way. Our engineers have ported everything from indies to AAA blockbusters, and we've seen the same mistakes destroy budgets and timelines. Here are five c that we've learned working on the frontlines.
1. To accommodate weaker hardware, find creative ways to reduce memory
Most developers know the PlayStation 4 has 8GB of GDDR5 memory compared to a gaming PC's potential 32GB. What they don't realize is how this gap compounds across every system in their game.
Memory is a big deal, especially on weaker hardware. We recently ported a third-person action RPG, where we had to reduce the memory by more than half without compromising on resolution and overall visual quality (cinematics and great visuals during gameplay was a core requirement).
To do this, we got creative: we wrote automated scripts that processed the game's textures based on the average square-meterage of textures used in each level, which allowed Unreal Engine's texture streamer to fit within a 400MB pool, down from 800MB. Compression of cubemaps that required custom modifications to the render code saved us another 200MB. It's important to get creative when porting a game, which is why it can be so useful to work with expert game engineers on such projects.
Start by implementing these systems early:
- Dynamic texture streaming pools: You don't need to hardcode texture budgets. Build systems that automatically adjust based on platform capabilities.
- Automated asset processing: Create scripts that batch-process assets differently for each platform. Your artists shouldn't manage 50 versions of the same texture.
- Platform-specific code paths: Use preprocessor directives or engine-specific platform layers to handle different rendering approaches without cluttering your codebase.
Modern challenges go beyond raw memory. Traversal stutter – those frame drops during level streaming – might be barely noticeable on PC but can violate console certification requirements. PlayStation's TRC and Xbox's XR rules specify maximum milliseconds of freezing allowed. If you miss these targets, you'll break contractual obligations with publishers.
2. Don't think platform licensing is a formality, and sort certification before you need it
Devs often think obtaining licenses from platforms like Xbox and Nintendo is a formality, but it requires time and planning. You need to be able to show that you have worked on legitimate, technically sound game projects that can generate revenue, and that you have the requisite data security to be trusted with confidential information.
As a dev, working with external partners who port games on a regular basis, can smooth this process. Because we're already licensed, we can get to work on porting your game without having to wait for you to obtain a license yourself.
But licensing takes place at the start of porting. Platform certification, which takes place at the end, is a minefield of technical checkboxes that can derail your launch if you don't prepare adequately.
Beyond the obvious performance metrics, certification demands attention to details developers often miss. For example, controller accessibility goes deeper than making your game playable with a gamepad. Every single action – in-game and in menus – must be fully accessible via controller. This includes platform-specific features like PlayStation 5's haptics and adaptive triggers, which aren't optional; they are required.
Your PC-designed interfaces might violate console screen-boundary rules. UI safe zones exist because older TVs crop edges, and modern displays vary in how they handle overscan. Consider budgeting time for rescaling or completely reworking screens. Then there's localization compliance. Sleek UI can break when Arabic text flows right-to-left, or when German translations exceed your carefully measured text boxes by 40%.
External partners like Room 8 Group can help you account for such hidden details. We maintain pre-existing platform relationships and setups, starting work immediately while you wait for licensing. But if you're going it alone, start these applications early and use pre-certification tools. Different consoles' SDKs and dev kits have tools that can help you identify issues months before official submission.
3. Leverage AI strategically
AI won't magically port your game, but it can eliminate tedious optimization tasks when used correctly. We use Topaz AI Gigapixel for intelligent texture upscaling, maintaining visual fidelity while keeping memory usage manageable.
More importantly, AI excels at automating tasks that free engineers for complex problem-solving. For example, it can clean up your code. While we never use AI to generate production code, it can identify redundant blocks in massive codebases. AI can also speed things up for you if you're using unfamiliar APIs and libraries: it can help with rapid prototyping, validation, and the testing of various tools.
The key is human oversight. AI suggests optimizations; experienced engineers decide which ones won't compromise your game. Read more about how AI is transforming gaming in the new joint report by Room 8 Group and 80 Level.
4. Solve the custom-engine problem
Unity and Unreal dominate for good reason: they handle platform differences automatically. But many ambitious projects still use custom engines, and porting these requires specialized expertise.
If your engine only supports DirectX 11/12, you need Vulkan or Metal implementations for other platforms. Everything needs to be adapted: input systems, audio pipelines, other platform-specific features. This is where solutions like REI (Render Engine Infrastructure), our own custom tool, prove invaluable. Instead of writing native code for each platform, you port once to REI, and it handles platform-specific implementation.
For legacy engines no longer supported, the challenge multiplies. Sometimes you're not just porting the game – you're porting the entire engine to Unreal or Unity. This requires a deep understanding of both the source engine's architecture and the target engine's systems.
5. Treat multiplayer as a core system, not an ancillary feature
In 2025, publishers and players alike demand cross-play. But implementing multiplayer across platforms introduces complexity that ripples through your entire architecture.
Technical challenges include:
- API integration: PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Steam each have unique requirements for matchmaking, voice chat, and social features.
- Gameplay balance: That rock you removed on Switch for performance? Its absence creates a competitive imbalance: it functions as cover on PlayStation 5.
- Network architecture: Different platforms have different networking stacks. Your perfectly tuned PC netcode might introduce unacceptable latency on consoles.
Services like PlayFab can abstract some complexity, but you still need platform-specific integration. Design your multiplayer architecture to be platform-agnostic from the start, with clear abstraction layers between your game logic and platform services.
The reality of modern porting
Successful porting requires more than technical knowledge; it demands strategic thinking about your entire development pipeline. The teams that succeed treat platform considerations as first-order issues throughout development, not obstacles to overcome at the end.
Whether you handle porting internally or partner with specialists like Room 8 Group, the key is to start early. Every month you delay platform consideration multiplies the eventual cost – in time, money, and in the worst cases, player satisfaction. The choice isn't whether to think about porting, but whether to think about it now when it's manageable, or later when it's a crisis.