Pingle Studio: A Trusted Partner in the Gaming Industry
Pingle Studio, founded in 2007 by Dmytro Kovtun and Kostyantyn Shepilov, has become a leading studio in the gaming sector. The studio has earned the trust of renowned developers and publishers such as Wargaming, EA, Square Enix, Zynga, 505 Games, and Team17.
The Vision behind Pingle Studio
CEO Dmytro Kovtun, with over 15 years of experience in gaming, is dedicated to delivering top-quality products. Under his leadership, the company has expanded from five employees to more than 400 and has successfully completed over 50 gaming projects.
Co-founder Kostyantyn Shepilov, an MBA degree holder, focuses on building the studio’s architecture and management approaches. He oversees the implementation and improvement of project management processes.
Origins and Growth
Pocketgamer.biz had the opportunity to sit down with Pingle Studio’s founders to learn more about the studio’s origins and its interaction with partners. They also discussed how the studio handles third-party intellectual property and shared their plans for the future.
Pingle Studio’s Journey
Pingle Studio initially embarked on game development for their own enjoyment. When bigger game companies recognized the potential in their work, Pingle Studio shifted its focus to collaborating with other companies in game development. However, the founders remain passionate about creating new and innovative games.
Staying True to the Vision
As the studio has grown, its vision has remained intact. Pingle Studio continues to prioritize talent development and the delivery of top-quality products. Although the management approach has evolved with the size of the company, their commitment to talent and quality remains unwavering.
Proud Achievements
Pingle Studio has worked on numerous projects over the years, providing support to teams of all sizes. While it is difficult to pick favorites, two recent projects stand out: the partnership on Sandstorm Insurgency, which deepened their involvement in the project, and the Nintendo Switch port of Five Nights at Freddy’s, where their engineering expertise resulted in stellar performance.
Growing Team and Challenges
Pingle Studio now boasts over 400 employees across three locations. As the team expanded, managing quality became more complex. Striving to maintain high standards while scaling up presented the biggest challenge for the studio.
Pingle’s Unique Offering
Pingle Studio prides itself on providing a comprehensive range of services to partners. With over 16 years of experience, the studio has developed specialized porting technology called PingleCore, tailored for Unity and Unreal. This technology simplifies the porting process and enables smooth and efficient development on various platforms.
Flexible Collaboration
Pingle Studio can join a project at any stage, from the early pre-production phase to porting a finished product. They are also launching a new service called Pingle Creates for external idea development.
Working with Partners and Managing Third-Party IP
Pingle Studio’s approach to partnerships is rooted in adaptability, agility, and clear vision. They tailor their solutions to align with each project’s unique requirements and goals. The main challenge lies in effectively communicating the benefits of their solutions to clients.
Overcoming Common Mistakes
Based on their experience as a game development partner, Pingle Studio highlights two common mistakes in approaching large-scale game projects. Firstly, relying on inexperienced experts for project estimates can result in unrealistic timelines and misunderstandings. Secondly, not considering porting requirements during game design can lead to costly and time-consuming issues during the actual porting process.
New Ventures
Pingle Studio is expanding its services with the launch of “Pingle Creates.” This initiative brings together their top creative talent to provide assistance in areas such as narrative, level design, and art. They are eager to help develop clients’ ideas into marketable and profitable franchises.
Growth Areas in the Games Market
Pingle Studio is focused on expanding into full-cycle development in the AA and AAA game sectors. With their resources, capabilities, and expertise, they are ready to take on bigger projects.
Exploring Emerging Technologies
Pingle Studio is actively exploring platforms like ROBLOX and UEFN, seeing opportunities for IP holders to showcase their licenses. They welcome collaboration with anyone interested in creating games on these platforms.
The Future of the Games Market
Given the industry’s volatility, Pingle Studio aims to support the gaming industry by providing porting and tech support for titles facing challenges due to layoffs and staffing issues.
Future Plans for Pingle
For 2024, Pingle Studio has its sights set on bigger games, a broader client base, and more significant projects. The addition of two new Vice Presidents, specializing in publisher and developer relations, will help provide even better service across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and Latin America. The launch of Pingle Creates and increased focus on narrative and game design staffing are also part of their exciting plans.
A Final Message from Pingle Studio
Pingle Studio wants the industry to know that they are committed to providing the best tech specialists for projects. On the creative side, they are equipped to develop IPs that require additional creative talent. Pingle Studio is eager to support projects of any size, and they are ready to aid the gaming industry in any way they can.