Game Studios Onboarding Guide: How To Integrate New Members

Game studios onboarding is just as crucial now as it ever was – even in today’s games industry climate, where layoffs have become a major focus for many. Some may wonder if it’s still necessary to prioritize onboarding and invest resources to make it right. But whether you represent a small indie studio or an AAA company, a strong onboarding process is essential. It ensures that artists, designers and developers are properly integrated into the team and helps maintain a positive and collaborative work environment.

We’ve invited our HR Manager, Claudia Vaidos, to create this guide for you. With her extensive experience in the people department of an AAA studio, combined with her current role at 8Bit (a remote-first gamedev recruitment agency), Claudia has tried and tested multiple onboarding approaches to find the perfect scenario for integrating new team members smoothly.

Why is Onboarding so Important?

The importance of a strong onboarding process lies in its role as the foundation for a new team member’s success. And if you need to provide arguments for your game studio decision makers, here’s what you could mention:

Integration and Productivity

New team members need time to adjust to the company’s culture, tools, and workflows. A structured onboarding process ensures they gain the necessary knowledge and resources quickly, enabling them to contribute faster. When newcomers understand their role and how their work fits into the project, their confidence and productivity rise.

Game Studio Culture and Values

Every company, whether in the games industry or elsewhere, has its own culture and values. Onboarding should help new team members understand the company’s culture, values, mission, and vision, and how they align with them.

This alignment helps avoid potential cultural mismatches. Game studio with a positive culture is more likely to retain talent and increase job satisfaction and motivation.

Communication and Collaboration

A successful game requires a team of talented individuals who can collaborate and communicate effectively. During onboarding, it’s essential to ensure that new team members not only learn the tools and processes, but also understand the team structure and communication channels. This helps them become part of the team more quickly.

Retention and Turnover

The games industry is notorious for high turnover rates, especially during crunch periods when some studios expect their teams to work 60 to 100 hours a week. A welcoming, strong, and positive onboarding experience can make a significant difference. By setting clear expectations, offering support, and providing opportunities for career growth from day one, new team members are more likely to feel valued. When they feel supported and appreciated, they are more likely to stay with the company long-term, reducing recruitment and training costs.

Game Studios Onboarding Steps

Here you can find some essential steps for integrating new team members smoothly:

1. Pre-Boarding: what to do before the Day One

Before the new team member even starts, make sure their onboarding plan, workstation, tools, and software are ready. Create a buddy system or a mentorship program, so that someone can guide them through their initial days and provide a point of contact for questions.

Before their 1st day, send an email to the whole company to let them know that a new colleague is going to join on X date so that they can welcome them properly. At 8Bit, we have implemented a ‘Buddy program’ in which we pair up the newcomer with someone from the team, as their point of contact for the first 2 months.

2. Workflows

Depending on the role that the new team member is going to have, make sure you include the workflows that they need to take into consideration. Consider creating a plan of onboarding dedicated to each role and offering either workshops or online resources to allow them to get hands-on experience. Walking them through the game engine, code, and pipelines early on will set them up for success.

3. Communication and Collaboration

Schedule 1:1 meetings with everyone on the team, whether they are key stakeholders or peers. Make sure to provide the new team member with opportunities to get involved in the team’s life, helping to break down silos and foster cross-functional collaboration. Explain the preferred method of communication – whether it’s Teams, Slack, or even Discord, as this varies from studio to studio. Additionally, if you’re a lead or manager, be sure to communicate your and your team’s preferred ways of interacting.

4. Tasks

For entry-level and mid-level newcomers, consider assigning smaller, meaningful tasks that help them get accustomed to the environment and allow them to contribute to the project from the start. These tasks should be impactful but not overwhelming, giving them a chance to build confidence while learning the ropes. Achieving early wins can help set a positive tone for their journey at the studio.

For senior-level hires and managers, you can expect more adaptability from the beginning, as they’ll likely be ready to take on larger responsibilities right away.

5. Feedback

Ensure regular check-ins during the onboarding process to provide feedback and address any concerns. Even if you want to collect the feedback formally or informally, it is important to know how your new team member is feeling and what are their needs.

Game Studios Onboarding: Pioneers to Follow

Here are 2 notable examples of an effective onboarding process in the successful game studios: 

Riot Games’ onboarding process, known as “Denewbification“, focuses on ensuring that new hires fully understand Riot’s culture, history, and values. They also equip new employees with the tools they need to smoothly transition into remote work. Riot provides personalized IT assistance to set up necessary work equipment, along with virtual team bonding events to help everyone stay connected. The goal of the onboarding process is to make new hires feel like part of the company from day one, even if they are working remotely.

Insomniac Games emphasizes inclusivity and collaboration from day one, allowing new employees to contribute right from the start. Their onboarding process highlights the importance of workplace culture, teamwork, and promoting positive messages through their work. They provide a supportive environment with mentorship opportunities and a flexible structure, giving new gamedevs the space to grow within the company.

A well-executed onboarding program is invaluable for any company, regardless of the industry. In the gaming world, setting up your new developers for success from the start is crucial for building both strong teams and a positive company culture. As a fully remote team ourselves, we’re living proof that effective onboarding can be done seamlessly, even in a remote environment. By following these strategies, you can ensure that your new hires feel supported, confident, and ready to contribute from day one – whether they’re in the office or working remotely.