The 7 Stages of Game Development (And How to Learn)

When you’re just starting out, the stages of game development can feel like a black box. You see the polished final product — a stunning open-world RPG or addictive mobile puzzler — but you have no idea how it got there.

Every successful game goes through a well-defined process. From rough sketches and prototypes to launch-day patches and post-release updates, there’s a system behind the magic.

In this article,we break down the 7 core stages of game development — and show you how to learn each one, even if you’re starting from zero.

Let’s dive in.

1. Planning & Conceptualization

Every great game starts with an idea.

This is the stage where game designers sketch out the core concept, define the target audience, and determine the game mechanics, story, and visual style. Think of it as building the foundation of your future game.

What happens during this stage

• Brainstorming ideas and gameplay
• Identifying the platform (mobile, console, PC, VR)
• Writing a game design document (GDD)
• Creating early concept art

Interested in this phase? The Diploma in Concept Art and Entertainment Design at MAGES Institute is a great place to start. It teaches the fundamentals of worldbuilding, visual storytelling, and concept art—key skills for pre-production.

2. Pre-Production

Once the concept is approved, it’s time to make things real. This stage involves building prototypes, selecting tools, and locking down technical and artistic pipelines.

What happens during this stage

• Prototyping core gameplay
• Setting up the development team and tools
• Planning timelines and sprints
• Creating early wireframes and character/environment assets

Want to get hands-on with game engines like Unity and learn prototyping fast? The Diploma in Game Design and Technology teaches you how to turn ideas into playable mechanics.

3. Production (Design, Art & Development)

This is where most of the magic happens—and where most of the workload lies.

Designers finalize the game systems. Artists create the visuals. Developers write the code. Animators breathe life into characters. It’s a massive collaboration across departments.

What happens during this stage

• Building levels and systems
• Creating 3D models and textures
• Coding gameplay logic, UI/UX, and interactions
• Animating characters, props, and environments

If you’re more into 3D art and visual assets, check out the 3D Modelling and Game Art Diploma. You’ll learn how to sculpt characters, environments, and props using industry tools like ZBrush.

Or if you’re heading toward game coding and design, the Advanced Diploma in Game Design and Technology expands on scripting, multiplayer systems, and optimization.

4. Testing & QA

Testing isn’t just about finding bugs—it’s about balancing the game and ensuring the user experience is intuitive, fair, and fun.

What happens during this stage

• Bug testing and debugging
• Playtesting for user feedback
• Balancing mechanics and difficulty
• Optimizing performance across devices

A deep understanding of UX design, iteration, and problem-solving is critical here. If you’re interested in immersive tech and testing across new platforms, the Diploma in XR Immersive explores how AR/VR games are prototyped and refined.

5. Launch & Marketing

You’ve built your game. Now it’s time to share it with the world.

This stage involves creating promotional material, launching beta builds, publishing the game, and gathering early player feedback.

What happens during this stage:

• Running marketing campaigns and trailers
• Publishing to Steam, App Store, etc.
• Community management
• Patching any early issues

At MAGES, many students showcase their games to industry mentors and potential employers, often during demo days or portfolio presentations. A strong launch strategy isn’t just for studios—it’s how students get hired too.

6. Post-Launch Support

Even after launch, the journey isn’t over.

You’ll need to respond to player feedback, fix bugs, and possibly plan downloadable content (DLC) or updates. This stage helps games stay relevant and retain their player base.

What happens during this stage:

• Monitoring game performance and analytics
• Patching and bug fixes
• Content updates and expansions
• Community events

This is where soft skills meet technical skills—listening to users, improving UX, and deploying updates fast. The Advanced Diploma in Interactive Media and Production includes virtual production, giving students hands-on experience with real-time workflows and the agility to iterate even after a product goes live.

7. Portfolio & Career Building

While this isn’t technically a stage of game development for studios, it’s an essential part of your journey if you want to break into the industry.

Every great game dev has a killer portfolio. And every MAGES student works on multiple projects, building a showcase that demonstrates real production skill.

Don’t have a background in tech or art? That’s okay. The Foundation Certificate in Creative Technologies is designed to help absolute beginners get started with digital art, game design, and coding.

The Game Development Pipeline Summary

Final Thoughts

Game development is equal parts creative and technical. Whether you’re a visual artist, a programmer, or someone with a big idea—you’ll find your place in this pipeline.

If you’re serious about building games (or even just exploring the idea), the best way to learn is to get hands-on. Build a prototype. Fail fast. Iterate. Learn from mentors. Repeat.

And if you’re looking for a place to start?

MAGES Institute offers a range of diploma programs in Game Design, 3D Art, XR Immersive, and more—designed to prepare you for each stage of the dev process.

Start building your first game. Your journey begins here!