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Games industry veteran Henry Golding explains how collaboration, systemic improvements, and AI can redefine game development workflows
Henry Golding has spent over 15 years in the games industry, carving out a niche as a thought leader in automation, QA tooling, and development processes. With a background as a programmer and technical leader at industry giants like Microsoft and Epic Games, Henry combines technical expertise with a passion for creating humane, efficient environments where teams can thrive. His career has been shaped by a desire to eliminate crunch culture, reduce inefficiencies, and empower developers to focus on the creative and impactful work that fosters innovation.
In our conversation, Henry shared his vision for rethinking QA in game development, emphasizing the need for collaboration, holistic approaches, and meaningful AI integrations. According to Henry, QA is not just a step in the development process but a shared responsibility that, when done right, empowers every member of the team to make higher-quality games.
Key Takeaways
- Break down silos between QA and other departments: QA should be embedded within the development process as a collaborative partner, enabling shared responsibility for quality.
- Emphasize a human-first approach: Empower developers with tools that enhance creativity and decision-making.
- Lay the groundwork for AI adoption: Streamline workflows and eliminate inefficiencies before integrating AI, ensuring it amplifies existing strengths rather than compounding problems.
Breaking down silos – QA as a collaborative partner
For too long, QA has been siloed away from the rest of the development team and treated as a separate function rather than an integral part of the process. Henry believes this approach undermines quality and creates inefficiencies that studios can no longer afford. He envisions a future where QA is embedded directly within full development teams, fostering a culture of collaboration and shared accountability for quality. This cultural shift requires studios to rethink processes, embrace better tooling, and prioritize empathy between roles. By bringing QA and development together, teams can iterate faster, catch issues earlier, and deliver games that meet high player expectations.
“The biggest transformation we could see is breaking the barrier between QA and development. QA should be a partner in the process, not a separate, poorly treated team. Historically, QA has often been relegated to a silo, treated as a step to be completed after development is ‘done.’ This approach not only devalues the critical work QA teams do but also creates inefficiencies that harm the entire production cycle. Instead, QA needs to be embedded within development teams, working alongside them as equals. It’s not just about testing — it’s about creating an environment where everyone is empowered to contribute to quality together.”
Henry acknowledges that not every studio operates this way today, but they should to avoid launches riddled with issues, and he sees significant potential for those that do. Collaborative QA isn’t just about better communication — it’s about empowering QA teams to contribute their expertise at every stage of development. When studios adopt this mindset, they move beyond the outdated notion of QA as merely a checkpoint and begin to view it as a strategic pillar of game production, helping to ensure more successful launches with fewer bugs and performance issues.
Shifting QA left – Finding issues early and often
Fixing a bug in the late stages of development is exponentially more expensive than catching it early. Henry champions a “shift-left” approach, integrating QA throughout the development process. This method combines automated testing with human expertise to catch issues at every stage, from pre-production to live operations. Shifting QA left reduces late-stage crunch and ensures that teams can focus on creating a polished player experience.
“Without robust automated testing and quality checks early in development, you’re leaving money on the table and risking your release. The cost of fixing a bug increases the closer you get to launch, not to mention the risk of missed deadlines or post-launch fixes that hurt player trust. By integrating testing early and continuously, you not only catch issues when they’re easier and cheaper to fix but also build a stronger foundation for the entire development process. This isn’t just about saving money; it’s about creating the confidence to release on time and with quality intact.”
Shifting left doesn’t mean replacing human testers with machines. Instead, it’s about augmenting their efforts with tools that provide faster, more reliable feedback. By integrating QA into continuous development cycles, studios can iterate more quickly, reduce risk, and build games that players love — all without sacrificing the creativity and intuition that make QA teams indispensable.
Preparing studios for AI integration
Integrating AI into QA workflows is not as simple as purchasing tools; it requires a thoughtful overhaul of existing processes. Henry emphasizes that studios must first address inefficiencies and build robust workflows. Without this foundation, AI risks becoming an expensive addition that fails to deliver meaningful results or transformative change.
“AI won’t fix a broken QA process — it amplifies what’s already working. Studios need to streamline workflows, break down silos, and ensure their processes are solid. Only then can AI act as a force multiplier, enhancing what teams are already doing effectively.”
Golding further notes that AI should augment, not replace, human expertise. By providing actionable insights and analyzing patterns, AI empowers teams to make smarter, faster decisions. However, the core value still comes from human creativity and intuition, with AI serving as a powerful tool to support those strengths.
Building quality from the ground up
Henry Golding’s insights challenge the traditional notions of QA and call for a reimagined approach that blends collaboration, innovation, and empowerment. His message is clear: tools like AI can be powerful allies, but they must be used thoughtfully as part of a cohesive strategy that prioritizes the people and processes behind the games.
For studios ready to embrace this transformation, explore how modl.ai’s AI-driven tools can streamline workflows, automate testing, and help your team focus on what matters most — delivering high-quality, engaging player experiences. Get in touch today to get started.
