Keywords Studios is a global provider of technical and creative services to the video games industry, specializing in game testing, localization, audio, art production, and player support. Their QA Testing platform ensures seamless, high-quality gameplay across all markets by combining advanced automated testing tools with expert manual analysis. They support games from indie to AAA titles and all stages of development.
Keywords Studios operates primarily as a platform provider for game testing and related services, also encompassing software development and creative service provision for the video game industry.
The primary purpose of Keywords Studios' game testing platform is to ensure games deliver a polished and seamless experience by finding and addressing bugs, localization issues, and compatibility problems before release. Their target market includes game developers and publishers across all platforms and game genres worldwide.
Keywords Studios game testing services focus on the broader video games industry rather than specific gambling verticals. Their industry expertise centers on console, PC, and mobile games including indie and AAA productions.
Keywords Studios operates a B2B business model, partnering directly with game developers, publishers, and technology companies to provide outsourced game testing and related creative services.
Keywords Studios is unique due to its global scale with over 13,000 staff across 70+ studios worldwide, its combination of manual and automated testing technologies (including proprietary tools like BuildBot, TestBot, and ProofBot), and its end-to-end service platform covering multiple aspects of game development and localization.
Keywords Studios
Keywords Studios was founded in 1998.
Keywords Studios is registered primarily in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Keywords Studios has its headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with offices and studios across more than 25 countries and 4 continents, including Europe, North America, and Asia.
Keywords Studios has been on the market for approximately 27 years, since its founding in 1998.
Keywords Studios employs over 13,000 professionals globally, including development, QA, localization, audio, and art teams.
Their platforms and services support multiple interface languages to accommodate localization testing and client needs globally, including major languages in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Keywords Studios has comprehensive regional localization capabilities, supporting testing and quality assurance for multiple regions such as the US & Canada, UK, Europe, and Asia, with services covering linguistic, cultural, and regulatory requirements.
Keywords Studios' mission is to be the leading global partner for technical and creative video game services, enabling game developers to deliver outstanding player experiences worldwide.
Keywords Studios is a publicly traded company, listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: KWS).
Keywords Studios has received industry recognition for its service quality and innovation, including certifications related to ISO standards and video game industry quality compliance; specific award details are limited publicly.
Keywords Studios participates in relevant professional gaming industry associations, including video game developer conferences and quality assurance groups.
Major milestones include the 2013 London Stock Exchange IPO, expansion to 13,000 employees globally, launching proprietary automated testing tools (BuildBot, TestBot, ProofBot), and acquiring several studios to expand service offerings.
Keywords Studios completed its IPO in 2013 on the London Stock Exchange; recent investment involves acquisition by EQT AB in October 2024. No current IPO plans as it is publicly traded.
Keywords Studios offers partner programs aimed at integrating external development teams and technical service providers into their global service platform.
Specific responsible gambling initiatives are not publicly detailed, as their primary focus is on video game development and testing rather than gambling products.
Keywords Studios adheres to environmental management norms consistent with corporate governance, including efforts to minimize operational carbon footprint and waste in their global offices.
Keywords Studios provides ongoing training and certification for its employees, including detailed internal programs aimed at quality assurance best practices and use of proprietary testing technology.
The company's development strategy focuses on expanding automated testing capabilities, integrating AI and machine learning, enhancing localization QA, and extending its global service platform coverage to new clients and markets.
Keywords Studios plans continued expansion into emerging video game markets worldwide, strengthening presence in Asia, North America, and Europe.
Keywords Studios has dedicated R&D departments focused on innovation in automated testing technologies, AI-driven QA processes, and workflow optimizations tailored to modern game development pipelines.
The company incorporates trends such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation bots, cloud computing, and data telemetry in their game testing platforms.
Keywords Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm, invests in startups within gaming technology, supporting innovative projects aligned with their service offerings.
Keywords Studios holds a leading position as one of the largest global providers of game testing and technical services in the broader video game service industry, with a substantial share in functionality quality assurance.
Primary competitors include companies such as Lionsbridge, VMC (acquired by Keywords), and other global game testing and outsourcing service providers.
Their competitive advantages lie in their global scale, extensive staff expertise, proprietary automated tools, and broad service integration across all video game lifecycle stages.
Keywords Studios currently serves clients in North America, Europe, Asia, and other global regions through their multiple studios worldwide.
Their target customers are video game developers and publishers of all sizes, including AAA studios and indie developers, requiring quality assurance, localization, and related development outsourcing services.
Keywords Studios primarily provides outsourced services and platform solutions rather than offering white-label game products or testing solutions.
Pricing models typically involve B2B contracts based on project scope and service level agreements tailored to client needs, including time and materials or fixed-price service agreements.
Keywords Studios employs industry networking, participation in trade shows, digital marketing, and direct sales relationships with game developers and publishers.
The company operates a global service delivery network with regional studios and offices that coordinate client engagements and service execution.
Not applicable; Keywords Studios does not provide packaged games but offers testing and QA services across thousands of game titles during development.
Supports testing and QA for all game types, including console, PC, mobile, VR/AR, multiplayer, and live games.
Not applicable, as Keywords Studios mainly focuses on video game testing rather than live casino dealer services.
Keywords Studios provides testing services that include VR and AR games as part of their specialized QA offerings.
Support for tournament and competition management is not specifically provided within game testing services.
Not applicable to Keywords Studios’ core video game service offerings.
Multiplayer functionalities are supported through testing services covering network, synchronization, and gameplay for multiplayer games.
Player chat functionality is included in the testing scope where applicable for games with social interaction features.
This is specific to casino or table games; Keywords Studios supports functionality testing on diverse game genres but does not provide private table management.
Side bets are specific to gambling; Keywords Studios provides testing services for video games rather than gambling features.
Achievement and rewards systems are tested as part of functionality QA in relevant game titles.
Gamification features like levels, badges, and experience points are included in QA testing services.
Personalized interfaces are tested for usability, accessibility, and functional correctness.
Testing covers different game speeds and performance under variable conditions.
Auto-play functionalities of games are tested for compliance with design and performance standards.
Game history and replay data functionality are tested to ensure accuracy and integrity.
Replay features are verified for proper recording and playback, especially in multiplayer and esports titles.
Testing includes games supporting multiple in-game currencies, ensuring proper display and conversion.
Real-time currency conversion is tested when integrated within games or platforms.
Crypto gaming compatibility is verified where clients include blockchain-based or cryptocurrency-enabled games.
Testing services cover blockchain-integrated games where applicable, ensuring smart contract and ledger accuracy.
Keywords Studios’ products and services support various platforms, including PC, consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo), and mobile (iOS, Android).
Keywords Studios supports cloud-based hosting and testing platforms, leveraging cloud infrastructure for scalability.
Compatible with container technologies like Docker and Kubernetes to facilitate testing environments and deployments.
Supports integration testing with SQL and NoSQL databases as part of functionality testing.
Testing services include microservices-based architectures common in live games and online platforms.
Keywords Studios provides API integration testing as part of functionality and compatibility assurance.
RESTful API testing is supported as a standard part of modern game services validation.
GraphQL API support is included in testing services as applicable in client projects.
Supports data exchanges using JSON, XML, and other standard formats for interoperability.
Real-time update functionalities are included in testing scope, especially for live service games.
Common gaming communication protocols such as TCP/IP, UDP are tested for network reliability.
WebSocket protocols for real-time communication in games are tested when required.
Testing includes performance and functionality under various network bandwidth conditions.
Caching mechanisms are tested for speed and data consistency.
Content Delivery Network (CDN) interactions are tested for performance optimization.
Load balancing for multiplayer and online games is validated in testing cycles.
Auto-scaling capabilities are included in testing for cloud-based game services.
Integration testing for game monitoring systems and telemetry is supported.
Centralized logging functionality is included in backend testing services.
Keywords Studios tests integrated analytics systems to ensure accurate data collection.
A/B testing support is validated for games running different content versions.
Provides sandbox environment capabilities for testing builds and gameplay safely.
Supports API versioning best practices within testing services.
Offers proprietary tools such as BuildBot, TestBot, and ProofBot for automated and manual testing.
Supports testing SDKs in popular languages including C++, C#, Java, and others depending on client needs.
Strong focus on automated testing with AI-powered bots reducing repetitive manual testing.
Integrates with continuous integration and delivery tools to support rapid build and test cycles.
Supports blue-green deployment strategies via integration with client dev ops.
Facilitates rollback procedures during testing and release cycles.
Includes performance monitoring tools as part of test coverage.
Distributed tracing is supported to troubleshoot issues across microservices and game modules.
Offers profiling support to analyze game performance and resource usage.
Supports hot-swapping components during testing as required by clients.
Hardware requirements vary by project, supporting testing on consoles, PCs, mobile devices, and VR kits.
Supports multi-tenancy for platforms servicing multiple game titles or clients.
Test environments can simulate thousands of concurrent users depending on server infrastructure.
Supports horizontal scaling in cloud test environments to simulate large user loads.
Ensures testing under multiple latency scenarios to validate network performance.
Supports testing distributed across multiple global data centers for latency and load distribution.
Testing includes disaster recovery procedures to validate resilience.
Provably fair algorithms are typically outside the standard video game testing scope unless requested for gambling products.
Supports customized testing frameworks tailored to specific game requirements.
Does not offer white-label games, but provides white-label testing services to clients.
Testing of promotional tools and campaign integrations is included as part of game QA services.
Seasonal content updates are tested to ensure seamless integration.
Supports zero-downtime update procedures for live games during patches.
RTP settings are relevant to gambling games and not applicable here unless specialized client projects.
Slot game volatility testing is not a core focus unless requested for casino game clients.
Strong cross-platform testing support covering PC, console, and mobile devices.
Tests game performance and interface on a variety of screen sizes and resolutions.
Offline functionality testing is included where the game design supports it.
Provides testing support for major game engines including Unity and Unreal Engine.
Supports testing of HTML5 games and applications.
Tests third-party service integrations such as payment systems, social platforms, and SDKs.
Verifies integration with casino or game content management systems if relevant to client.
Testing of integrated payment gateways is supported when applicable.
Provides QA testing for CRM system integrations.
Tests marketing and analytics tool integrations within games.
Supports affiliate platform integration testing as part of client request.
Integrates with business intelligence systems and tests data flows.
Supports testing for compliance and regulatory reporting frameworks.
Tests various registration and authentication workflows used in games.
Includes two-factor authentication process testing as part of security validation.
KYC systems testing is more relevant to gambling or regulated verticals, generally out of scope for video game testing.
Not a standard feature in video game testing services.
Age verification features testing is included for games requiring compliance.
Testing geographic restriction and geolocation systems is supported.
Typically specific to gambling, this feature is not standard in video game testing services.
Not applicable to typical video game testing.
Not relevant outside of regulated gambling environments.
Supports testing of player behavior analytics tools in games.
Testing suspicious activity detection systems is done when required.
Supports QA testing of VIP and loyalty program modules integrated within games.
Not applicable as a direct service in testing platforms.
Tests player segmentation and targeted content delivery systems.
Tests loyalty systems with point accumulation mechanics.
Includes testing of personalized bonus mechanics where applicable.
Tests referral system functionality in client games.
Supports testing of affiliate program integrations and tracking.
Provides comprehensive integration testing with client CRM systems.
Testing support for integrated email marketing campaigns.
Includes verification of SMS notification systems.
Verifies push notification services integration.
Tests complaint and support ticket system workflows.
Tests live chat support integration within game platforms.
Supports testing of multi-tier support systems.
Robust multilingual support testing internationally.
Tests integration and accessibility of knowledge base systems.
Generally not included in standard game testing scope.
Tests user account blocking and suspension features.
Verifies temporary freeze or pause account functionality.
Includes testing of password recovery processes.
Supports functionality testing to ensure GDPR compliance within systems.
Ensures workflows for user data deletion requests are functioning.
Tests export functionalities for user data.
Testing includes integration of various payment systems for relevant clients.
Bank transfer workflow testing supported when applicable.
Supported for clients with cryptocurrency payment integration.
Tests e-wallet payment solutions within gaming platforms.
Covers testing mobile payment options.
Testing of prepaid card payment methods.
Supports testing of instant deposit functionalities.
Testing scheduled or recurring deposits.
Testing fast withdrawal processes.
Supports automated withdrawal system testing.
Tests limits on deposits and withdrawals.
Supports multi-currency testing to handle multiple currencies seamlessly.
Tests automatic currency conversion features.
Supports simultaneous fiat and cryptocurrency processing when integrated.
Testing support for decentralized finance protocols is emerging but limited.
Limited or no standard support, depends on client requirements.
Testing escrow functionalities for larger transactions when applicable.
Tests multi-signature authentication systems for cryptocurrencies.
Supports testing automated AML systems as relevant for clients.
Tests transaction monitoring and screening tools.
Verifies sanctions lists integration and compliance.
Tests suspicious activity reporting modules.
Testing of tax accounting and reporting software.
Automated report generation is supported.
Testing integration with tax systems and authorities.
Tests transaction fee accounting workflows.
Supports testing payment reconciliation processes.
Tests chargeback management systems.
Testing of fraud detection for payments integrated within games.
Testing 3D Secure authentication flows.
Limited support unless client requires.
Testing installment or deferred payment options.
Testing of buy-now-pay-later financial service integration.
Not typical within gaming testing services.
Supports automated refund system testing where applicable.
Keywords Studios holds certifications related to information security standards, including ISO 27001.
Keywords Studios is ISO 27001 compliant.
The company complies with PCI DSS standards where applicable for payment handling.
Fully supports GDPR compliance across data management and security.
Not standard; relevant only if specific gambling-related projects are engaged.
Not publicly noted as holding eCOGRA certification.
Not specifically noted for GLI testing services.
No public information on iTech Labs certification.
Regular security audits are performed in compliance with corporate governance.
Penetration testing is conducted as part of security assurance.
No publicly known bug bounty programs managed directly by Keywords Studios.
Data encryption at rest is implemented following industry standards.
Data encryption in transit is standard practice.
End-to-end encryption is supported in relevant communications and data flows.
Implements key management systems for encryption keys.
Hardware security module support is used where required.
Uses intrusion detection systems to monitor security threats.
DDoS protection measures are implemented for online services.
Firewall and web application firewall protections are standard.
Rate limiting to prevent abuse is in place.
24/7 security monitoring is part of operational protocols.
Security Information and Event Management integration is supported.
Automated alerting for security incidents is deployed.
Well-established incident response procedures exist.
Comprehensive backup and disaster recovery systems are in place.
Data and service geographic redundancy are utilized.
Service-level agreements define RTO and RPO guarantees.
Business continuity planning is integral to operational risk management.
Robust access control mechanisms govern system access.
Role-based access control is implemented organization-wide.
Full audit trails are maintained for all critical actions.
Built-in analytical tools support testing and operational insights.
Real-time analytics are leveraged within testing platforms.
Operator dashboards are available for client monitoring.
Supports generation of custom reports on testing and performance.
Automated report generation is supported.
Scheduled reporting tools are provided.
Data export is supported in multiple formats including CSV, JSON, and XML.
Supports data mining for bug and performance patterns.
Incorporates predictive analytics for quality assurance insights.
Machine learning analytics support is applied in automated testing tools.
Tests and integrates player behavior analytics features.
Supports cohort analysis for player segmentation and quality metrics.
Testing support for lifetime value calculation tools.
Supports churn prediction analytics for live games.
Testing includes revenue optimization tools integrated with game platforms.
Provides support via email, phone, and online ticketing systems.
Offers 24/7 technical support for critical clients.
Multi-level support organization to respond by priority.
Remote diagnostics assistance is available for clients.
Onsite support is provided depending on client contracts.
Uses ticketing systems for support and issue tracking.
Service level agreements include response and resolution guarantees.
Priority support available for enterprise and strategic clients.
