How embedded QA delivers more than traditional outsourced testing 

There’s a version of outsourced QA that most studios know well: an external team receives tasks, runs tests, reports bugs, and waits for the next batch. It works. However, this traditional approach often separates the external team from the key discussions happening in internal team—forcing them to rely on indirect communication channels, and reducing their ability to offer you the most efficient, effective QA service possible. 

Embedded QA aims to solve all that by integrating external testers directly into the development process. Done well, it helps teams catch issues earlier, reduce communication overhead, and prevent costly feature clashes surfacing later in production. 

Here, we speak with three of our QA leaders—Nick Garneau (QA Division Director), Dawid Turbaczewski (QA Manager), and Hopres Czartoryska (QA Test Lead)—about how embedded QA works, why it delivers more, and what it takes to get there. 

What does embedded QA mean? 

“Embedding a QA team means becoming part of the client’s pods, infrastructure, and day-to-day workflows,” explains Nick.

“We’re in their meetings, chats, and systems—communicating directly instead of through intermediaries.” 

“There’s also a level of trust that comes with that,” he adds. “We’re expected to ask the right questions, find solutions independently, and operate on a higher level of ownership while still working closely with the internal team.” 

“It changes the role of the external team completely,” says Hopres. “You’re no longer just supporting execution—you’re involved in shaping priorities, processes, and decisions around quality.” 

“As an embedded team, we take ownership of quality,” adds Dawid. “That level of agency enables us to operate independently and work as part of the development team rather than alongside it.” 

Where embedded teams work better 

“One of the biggest impacts of embedding is that it reduces the workload on the internal QA team,” explains Hopres.

“They can focus on their own pods and assigned tasks, while we independently plan coverage for ours. And because it’s easier for us to scale, we can assign dedicated people across multiple pods rather than stretching a few people thin.” 

But the benefits go beyond workload distribution. Because embedded testers are consistently present on development calls, they can spot feature clashes before they reach a testable build. 

“For instance, one of our testers working with the combat team had recently been involved in distributing NPCs into different groups,” explains Hopres.

“Because they had visibility into both systems, they were able to identify a potential conflict during development discussions, before any code was implemented. In a traditional QA model, that issue likely wouldn’t have been discovered until features had already been integrated, making it significantly more expensive to resolve.” 

Direct access also means better answers. “Instead of a question going through a single point of contact, we ask in the shared channel and get multiple perspectives,” says Hopres. “That typically produces better results.”  

“Managing the information flow is a lead’s biggest challenge,” he adds. “We solved this via bullet-pointed daily diaries with one-sentence updates, sent directly to the test lead.” 

In short, the move to embedded QA helps teams catch issues earlier and reduces day-to-day pressure on internal teams. Reaching that stage, however, requires something less tangible and more felt: trust. 

How to build the trust to embed 

The shift from traditional outsourcing to embedded doesn’t happen overnight—it takes time. 

“On one project, it took about a year,” recalls Hopres. “The need appeared when our testers knew so much about the game and available tools that they kept wanting to perform tasks beyond our original testing scope. Our partner recognized this as a growth opportunity, and we worked together to increase our involvement in the project. It was a win for all concerned.” 

With that expanded mandate, the team mapped everyone’s strengths and specializations, then assigned people where needed. Internal QA supported them on every call initially, and regular QA syncs created space for honest discussion about how the process was working. 

“That relationship is still deepening,” says Hopres. “We’re gradually taking more ownership of the QA processes to better support the project as it evolves.” 

Once that trust is established, it’s then the client’s readiness that determines the pace.

“This includes bringing us into key calls, providing access to project tools, and helping us understand their internal systems,” explains Dawid.

“Fortunately, we have extensive experience supporting this kind of transition and ensuring it runs smoothly.” 

When embedded meets internal QA 

Once the partnership becomes embedded, effective communication with in-house QA becomes even more critical. 

“Internal QA has more information and is often an invaluable source of help,” says Hopres. “In turn, they tend to benefit hugely from our involvement because it allows them to focus on their highest-priority work rather than dividing their attention between their own responsibilities and coordinating external teams.” 

In practice, that means staying aligned and supporting each other where needed. “I never take tickets assigned to the internal team,” says Hopres. “But if I can see they’re very busy, I’ll message and ask if they need help. That works great.” 

“We also have regular QA syncs where both teams share how development is going,” he says. “The atmosphere is the best I’ve seen— we’ve never experienced any cross-team friction. That just shows how well everything is going.” 

Why people stay (and why that matters) 

“Games are bigger and more complicated than ever,” says Nick. “We know it can be frustrating when your outsource partner’s team constantly changes. New people ask the same questions, need the same training—it’s Groundhog Day. It can take time for newcomers to confidently prioritize, make judgment calls, and deliver real value. So the longer people are in their role, the more value they bring.”

And the embedded model doesn’t just encourage that longevity—it actively perpetuates it by encouraging individual growth.

“Instead of repetitive tasks, embedded testers end up doing distinct roles,” explains Nick.

“Some become consultants that devs specifically request on calls. Others focus on test strategy or documentation. Seniors become mentors for newcomers.

Everyone’s journey looks different, but the client feels huge benefits in terms of team efficiency and consistency, over an increasingly long period of time.”

“The more you know about a game, the stronger you can connect with it” adds Hopres. “This helps with keeping embedded testers motivated to deliver even more value. We see less burnout, better performance, and quicker growth in seniority for teams that got to deeply understand their games, all because of being beingembedded.”

Looking for a QA partner to work right alongside your team? 

Embedded QA isn’t about adding headcount. It’s about adding ownership, context, and self-sufficiency that grows with you as your project evolves. 

If you want a QA team that integrates into your workflows, earns your trust, and keeps delivering more value the longer they’re with you, let’s talk.