In General XR News
August 22, 2023 – GameDriver® Inc., a provider of an automated testing solution for gaming and extended reality (XR) experiences, has announced that it is now a middleware tools provider available for the Nintendo Switch system. The announcement means that developers for Nintendo Switch can now easily access GameDriver’s automated testing solutions to optimize their game development and quality assurance processes.
GameDriver’s platform offers a complete test automation solution for game engines, as well as for developers working on XR experiences, such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR). The company’s patented SDK, which supports Unity, Unreal Engine, and Godot, helps XR developers to reduce dependency on manual testing for during the development of their AR or VR experiences. Although the Ninendo Switch is not an XR platform, the middleware partnership highlights that GameDriver’s solution is becoming a test automation tool that is trusted by some of the world’s largest technology companies.
Now, as an official Nintendo middleware tools provider, GameDriver provides authorized Nintendo Switch developers using Unity with immediate access to a comprehensive suite of automated testing features, empowering them to create higher quality games faster, more efficiently, and ultimately with reduced QA costs, according to the company.
“We are honored to be included as a middleware partner by Nintendo,” said Robert Gutierrez, GameDriver Co-Founder and CEO. “Nintendo has always been associated with producing only the highest quality entertainment and at GameDriver our goal has always been to enable developers and studios to achieve the level of QA quality that Nintendo is known for. Being added to Nintendo’s list of available middleware partners highlights the strength of the GameDriver platform and backs up Nintendo’s commitment to high-quality games.”
As a result of the Nintendo middleware partnership, GameDriver’s on-device testing capabilities enable developers to test directly on Nintendo Switch development kits, providing an accurate assessment of game functionality and user experience. Developers are able to simulate inputs, improve test coverage for both 2D and 3D environments, and utilize industry-leading object identification for streamlined debugging efforts. By significantly reducing the need for manual testing or relying on the editor-based testing tools provided in the Unity and Unreal Engine toolkits, GameDriver provides studios with substantial ROI, whilst simultaneously freeing up developers and enabling them to find more high-quality bugs.
With the emergence of modern game user retention and monetization methods including live-service games and the continuous rollout of new content, the need for efficient workflow and rigorous testing is paramount. GameDriver unlocks never-before-seen testing efficiency and repeatability by alleviating manual regression testing and freeing up developers to focus on testing new content.
“With our tools now available on the Nintendo Developer Portal, game studios can now implement test automation into the Nintendo Switch development process, which will enhance the overall quality and efficiency of game development,” commented Shane Evans, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at GameDriver.
GameDriver stated that today’s announcement makes it one of the most comprehensive, accessible, and flexible testing tools available for the Nintendo Switch system. The company added that it will extend its Nintendo Switch on-device testing capabilities to Unreal Engine and Godot in the near future, enhancing QA and testing solutions for Nintendo Switch developers working on these game platforms. GameDriver for Nintendo Switch is available now through the Nintendo Developer Portal.
For more information on GameDriver and its automated testing solution for gaming and XR experiences, please visit the company’s website. Interested developers and QA professionals can also sign up for a free trial of GameDriver here.
Image credit: GameDriver
About the author
Sam Sprigg
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.
