What is game porting?

Adapting a game to run on a new platform: reworking controls and interface, meeting performance targets on new hardware, adding platform features such as achievements and saves, and meeting the platform's rules or certification.

How long does it take to port a game?

It depends on the engine, the code quality and the target. Ports between platforms that share an engine and input type are faster; console ports take longer because of programme access, platform features and certification.

How do you get a game onto consoles?

Apply to each platform holder's developer programme, such as the Nintendo Developer Portal, PlayStation Partners or ID@Xbox, get access to development kits, port and optimise the game, and pass the platform's certification.

Can a mobile game be ported to PC?

Yes, often successfully, but it usually needs new controls, interface, resolution support and sometimes changes to pacing and monetisation for PC players.

Should I hire a studio to port my game?

Many developers do, so their core team can keep working on updates. Choose a partner that starts with an assessment, gives a clear plan and returns maintainable code.

Game Porting: Taking a Game to New Platforms

The short answer

Porting a game means adapting it to a new platform: reworking controls and interface, hitting performance targets on new hardware, integrating platform features such as achievements and saves, and passing the platform's rules or certification. Mobile-to-PC and PC-to-Steam-Deck ports are the most common; console ports also require joining each platform holder's developer programme and passing their certification. The effort depends mainly on the engine and how platform-specific the original code is.

What changes when you port

Area	What typically changes
Input	Touch to mouse and keyboard or controller, with remappable controls and correct button prompts
Interface	Layout, text size for TV distance, menus navigable with a controller
Performance	New memory, CPU and GPU budgets; frame-rate targets; loading times
Saves	Platform save systems and cloud saves
Platform features	Achievements or trophies, friends, invites, rich presence
Online	Platform accounts and networking services, cross-play rules
Business model	Free-to-play mobile designs may need rebalancing for premium PC or console
Store and ratings	Store pages, age ratings and platform content rules

Common porting routes

Mobile to PC and Steam

The most frequent request. Beyond controls and resolution, many mobile games need pacing and monetisation changes for PC players. Our dedicated guide to porting a mobile game to PC and Steam covers it in detail.

PC to Steam Deck

Steam Deck runs most PC games, but a good experience needs controller support, readable text at its screen size and sensible performance settings. Valve's compatibility programme rates games, and our Steam Deck Verified guide explains the criteria.

To consoles

Each platform holder runs its own programme for developers: the Nintendo Developer Portal, PlayStation Partners, and ID@Xbox for independent developers on Xbox. Joining usually involves an application and agreement, after which you get access to development kits, documentation and tools under NDA. Before release, the game must pass the platform's certification against its technical requirements. Check that your engine version and licence support the target console.

The porting process

Assessment: review the codebase, engine version, plugins and assets for anything platform-specific.
Technical port: get the game building and running on the target.
Input and UI: rework controls and interface for the new device.
Platform features: achievements, saves, accounts and online services.
Optimisation: profile on target hardware and hit frame-rate and memory targets.
Certification or review: fix issues until the platform approves the build.
Release: store assets, ratings, pricing and launch plan.

What makes a port easy or hard

Easier	Harder
Built in a cross-platform engine such as Unity or Unreal	Custom engine or engine-specific hacks
Input handled through an abstraction layer	Touch logic mixed into gameplay code
UI built to scale	Fixed layouts for one screen shape
Few native plugins	Many platform-specific SDKs
Current engine version	Old engine version needing an upgrade first

An engine upgrade is sometimes required before a port. For Unity projects, our Unity 6 upgrade guide covers what that involves.

Business questions before porting

Does the game's audience exist on the new platform?
Does the business model fit, for example free-to-play on console versus premium on PC?
Will you support cross-progression or cross-play, and what do the platforms allow?
Who will handle post-launch patches on each platform?

Controls and interface in detail

Controls are where ports most often feel cheap. A good port shows the right button prompts for the device in use, switches prompts instantly when the player changes from keyboard to controller, supports remapping, and never requires a mouse in a game played from the sofa. Menus need a clear focus highlight for controller navigation, and every screen must be reachable without touch.

Interfaces designed for phones often have small text and dense layouts. On a TV, text must be readable from several metres away; on Steam Deck, from a small screen held in the hands. Most ports scale UI by device and offer a text size option. Safe areas matter too: some TVs crop the edges of the picture, and phones have notches.

Performance targets by platform

Platform	Typical target	Common bottleneck
Mid-range phone	Steady 30 or 60 frames per second, low heat	GPU fill rate, thermal throttling
PC	Scalable settings from low to high	Wide hardware range
Steam Deck	Steady 30 or higher with battery in mind	GPU and battery
Consoles	Fixed targets set with the platform requirements in mind	Memory and loading times

Working with a porting partner

Original developers often hand ports to co-development studios so their core team can keep working on the next update. A good partner starts with an assessment and a fixed plan, keeps the original team informed, and returns code in a state the original team can maintain. Our articles on co-development and cross-platform development go further.

Porting with us

We port Unity games between mobile, PC, Steam and Steam Deck, and plan cross-platform builds from day one. See co-development or PC game development.

Sources: Nintendo Developer Portal · PlayStation Partners · ID@Xbox · Steamworks: Steam Deck · Unity: platform-specific information. Checked October 20, 2026.

Game porting: taking a game to new platforms