What is an SDK and How Are They Used In Games?

SDKs power the graphics, gameplay, and development of your favourite games. Whether you’re a game developer, software engineer or are just interested in technology or games, it’s a topic you should learn more about.

'SDK' stands for 'Software Development Kit '. It's an essential collection of software tools that developers use to create applications for certain software packages, hardware platforms, computer systems, video game consoles, operating systems, and much more. They can be available for free or open source all the way through to freemium or fully paid subscriptions depending on the type and commercial benefit of the tools.

A huge range of kits now exist and have also been embraced by tech and Web3 innovators, with uses such as building decentralised apps, IOT enabled apps, in machine learning, AI, cloud services, blockchain, security encryption and much more.

In the games industry, they help developers to test games, make coding more efficient and speedier and allow you to add new features in a flexible and scalable way, without needing to start from scratch.

The specific components of a Software Development Kit can vary greatly depending on the type of software that’s being developed. However, most SDKs typically include:?

• Libraries of coding components used to accomplish certain tasks within the program.
• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) that offer a unified set of software and features for writing and modifying code.
• Debugging tools to identify and fix issues within the code.
• Documentation and help manuals that guide developers on how to use the SDK correctly.

There are many SDKs that are tailored for a wide range of platforms and tasks in the games industry. Here is just a few:?

• General Classification: Individual platforms can have tailored SDKs. For example, mobile SDKs (including Apple and Android SDKs) help developers tailor games for different touch input and screen sizes, while console SDKs have hardware-specific features.

• Analytics SDKs: These are very simple SDKs that collect and collate valuable data inside your app. They provide pre-built code that helps track and analyse how users interact with apps. This can include data on user behaviour, app performance, and usage patterns. By using analytics SDKs, developers can gather insights to improve user experience, optimise performance, and make data-driven decisions for their applications.

• Monetisation SDKs: The treasure chests of the SDK world, these are the go-to for revenue through in-app purchases, ads, and more. They make sure the financial side of your game is as polished as the gameplay.

• Social Features: These SDKs help access community features in games, offering tools for sharing, competing, and belonging.

An example is the Kwalee SDK, available in the Hitseeker mobile publishing platform . This is a key part of our game testing process. It provides crucial early-stage game analytics, offering a clear view of your game’s performance and user engagement. Monitor your game's performance, including retention rates, daily active users (DAU), session times, and other critical metrics, enabling data-driven decisions to optimise game success. This early insight is vital for making informed decisions that shape the future development of your game.

What SDKs do you recommend and what have they helped you achieve? Share in the comments to help out a fellow gamemaker or software engineer!