How would you feel about personally testing every new feature in World of Warcraft, Forza Horizon, or The Simulators Online to ensure it works as intended? How long will it take to confirm that the updates don’t compete with each other?  It would take a very long time. This is why automation in video game testing is so important right now.

In the IT Management Software market, test automation has a strong basis and has drawn inspiration from a variety of industries, including Lean Manufacturing, over the last few decades. Despite the fact that the game business is not yet mature enough in terms of test automation, dev teams all over the world are adopting it. However, there is a distinct issue with video games, no two games are identical. Video game engines allow us to build environments, interfaces, and controllers with unrivaled innovation, making automation incredibly tough. 

In this post, we’ll go over the fundamentals of test automation, as well as its possible benefits, factors to consider ahead of time, and game varieties that are well-suited to automation.

1. Test Automation

Software testing and test automation are not the same things. Manual testing entails creating comprehensive test cases capable of detecting as many defects as possible in all aspects of the product, as well as manually performing the tests. Test automation, on the other hand, enables the automated execution of tests (for example, for repeated operations), lowering costs and accelerating up the entire process. 

Isn’t it precisely what game developers require in current days? To begin with, many game development organizations are implementing CI/CD techniques, which allow them to test and deliver their products more quickly. Second, because current video games have such a long history, some have been in development since the early 2000s. There is an ever-increasing number of fixes and additions to test and distribute. Above all, gamers put money and time into games. They are counting on things to work.

2. Potential Benefits and Misconceptions About Test Automation for Games

What are the benefits of test automation in the gaming industry? Simply said, it reduced production costs and a shorter time to market. This goal can be met by running more tests in less time (on various hardware configurations, operating systems, and program versions), reusing them, and optimizing overall resource usage. Unfortunately, nothing occurs in a brief moment. Because “Automagic” might create unreasonable expectations, it’s critical to configure them correctly based on the facts of test automation. Not every test, for example, should be automated; most of what is performed manually will not be suited for automation.

2.1. Potential Benefits of Automation Testing for Games

• More consistency in the game.
• Increased tester and machine efficiency, as a result of resource utilization.
• More tests in a shorter amount of time
• Reusability of test scripts.
• There is no requirement for a wider variety of testers for stress and load testing.

2.2. Misconceptions about the Game Test Automation

• All manual tests will be automated, and they should be.
• The tools will be bought off the store.
• There is no requirement for an acceleration period.
• The financial advantages are substantial.
• Human bug tracking is no longer required due to automated bug reporting.

3. Things to Taken into Consideration Before Automation Testing

For a successful and efficient game test automation, five key factors must be considered: cost of production, test automation network, reusability, human aspect, and automation scope.

They are described in brief as below:

3.1.   Production Cost

Recruiting new engineers to design scripts and other test products requires a large upfront expenditure, even if it will pay off in the long run. Moreover, automated test scripts, like any code, may contain defects of their own.

3.2. Reusability

One of the key benefits of test automation programs is their reusability, but there’s something about the gaming business that needs it somewhat more challenging. Unlike other applications, each game is created on a new code. As a result, game test automation necessitates a unique technique. For example, to maximize test reusability, provide functions that remove game code elements from automated testing.

3.3. Test Automation Network

The production costs included a strong network for automated testing to be built on. However, this issue requires special attention. It is a requirement for being able to adapt test code to modifications in a game’s build, functionality, features set, and so on. To be connected with game production, the system must be completely robust.

3.4. The Human Aspect

The necessity for human testers is not eliminated by test automation. Some tests, ultimately, cannot be automated (like ad hoc or playtesting. for example). It will, however, allow significantly more room for manual analyses of usability, stability, as well as other issues.

3.5. Automation Size

The more parts of testing the dev company want to automate, the more variables they’ll need to consider. First and foremost, it necessitates a fundamental change in the company’s operations. Second, it is a long-term investment with no immediate returns. Eventually, automation is more than just buying a miraculous tool and putting it into the equation.

As a result, it’s critical to delegate this responsibility to competent test automation engineers who won’t compromise the project’s success. A trustworthy independent software testing service company will assemble an on-demand team of experienced individuals capable of effectively handling the automation procedure.

4. Which Games Should Be Automated

The majority of the games would gain from some level of automation, but a few of them allow extensively and on complete scale automation.

4.1. Games with a Large Number of Players

For automating aspects with a lot of repeated activities or that need to be synchronized among a lot of servers and clients at the same time, and for simulating server load.

4.2. Initial-Person Shooters

For simulating a player that shoots in a specific pattern frequently, randomly testing ways through a stage to discover clippings, sticky places, or hidden walls, and retesting the game’s GUI with each new development.

4.3. Quiz and Puzzle Games

With the purpose of determining what might happen if the gamer made moves that the game developer did not anticipate.

4.4. Mobile Games

For testing game screen displays, press movements, and menu selections in an automated manner.

5. Conclusion

The gaming business can benefit from test automation in a variety of ways, including enhanced efficiency, coverage, and cost savings, as well as improved game quality. Despite the fact that it is normal practice these days to begin automated testing later in the development cycle, game creators should begin as soon as feasible and test throughout the process. 

At TestDel, our goal is to create a reusable framework that can be used in any game, on any platform. Our test engineer build automate tests which can be  repeated every time you release a new version or update, We prepare regression pack focusing on the sections of the game that require the most attention, such as new features or modes of play. We provide testing services on demand, work on projects of any size, and can get started with just a few days’ notice. We give you entire control in a systematic, repeatable manner by automating from within the game. Entrust test automation to TestDel’s QA experts.