Hiring Indian Freelancers: Why Mobile Gaming Companies in Singapore Are Turning to EOR Services
Hiring Indian freelancers has become a practical hiring strategy for mobile gaming companies in Singapore. With ongoing projects that require agility, budget control, and technical expertise, India’s large freelance talent pool is proving useful. The mobile gaming industry is fast-paced, competitive, and talent-hungry. For companies in Singapore, accessing top-tier developers, animators, designers, and testers quickly is critical to meet project demands. India has emerged as a leading source of skilled, cost-effective freelance talent for this purpose.
But engaging Indian freelancers legally and efficiently from overseas brings challenges. From labor laws to tax compliance, missteps can lead to penalties or disruptions. That’s why Singapore-based mobile gaming studios are increasingly turning to Employer of Record (EOR) services to manage freelance hiring in India.
Why Indian Freelancers Are in Demand for Mobile Gaming
The global gaming market is expected to reach $270 billion by 2025, and mobile games are at the center of this growth. Singapore, with its established tech and gaming ecosystem, is a hotspot for studios looking to expand. To meet tight development cycles and keep pace with innovation, companies are Hiring Indian freelancers to tap into India’s freelance talent pool of over 5 million professionals.
Indian freelancers offer:
- Strong technical expertise in platforms like Unity, Unreal, and Cocos
- Familiarity with global development standards
- Affordable hourly rates
- High English proficiency and cultural alignment
While the talent pool is strong, managing hiring, payments, and legal compliance across borders is not straightforward.
The Legal Challenges of Hiring Indian Freelancers
Hiring independent professionals in India involves more than signing a contract and transferring payments. Key issues include:
Worker Classification Risks: Long-term or full-time-like arrangements may lead to reclassification as employees under Indian law.
Tax Deduction at Source (TDS): Payments to Indian residents are subject to withholding taxes, and non-compliance can incur penalties.
Social Security Obligations: Engagements that mimic employment may trigger requirements under schemes like Provident Fund (PF) or Employee State Insurance (ESI).
Contract Jurisdiction and Enforcement: Without a legal entity in India, enforcing contracts or resolving disputes can be difficult.
What is an Employer of Record (EOR)?
An EOR is a third-party service provider that legally employs workers on behalf of another company. In this model:
- The EOR signs a contract with the freelancer or contractor
- The gaming company in Singapore manages the work
- The EOR handles onboarding, payroll, taxes, and compliance under Indian law
This model helps companies hire talent fast, without setting up a local entity or worrying about compliance risk.
How EOR Services Help Singapore Gaming Studios
1. Fast and Compliant Onboarding
EORs already have local registrations and operational infrastructure in India, enabling onboarding of freelancers within days.
2. Payroll and Tax Compliance
They manage salary payments, apply correct tax deductions, and issue payslips or invoices that meet Indian regulatory standards.
3. Legal Contracts with Jurisdiction
EORs issue enforceable Indian contracts that cover IP rights, confidentiality, and arbitration clauses.
4. Social Security and Insurance
Where applicable, EORs provide statutory benefits, reducing the risk of labor law violations.
5. Scalable Hiring for Project Work
Game development is project-based. EORs allow studios to scale teams up or down easily by Hiring Indian freelancers— with no long-term employment liabilities.
Key Roles Gaming Companies Are Hiring Through EORs
| Role | Tools/Skills | Why India? |
| Mobile Game Developers | Unity, C#, Unreal, Firebase | Project-ready and highly experienced |
| Game Designers | Blender, Maya, Figma, Sketch | Creative, skilled, cost-effective |
| QA Testers | Appium, Jira, Manual/Automated Testing | High availability, flexible engagement |
| Backend Developers | Node.js, AWS, MongoDB | Scalable architecture, remote-ready teams |
| 2D/3D Animators | Spine, After Effects, Adobe Suite | Large talent pool, fast delivery |
Are EOR Services Cost-Effective?
EORs charge either a flat monthly fee per freelancer or a percentage of payroll. While this adds to direct cost, it avoids:
- Time-consuming legal setup
- Delays in onboarding
- Penalties from non-compliance
For gaming studios working under tight deadlines, the speed, legal protection, and operational ease justify the cost.
Case Example
A mid-sized gaming studio in Singapore planned to launch a cross-platform mobile game within five months. They needed:
- 2 Unity developers
- 1 UI designer
- 1 QA engineer
Using an EOR in India, the team was onboarded within 10 days. Contracts included IP protection and arbitration clauses. Payroll and social security compliance were handled by the EOR. The company avoided setting up a legal entity and consolidated all payments through the EOR.
EOR a Smart Strategy for Hiring Indian freelancers
Hiring Indian freelancers makes sense for mobile gaming companies looking to move fast and keep costs in check. But it’s not enough to find the right talent — hiring must be done legally, especially when working across borders.
An Employer of Record provides the structure, legal cover, and operational ease required to hire Indian freelancers without friction. For Singapore studios, this means faster project delivery, reduced risk, and the ability to focus on what they do best — building great games.