A major videogame developer needed to migrate 47 business-critical VMs to Azure before a fast-approaching deadline. Facing this complex challenge, they partnered with Transparity to design the migration through infrastructure-as-code, deploy a secure Azure Landing Zone, and upskill their internal team. The result? A flawless migration ahead of schedule and a tech team ready to rule their new cloud environment.
In the gaming world, lag is the enemy. To keep essential business workloads running so the team could continue creating immersive online worlds, our client, a major videogame developer, needed infrastructure that could keep up. But they were sitting on physical hardware in a data centre that didn't fit their parent company's strategic vision for value and growth. They needed agility. They needed scale. They needed to move to the cloud.
The mission was clear but daunting for the in-house team; migrate 47 critical virtual machines (VMs) to Microsoft Azure and exit the data centre before their renewal deadline. No extensions. No excuses.
But this wasn't just about shifting servers. The client wanted to avoid a "black box" scenario where a partner does the magic and leaves the internal team in the dark. They possessed a talented team of engineers who knew their applications inside out, but they lacked deep Azure expertise.
They needed a partner who could do two things at once: design a thoroughly modern infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and teach them how to drive it. They needed confidence, capability, and a clean exit. All before the clock ran out.
We didn't just throw a quote for a basic migration over the fence. We embedded ourselves as an extension of their team. Using the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework (CAF) as our map, we kicked off with collaborative workshops to define exactly what ‘good’ looked like for their business.
Our approach focused on three key levels:
We designed and deployed a best-practice Azure Landing Zone using Terraform. This meant their new infrastructure wasn't just clicked together; it was defined as code. It was secure, governed, and repeatable from day one.
Upskilling was the heartbeat of this project. We didn't want to just do the work for them; we wanted to empower them. We ran skill assessments and delivered ‘over the shoulder’ training. Our consultants worked alongside their engineers, guiding them through the first wave of application migrations so they could learn by doing.
With the team upskilled and the platform ready, we supported the migration of the 47 VMs. We ensured that patching, backup, and disaster recovery routines were locked in immediately post-migration, instantly unlocking cost savings and operational efficiencies.
We beat the clock. The migration was completed well ahead of the deadline, completely de-risking the data centre exit. But the real win wasn't just the speed, it was the legacy left behind. The client’s team isn't reliant on us for day-to-day operations. They are confident, capable, and running their own show.
Mission accomplished early: Successfully migrated 47 VMs and exited the data centre ahead of the critical deadline.
Skills unlocked: Transformed the internal team from Azure novices to confident cloud operators through hands-on upskilling.
Modern foundations: Delivered a secure Azure Landing Zone built with Infrastructure as Code, replacing legacy hardware with future-proof tech.
By combining deep technical expertise with a genuine desire to empower the client, we turned a stressful data centre exit into a strategic upgrade. Now, they’ve got a scalable, secure platform in Azure and the in-house skills to leverage it for the next generation of gaming experiences.
A leading videogame developer creating magical worlds and some of the nation’s most beloved games.
