Keywords Studios · New Delhi · Bangalore · Singapore
Akshat
Tripathi.
QA Manager — India & Singapore
With 18 years in the gaming industry, I lead Quality Assurance and studio operations at Keywords Studios, driving delivery excellence across India and Singapore — covering delivery, client governance, P&L, hiring and L&D.
Years in games QA
Shipped game credits
Bangalore studio headcount, built from zero
Revenue generated every year
Profile
About me
I own the end-to-end Games QA service line, partnering with global publishers and developers to deliver high-quality outcomes through robust QA frameworks, scalable processes, and strong execution discipline.
Beyond delivery, I manage studio operations with full responsibility for P&L, budgeting, and financial performance. I drive strategic workforce planning, recruitment, and capability development, building high-performing teams equipped to meet evolving industry demands.
My focus is on operational efficiency, quality excellence, and predictable delivery at scale. I am passionate about developing leaders, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and enabling teams to create exceptional gaming experiences.
My passion lies in delivering top-quality games to millions of players worldwide, by leading and nurturing a talented team of QA professionals across two studios in India and one in Singapore. My expertise spans computer science, software testing, and project management, and I hold Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) credentials.
Impact
What I've built
- Built the Bangalore studio from the ground up to a 125-member team.
- Tripled the size of the Keywords India QA function after moving into leadership.
- Introduced Certification QA, Automation QA and Accessibility QA as new India services.
- Stood up a prompt-engineering team and hired 200 people for a project in 4 months.
- Held gross margin above 70% and EBITDA at 50% across the India studio.
- Established 24×5 QA infrastructure, expanding client engagement capacity.
Career
Experience
Jul 2021 — Present
QA Manager, India & Singapore
Keywords Studios
- — Lead Functionality, Certification, Accessibility and Compatibility testing plus Adapt AI operations across India and Singapore.
- — Directly responsible for Production, L&D, Recruitment and Resource Management teams.
- — Own P&L for both locations; sustained >70% gross margin and 50% EBITDA.
- — Partnered with the China studio to transition Singapore work under the Right Shore initiative.
- — Secured 10 pilot projects in 2 years, converting them into $2.5M of revenue.
- — Drive standardisation of QA practices, metrics and reporting frameworks.
Apr 2016 — Jun 2021
QA Project Manager
Keywords Studios, Gurgaon
- — Managed end-to-end QA delivery for multiple client projects, ensuring high standards of quality, timely execution and stakeholder satisfaction.
- — Oversaw planning, execution and delivery of QA activities across diverse projects with cross-functional teams.
- — Acted as the primary liaison between clients and QA teams, translating business goals into actionable test strategies.
- — Managed resource allocation, risk mitigation and project timelines to ensure successful outcomes.
- — Implemented QA best practices and process improvements to enhance test coverage, efficiency and defect prevention.
- — Contributed to client retention and account growth through consistent delivery quality and collaborative engagement.
Jan 2013 — Mar 2015
QA Test Lead
Keywords Studios
- — Led QA teams in delivering high-quality testing services across multiple projects, with a strong focus on execution excellence and team coordination.
- — Planned and managed test cycles, defect tracking and quality reporting across Xbox, PlayStation, web, mobile and PC platforms.
- — Mentored testers and ensured adherence to test strategies, processes and documentation standards.
- — Collaborated closely with development and product teams to drive issue resolution and test coverage.
- — Ensured timely, quality releases by maintaining a sharp focus on test execution and defect management.
May 2011 — Dec 2012
Senior Tester
Keywords Studios
- — Functionality testing on major console and PC releases.
Apr 2009 — Apr 2011
Senior Tester
iEnergizer
- — Senior test responsibilities across outsourced game projects.
Jun 2008 — Mar 2009
QA Tester
iEnergizer
- — Started in games QA, executing test passes and defect reporting.
Shipped
Recent game credits
2026
Directive 8020
FQA Manager
2026
Code Vein II
QA Manager
2025
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree
QA Manager
2025
Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots
QA Manager
2025
Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game
Quality Assurance Manager
2025
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
QA Manager
Service lines
QA disciplines I lead
Functionality QA
Full-cycle test planning, execution and defect management across console, PC and mobile titles.
Certification QA
First-party submission readiness for Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo, reducing failed submissions.
Automation QA
Introduced automation as a new India service line, improving regression coverage and cycle speed.
Accessibility QA
Accessibility audits and compliance testing to widen player reach.
Compatibility QA
Device and hardware matrix coverage for broad platform stability.
Adapt AI Operations
Prompt engineering and AI-assisted operations teams supporting next-gen client programmes.
Strengths
Core competencies
Skills
Top skills
Study
Education
Bachelor of Technology
Computer Science & Engineering
Languages
Languages
- — English — Professional
- — Hindi — Native
Credentials
Certifications
Formal credentials backing the agile delivery and testing standards I run across studios.
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Scrum Alliance
Agile delivery, sprint facilitation and team coaching across QA squads.
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)
Scrum Alliance
Backlog ownership, prioritisation and stakeholder alignment on test scope.
ISTQB Certified
ISTQB
Foundational software testing standards, techniques and defect management.
Contact
Let's talk about your QA org
Open to QA leadership, studio operations and delivery roles across games and interactive entertainment.