First-party refers to an entity directly involved in a transaction, agreement, or system—contrasted with third parties or external actors. It is commonly used in two core contexts:
First-party developer
A
first-party developer
A video game developer is a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large business with em ...
is a software or video game development studio that is owned by, or works directly for, the platform holder. Examples include
Nintendo EPD
abbreviated Nintendo EPD, is the largest division within the Japanese video game company Nintendo. The division focuses on developing and producing video games, mobile apps, and other related entertainment software for the company. Nintendo EPD ...
(for Nintendo consoles),
Santa Monica Studio
Santa Monica Studio is an American video game developer of Sony Interactive Entertainment based in Los Angeles. It is best known for developing the ''God of War'' series. The studio was founded in 1999 by Allan Becker and was located in Santa ...
(for PlayStation), and
343 Industries
Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) is an American video game developer based in Redmond, Washington, part of Xbox Game Studios. Headed by Pierre Hintze, the studio is responsible for the Halo (franchise), ''Halo'' science fiction franchise, ...
(for Xbox).
These studios often benefit from close integration with platform hardware, early access to development tools, and financial or marketing support from the platform owner.
[Graft, Kris (2013). "First-party vs. third-party developers: What's the difference?" ''Gamasutra''. Retrieved June 8, 2025.]
First-party audit
A
first-party audit is an internal evaluation conducted by an organization on itself, or on its internal systems and suppliers. This type of audit is typically performed to ensure compliance with internal procedures and quality standards.
[ISO (2023). "The ISO 9000 family: Quality management systems." ''International Organization for Standardization''. Retrieved June 8, 2025.]
First-party audits are distinct from:
* Second-party audits: Conducted by a customer on a supplier
* Third-party audits: Conducted by independent organizations for certifications such as
ISO 9001
The ISO 9000 family is a set of international standards for quality management systems. It was developed in March 1987 by International Organization for Standardization. The goal of these standards is to help organizations ensure that they meet ...
Related terms
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Third-party
Third party may refer to:
Business
* Third-party source, a supplier company not owned by the buyer or seller
* Third-party beneficiary, a person who could sue on a contract, despite not being an active party
* Third-party insurance, such as a veh ...
*
Second-party
*
Third-party developer
A video game developer is a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large business with em ...
*
First-party cookie
Importance
The term helps clarify roles in both software development and compliance auditing:
{, class="wikitable"
! Context !! Role of First-Party
, -
, Game development , , Platform-exclusive titles; better integration and control.
, -
, Auditing , , Internal compliance and system validation.
See also
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Quality management system
A quality management system (QMS) is a collection of business processes focused on consistently meeting customer requirements and enhancing their satisfaction. It is aligned with an organization's purpose and strategic direction ( ISO 9001:2015). ...
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Software developer
Software development is the process of designing and Implementation, implementing a software solution to Computer user satisfaction, satisfy a User (computing), user. The process is more encompassing than Computer programming, programming, wri ...
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Audit
An audit is an "independent examination of financial information of any entity, whether profit oriented or not, irrespective of its size or legal form when such an examination is conducted with a view to express an opinion thereon." Auditing al ...
References