Phase Gate Validation
This skill validates whether the project is ready to advance to the next development phase. It checks for required artifacts, quality standards, and blockers.
Distinct from /project-stage-detect: That skill is diagnostic ("where are we?").
This skill is prescriptive ("are we ready to advance?" with a formal verdict).
1. Parse Arguments
- •With argument:
/gate-check production— validate readiness for that specific phase - •No argument: Auto-detect current stage using the same heuristics as
/project-stage-detect, then validate the NEXT phase transition
2. Phase Gate Definitions
Gate: Concept → Pre-production
Required Artifacts:
- •
design/gdd/game-concept.mdexists and has content - • Game pillars defined (in concept doc or
design/gdd/game-pillars.md) - • Engine chosen (CLAUDE.md Technology Stack is not
[CHOOSE]) - • Technical preferences configured (
.claude/docs/technical-preferences.mdpopulated)
Quality Checks:
- • Game concept has been reviewed (
/design-reviewverdict not MAJOR REVISION NEEDED) - • Core loop is described and understood
- • Target audience is identified
Gate: Pre-production → Production
Required Artifacts:
- • At least 1 GDD in
design/gdd/(beyond game-concept.md) - • At least 1 Architecture Decision Record in
docs/architecture/ - • At least 1 prototype in
prototypes/with a README - • Engine reference docs exist in
docs/engine-reference/ - • First sprint plan exists in
production/sprints/
Quality Checks:
- • GDD(s) pass design review (8 required sections present)
- • Prototype validates the core loop hypothesis
- • Architecture decisions cover core systems (rendering, input, state management)
- • Technical preferences have naming conventions and performance budgets set
Gate: Production → Alpha
Required Artifacts:
- •
src/has active code organized into subsystems - • All core mechanics from GDD are implemented (cross-reference
design/gdd/withsrc/) - • Main gameplay path is playable end-to-end
- • Test files exist in
tests/ - • At least 1 playtest report (or
/playtest-reporthas been run)
Quality Checks:
- • Tests are passing (run test suite via Bash)
- • No critical/blocker bugs in any bug tracker or known issues
- • Core loop plays as designed (compare to GDD acceptance criteria)
- • Performance is within budget (check technical-preferences.md targets)
Gate: Alpha → Beta
Required Artifacts:
- • All features from milestone plan are implemented
- • Content is complete (all levels, assets, dialogue referenced in design docs exist)
- • Localization strings are externalized (no hardcoded player-facing text in
src/) - • QA test plan exists
- • Balance data has been reviewed (
/balance-checkrun)
Quality Checks:
- • All tests passing
- • Performance targets met (frame rate, memory, load times)
- • No critical or high-severity bugs
- • Accessibility basics covered (remapping, text scaling if applicable)
- • Save/load system works reliably
Gate: Beta → Release
Required Artifacts:
- • Release checklist completed (
/release-checklistor/launch-checklistrun) - • Store metadata prepared (if applicable)
- • Changelog / patch notes drafted
- • Post-launch support plan exists
Quality Checks:
- • Full QA pass signed off by
qa-lead - • Performance targets met across all target platforms
- • No known critical, high, or medium-severity bugs
- • Localization verified for all target languages
- • Legal requirements met (EULA, privacy policy, age ratings if applicable)
- • Build compiles and packages cleanly
3. Run the Gate Check
For each item in the target gate:
Artifact Checks
- •Use
GlobandReadto verify files exist and have meaningful content - •Don't just check existence — verify the file has real content (not just a template header)
- •For code checks, verify directory structure and file counts
Quality Checks
- •For test checks: Run the test suite via
Bashif a test runner is configured - •For design review checks:
Readthe GDD and check for the 8 required sections - •For performance checks:
Readtechnical-preferences.md and compare against any profiling data intests/performance/or recent/perf-profileoutput - •For localization checks:
Grepfor hardcoded strings insrc/
Cross-Reference Checks
- •Compare
design/gdd/documents againstsrc/implementations - •Check that every system referenced in architecture docs has corresponding code
- •Verify sprint plans reference real work items
4. Collaborative Assessment
For items that can't be automatically verified, ask the user:
- •"I can't automatically verify that the core loop plays well. Has it been playtested?"
- •"No playtest report found. Has informal testing been done?"
- •"Performance profiling data isn't available. Would you like to run
/perf-profile?"
Never assume PASS for unverifiable items. Mark them as MANUAL CHECK NEEDED.
5. Output the Verdict
## Gate Check: [Current Phase] → [Target Phase] **Date**: [date] **Checked by**: gate-check skill ### Required Artifacts: [X/Y present] - [x] design/gdd/game-concept.md — exists, 2.4KB - [ ] docs/architecture/ — MISSING (no ADRs found) - [x] production/sprints/ — exists, 1 sprint plan ### Quality Checks: [X/Y passing] - [x] GDD has 8/8 required sections - [ ] Tests — FAILED (3 failures in tests/unit/) - [?] Core loop playtested — MANUAL CHECK NEEDED ### Blockers 1. **No Architecture Decision Records** — Run `/architecture-decision` to create one covering core system architecture before entering production. 2. **3 test failures** — Fix failing tests in tests/unit/ before advancing. ### Recommendations - [Priority actions to resolve blockers] - [Optional improvements that aren't blocking] ### Verdict: [PASS / CONCERNS / FAIL] - **PASS**: All required artifacts present, all quality checks passing - **CONCERNS**: Minor gaps exist but can be addressed during the next phase - **FAIL**: Critical blockers must be resolved before advancing
6. Follow-Up Actions
Based on the verdict, suggest specific next steps:
- •Missing design docs? →
/reverse-documentor delegate togame-designer - •Missing ADRs? →
/architecture-decision - •Tests failing? → delegate to
lead-programmerorqa-tester - •No playtest data? →
/playtest-report - •Performance unknown? →
/perf-profile - •Not localized? →
/localize - •Ready for release? →
/launch-checklist
Collaborative Protocol
This skill follows the collaborative design principle:
- •Scan first: Check all artifacts and quality gates
- •Ask about unknowns: Don't assume PASS for things you can't verify
- •Present findings: Show the full checklist with status
- •User decides: The verdict is a recommendation — the user makes the final call
- •Get approval: "May I write this gate check report to production/gate-checks/?"
Never block a user from advancing — the verdict is advisory. Document the risks and let the user decide whether to proceed despite concerns.