How game publishers can use edge computing to enhance performance of multiplayer games

Introduction

As we explained in our previous post, Zenlayer is working to create a better-connected world for companies and end-users everywhere. We’re currently working with companies across many different verticals, and helping them to improve digital user experience with our powerful edge computing services.

One industry where we’re making a big impact is gaming. Players today need ever-faster speeds, which is forcing gaming publishers to reduce latency and optimize their infrastructure. In this post, we’ll explore how game publishers are using edge computing to enhance performance of multiplayer games, especially those that involve real-time interactions between players.

What is edge computing?

Edge computing is a distributed IT framework that involves decentralizing computing resources and moving them to the edge of the network. This reduces long haul data transfers, resulting in smoother gameplay with faster decisioning, less dropped connections, and quicker autosaves.

As we explain in more detail on the Zenlayer blog, “edge” in this case refers to the network periphery or the physical location where data originates. With this in mind, a company like a gaming publisher can have several different edge locations. The company may operate out of New York but have pockets of players and edge points of presence (PoPs) in places like Jakarta, Tokyo, and São Paulo.

Edge computing supports many different functions, such as IoT, e-learning, enterprise SaaS, and blockchain. Edge computing is also the future of the gaming industry, and something every video game company should know about.

How edge computing helps developers publish better multiplayer games

1. Improve AR and VR infrastructure

Consumer demand is rising for AR and VR gaming, which is great news for publishers in this space. However, competition — and user expectations — are also skyrocketing. And this means gaming publishers need to offer flawless experiences for players.

Edge computing can help gaming companies capitalize on demand for VR and implement virtual connected worlds, by supporting the heavy rendering that is necessary for synchronizing real-world and digital movements. In addition, edge computing can facilitate latency-sensitive gaming.

2. Minimize user latency, player lag, or input delay

Game performance issues typically stem from network latency, which causes lag or user input delays that lead to player frustration and negative user experience.

Online gaming companies often suffer from issues like high network latency, jitter, and packet loss because they typically rely on centralized public clouds such as GCP or AWS, which are far away from their end-users. This increases round trip data delivery times, which in turn adds latency, negatively impacts performance, and contributes to user churn.

Gaming companies can use edge computing to process data locally and reduce the distance that data needs to travel. This eliminates performance issues like latency and public internet congestion problems, leading to happier user satisfaction, stronger profits, higher loyalty, and better reviews.

3. Create high-quality collaborative multiplayer gaming experiences

Today’s gamers want highly collaborative, multiplayer action. They also want to access real-time strategy games on any device, along with in-game events. However, multiplayer open-world adventure and battle royale titles can require heavy device processing. This can drain device batteries and frustrate on-the-go gamers who need to conserve power.

But with edge computing, you can offload device processing to nearby edge edge servers . This move lets customers access powerful games — including AR — without needing high-end devices. It also opens mobile gaming to a larger pool of customers and provides more efficient gaming experiences.

In addition, edge computing can make multiplayer matchmaking faster and more scalable, and enable seamless and interactive player lobby experiences.

4. Protect game servers from dangerous DDoS attacks

Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks take place when threat actors try and flood a network or server with harmful traffic and restrict user access. DDoS attacks create issues like lag, ping spikes, and disconnects, all of which can impact gamers.

To prevent DDoS attacks from impacting games, work with an computing provider that offers cloud DDoS protection along with local scrubbing centers. This approach involves filtering data and running it through a scrubbing facility. With this approach, only clean traffic will make it through to its destination.

5. Enable microtransactions and cash shops

Signup fees can turn away gamers who would rather opt for free titles. So to raise money, most games today use in-game cash shops and microtransactions.

By deploying edge computing, game developers can create seamless in-game transactions. Edge computing can encourage users to spend more money and prevent them from abandoning titles due to shop downtime.

6. Expand your global user base in global emerging markets

Edge computing helps companies enter emerging gaming markets throughout places like Southeast Asia, India, and LATAM where billions of potential customers exist. By leveraging edge computing, providers can bring services into new markets with lower operational cost and instant scalability.

Zenlayer helps gaming companies expand across borders and instantly connect with global players, influencers, and e-sports enthusiasts. We provide access to over 290 edge PoPs across more than 50 countries and support multiple architectures including first-person shooters, MOBA battle systems, centralized deployments, distributed deployments, and platform acceleration.

GDC 2021: Gaming Beyond Borders: Low Latency with the Next-Gen Application Accelerator — YouTube

7. Deploy blockchains as digital in-game assets or NFTs

There is growing excitement surrounding the blockchain proof of stake (Pos) cryptocurrency algorithm in gaming. For example, blockchain PoS could support in-game economies and help publishers avoid credit card transaction fees.

Gaming companies can use edge computing to support emerging blockchain use cases. Edge computing can enable fast, reliable in-game blockchain transactions.