Maximizing Multiplayer Game Performance with AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has recently claimed that it successfully conducted benchmark tests supporting up to 100 million concurrent users (CCU) for a single video game.
Dynamic Resource Management with Amazon GameLift
AWS offers a solution for game developers through Amazon GameLift, which efficiently addresses hosting issues by dynamically adjusting backend resources. The recent tests revealed the capability of Amazon GameLift to accommodate an increase of 100,000 players every second and generate over 9,000 new computing instances per minute. This functionality empowers developers to scale their games beyond previous limits.
A Deep Dive into Amazon GameLift
This cloud-centric service is designed specifically for assisting developers in adding multiplayer game servers and is underpinned by the robust infrastructure of AWS.
The Challenges Developers Face on Launch Day
The dedication and resources invested by online game creators come into sharp focus during game launches when player participation surges unexpectedly. Anticipating player numbers can be challenging, but one certainty remains: the backing infrastructure must have the agility to scale instantly—ensuring uninterrupted gameplay or experiencing significant setbacks.
Chris Byskal, who manages AWS Game Services/Game Tech, elaborated on this context: “Although many developers rarely disclose CCU figures publicly, unofficial data suggests that top-tier games today reach approximately 14 million CCU. Furthermore, SteamDB’s latest statistics indicate that total CCU across its platform hovers around 40 million. We set our ambitious target at 100 million CCU to illustrate how effortlessly Amazon GameLift can support even the largest gaming environments multiple times over.”
Paving the Way for Scaling Priorities
Estimating peak concurrent users serves as an essential first step in helping developers identify scaling requirements before they hit launch day. Additional factors such as managing sudden traffic spikes and determining player distribution geographically also play crucial roles in this planning phase.
Learnt Lessons from Experience
The team behind Amazon GameLift boasts nearly ten years of expertise aiding clients in effectively managing large-scale gaming projects while minimizing launch day challenges. Their experience includes subjecting their systems to extreme testing conditions; detailed guides showcasing how they’ve successfully scaled operations for both 10 million and up to 100 million CCUs are available via demonstrations.
Cleverly Preparing Your Infrastructure for Scaling Needs
Developers are encouraged to leverage expected CCUs when assessing virtual machine (VM) demands necessary for optimal gameplay experiences. For instance, consider calculating VMs needed to support a projected user base of 10 million assuming each VM accommodates around twelve simultaneous sessions:
Total VMs = CCU / (players per session x sessions per VM)
Total VMs = 10,000,000 / (10 x 12) = Approximately 83,333
Amazingly enough, with Amazon GameLift operating in twenty-three regions worldwide along with nine local zones available—to accommodate those required 83,333 VMs—it ensures rapid scaling capabilities within minutes capable of onboarding ten millions players seamlessly while minimizing idle resource consumption - thus reducing overall expenses.
Efficacious Session Management Strategies
AWS proficiently assigns gamers into underutilized server slots efficiently processing all required server actions while avoiding conflicts between different gaming processes simultaneously—something critical given potential throughput demands:
Allocation requests/second calculation:
Allocation requests/second = Concurrent Users / (players per session x average session length)
Allocation requests/second = 10M / (10 * 900 seconds) ≈ 1111
- Game Sessions: Ensure each is linked exclusively back onto one process only!
- User Experience: Link servers located nearby respective players should ideally enhance responsiveness significantly!
- Total Cost Optimization: Always start deployment using lower-cost capacity options whenever accessible!
- The Right Quantity Selection: Monitor existing active virtual machines post-game launch diligently while safeguarding against system overloads!
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