Optimizing Game Server Performance: A Guide for Developers
Tags: gaming
Published: 2023-11-02 15:49:51


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In the last two decades, online gaming audiences have grown exponentially every quarter. Almost every home with a PC is also used for playing games, signaling a real need for more options for players across the globe. Creating any game requires thousands of decisions and tools to finetune and perfect the experience before it’s launched to the public.

Whether you’re working with an existing live game, or preparing to publish a new one, going through and optimizing your game server performance will not only improve the integrity of your software, but elevate the player experience. A seamless, lag-free gaming environment is only a few steps away – and we’ve got the best methods for any developer looking to refine one.

Where Your Server is Located Matters

Every internet-connected server in the world relies on an ideal location to serve its users. Ensure that you maintain the best connection by securing servers in areas that are close to your players. They will enjoy smooth and responsive gameplay, increasing your retention rate and UX. Content delivery networks are a powerful ally with server location, as well as selecting hosting providers that have experience with data center coverage. such as [7 Days to Die Server](https://www.bisecthosting.com/7-days-to-die-server-hosting). Latency is a major complaint from players, which means your game optimization will benefit from ensuring that any lag is as minor or invisible as possible.

Scale for Success with Load Balancing

To scale your game server is to invest in its longevity. Whether you’re managing a small player base or over a million simultaneously, your game servers must be built to manage it effectively. [Load balancing](https://dev.to/mazenr/how-to-implement-a-load-balancer-using-nginx-docker-4g73) rearranges the connections from your users to be more efficient, equalizing the load within many server instances. A single server can become overwhelmed, which is a common occurrence. Implementing a smart balancing solution will eradicate unnecessary slow downs and crashes when your users are most active.

Triple-Check the Game Code

Scanning through your internal coding is a meticulous strategy to optimize your game performance, but the payoff is high. [Developers](https://dev.to/madza/24-open-source-projects-for-developers-in-2023-391l) spend hours ruminating over their code to ensure it is working properly without bugs or crashes. However, returning to the code to remove bottlenecks, leaks, or other effects on performance is necessary. Incorporate tools that will profile and highlight these common issues within the codebase. To appropriately distribute the constant influx of load on the processor, look into asynchronous programming or multi-threading.

Ping Time, and Network Communication, are Key

Every gamer knows the importance of a stutter-free experience. Your servers count on network communication strategies that allow for quick exchanges between the users and the servers. For instance, having a dedicated 7 Days to Die server will ensure players are getting the best experience they can. When these are optimized correctly, it adds to the immersion and performance of your game. This is especially crucial when you’re running a faster-paced game. 

Low-latency protocols and reworking data transmissions target any issues related to UX by reorganizing how data is transferred and delivered. To combat bandwidth requirements, data prioritization or compression techniques will allow for a wider player base.

Monitor Your Player Experience

Telemetry data is king with proactive server optimization. By monitoring how your player base experiences your game, you can target specific weak points and address them accordingly. Bugs, issues, and server performance are all accessible by utilizing these tools. Running these checks regularly will ensure that your team stays on top of any developing issues and reorganizes code or launches to keep your players happy. Any maintenance or improvements needed are easily pinpointed, which eases the strain on rolling out updates.

Invest in Hardware and Resources

After ensuring your foundation, code, and insights are all recorded and implemented efficiently into the user experience, checking on the limits of your hardware will prevent any future hangups with latency. As your game data and player base grows, investing in more powerful resources actively maintains optimal performance. Hardware that is server-grade can accommodate higher resource games and more users. To avoid future server breakdowns or issues, regular maintenance and monitoring are vital. Frequent checks on server resources will keep an eye on potential downtime from activity spikes and prevent unnecessary drops in performance.

Secure Your Servers

The cornerstone of flawless games includes a rigorous security network in place. Breaches and DDoS attacks are becoming more and more common, adding to a frustrating future for many players and game developers. Malicious activities will directly compromise your game and server performance, ultimately impacting your users. Firewalls and anti-cheat systems are designed to tackle these inevitable obstacles before they affect your game’s success. Create bulletproof experiences with these tools and solidify your server's stability.