The Many Ways Online Gaming Servers Mess Up Games (Part 2)

Published on: January 3, 2025 | 5 minute read

Today, many games still face interruptions caused by issues with online gaming servers, such as high traffic or inadequate resources. These challenges can lead to lag and unresponsive gameplay, disrupting the experience for players.

Below are some of the more recent titles and even gaming platforms that experienced server-related issues that have induced annoyances and gaming fatigue among their fans:

Helldivers 2: Since its launch, this multiplayer shooter has been plagued by persistent server problems. The connection issues hindered players from accessing new content where players have reported disconnections and difficulties joining matches.
League of Legends: Recently, EUW servers were plagued with login issues that left many players unable to access the game. This incident sparked frustration but also raised a sense of camaraderie among the community discussing their shared struggles.
PlayStation Network (PSN): Major outages affecting the PSN have disrupted access for millions of players particularly during high-traffic events. The latest notable downtime occurred in early October 2024, which left players unable to launch their games or access network features.
Steam: Reports of a significant outage on Steam disrupted players’ access to games and services during the Winter Sale in December 2024. This downtime frustrated many users eager to take advantage of the season’s promotional offers.

Gaming’s long history has plenty of such instances, past or present. Bottomline, this only goes to show how online gaming servers have caused persistent challenges in the gaming industry that affect both old and new games significantly. These interruptions can affect player engagement that, in some cases, lead to the complete abandonment of promising titles./p>

Both developers and players must continue to address these concerns and seek solutions to enhance their online gaming setup and experience.

How Do We Make Server Performance Better for Games, Especially for Developers or Companies Aiming to Make These Games in the Future?

Improving server performance for online games servers is a MUST for developers and companies aiming to deliver high-quality titles now and in years to come. A combination of optimization strategies, modern technologies, and proactive management can greatly enhance game server infrastructure. Below are key strategies and considerations for achieving this goal:

1. Optimize Server Location and Infrastructure

Select a server location that is geographically close to the majority of players. It is like choosing a local store instead of a distant warehouse for quicker delivery of goods or services. This tactic minimizes delays and contributes to the smoothness of gameplay. Using data centers with robust infrastructure and adequate bandwidth can prevent bottlenecks during peak times as well. Implementing Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) can further enhance this by distributing game content closer to users and reducing load times.

2. Use Load Balancing Techniques

Load balancing allows traffic to be evenly distributed across multiple servers to prevent any single server from becoming overwhelmed. This ensures consistent performance, especially during high-traffic periods like game launches, major updates, or even cross-server tourneys. Dynamic load balancing algorithms can adjust in real-time based on server load, health, and availability for players at any given time. Utilizing horizontal scaling by adding more servers as demand increases can also help in managing extensive resource needs effectively.

3. Implement Efficient Resource Management

Server resources must be allocated efficiently to support gaming operations without wasting said resources. Virtualization technologies, such as Docker, can help in managing resources by isolating different services within their containers. In this way, dynamic adjustments can be made based on current player demand, enabling better stability. Moreover, regular monitoring of game server architecture performance metrics (like CPU and memory usage) is important to identify potential issues before they affect your player base.

4. Enhance Software and Game Architecture

Game developers should focus on optimizing their online game server architecture. This includes using lightweight software that reduces the demand on server resources and minimizing installed add-ons that can slow down play. Additionally, developers should adopt asynchronous programming techniques to manage multiple processes concurrently. Profiling tools can help in identifying bottlenecks in the code and server operations, allowing for targeted optimization efforts.

5. Ensure Robust Security Measures

While enhancing performance, developers must not overlook server security, which can also affect performance. Security measures such as DDoS protection and frequent security updates can prevent attacks that lead to online gaming servers down and degraded performance. Firewalls and regular threat assessments should also be maintained to keep server integrity and performance, thereby ensuring a reliable gaming experience for everyone.

Developers and Gamers Alike, Take Heed!

To enhance server performance for gaming on server setups, UnixSurplus offers several products that can significantly help you in your gaming endeavors. Our top recommendations are as follows:

High-Performance Servers

Refurbished HP servers are a dependable choice for building a gaming server infrastructure. These servers often come tested and are known for their reliability, making them suitable for hosting multiple free online gaming servers. A robust server setup can manage simultaneous connections and ensure minimal downtime, which is key to an enjoyable gaming experience.

Product Type:Refurbished HP Servers

Description: UNIXSurplus offers competitive pricing and tested equipment designed for effective server solutions, ideal for handling the demands of online gaming setups.

Gaming Server Hardware Components

For those looking to build their own gaming server infrastructure, UNIXSurplus provides various components essential for an efficient setup. These include:

Solid State Drives (SSD)

Importance: SSDs provide much faster read and write speeds compared to traditional hard drives. This is essential for short loading times and more responsive gameplay, especially in resource-intensive games such as the highly-immersive Elden Ring, or iconic MMORPGs like World of Warcraft.

Product Type: Tested SSDs

Description: These are available at competitive prices and come with a satisfaction guarantee, ensuring you have reliable storage solutions for your gaming server.

NVMe Drives

Importance: NVMe drives are even faster than standard SSDs, making them ideal for high-performance gaming servers. They are essential for setups requiring high throughput and low latency.

Description: Known for their high-speed data transfer, these drives are suitable for business and home use, ensuring your server meets high-performance standards.

High-Performance CPUs

Importance: Multi-core processors are vital for managing the heavy demands from multiple players. The latest models from Intel's Xeon or AMD's Ryzen series are commonly recommended for gaming servers.

Product Type: CPUs (within HP servers or separately)

Description: Investing in a capable CPU enhances processing and management of heavy workloads encountered during active gaming sessions.

Networking Equipment

Having a fast and reliable network interface can enhance gameplay in online game servers.

Product Type: High-Speed Network Interface Cards (NIC)

Importance: A NIC supporting 1 Gbps or higher is recommended for optimal gaming performance. This ensures faster data transfer rates and a more stable gaming connection.

Conclusion

The effectiveness of online gaming servers shapes the way gaming is perceived and experienced. Where every millisecond counts to make or break a game, both from the perspective of players and developers alike, improving server performance goes beyond the basics.

Companies and developers aspiring to improve online game server hosting and overall infrastructure must think comprehensively to create responsive, efficient, and enjoyable gaming environments that meet the demands of all gamers, paving the way for successful future endeavors.

We hope to have helped you do just that in this write-up.