From small LAN parties to vast communities containing millions of global players, multiplayer gaming has transformed significantly over the years. As a result, games have become much more immersive as well as competitive. To ensure smooth sessions, the demand for smooth and lag-free performance has been increased.
This is also the reason why the debate of virtual private server vs cloud hosting for multiplayer gaming has become so common. The right choice of hosting can not only ensure stable sessions, but can also handle player spikes as well as global connections.
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In this blog post, we will break down the differences between VPS and cloud hosting for multiplayer gaming.
In case you do not have that understanding, then you will run into a number of issues, such as performance and even security. However, you can connect with an expert at +1(800) 217-0394 for personalized guidance.Understanding Game Server Hosting
Whether you are a fan of competitive games, such as League of Legends, or open-world survival, such as ARK: Survival Evolved, a powerful server is the backbone for multiplayer games. These servers allow the player to connect, synchronize games, and ultimately, experience smooth gameplay.
Unlike other servers, virtual game server hosting only serves a single purpose, to host gaming sessions. One thing you need to know about these servers is that their bandwidth might be unmetered, but other resources, such as storage, might be limited both in VPS and cloud.
What Is A Virtual Private Server?
A Virtual Private Server (VPS) includes multiple virtual servers that are managed by a single physical server. Although these servers can function independently, their resources are shared. These are divided into equal portions for all users, providing them with a limited amount of resources, such as CPU, RAM, and storage. This can be an issue if you are planning to run an operation for a large-scale organization, but for multiplayer gaming sessions, it is hardly a concern.
With the best VPS hosting for game servers, you can experience lag-free gaming sessions. Moreover, users don’t need to use the default gaming environment, as this setting is open for customization. However, the only notable issue with VPS for multiplayer gaming is its scalability. This means that sudden spikes in player numbers can raise performance issues.
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What Is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud is a type of hosting model that does not rely on a physical machine but uses multiple interconnected servers. While cloud server for multiplayer gaming also share the resources between users, it offers more flexibility along with the ability to scale the resources according to unique needs.
As there are multiple servers up and running, the cloud provides excellent performance, even in sessions hosted for a global player base. Furthermore, due to the freedom of scalability, the data redundancy is reduced to minimal, ensuring smooth multiplayer gaming experience.
The Key Differences Between Virtual Private Server & Cloud Hosting
When it comes down to multiplayer gaming, both VPS and cloud deliver excellent performance along with stability. However, the real question is how these two methods stack up against each other. Below, we have done a detailed comparison of virtual private server vs cloud hosting for multiplayer games.
Performance & Latency : Performance refers to the overall gameplay. Latency, on the other hand, is the time it takes to register the player’s action and the game’s response. Both these factors are among the most crucial in multiplayer gaming.
VPS: This method utilizes resources, such as CPU and memory, and the amount of these resources is allocated by the server. When hosting small or medium-sized multiplayer games, the performance is predictable and helps to provide a lag-free experience. However, as the server is tied to a single machine, there can be performance bottlenecks if many users access it simultaneously.
Cloud Hosting: In contrast, cloud hosting offers multiple highly optimized servers to provide optimal performance and reduce latency. Moreover, the load among all these servers is distributed equally. This helps to ensure that there won’t be any premature server crashes or abrupt process failures.
In this virtual private server vs cloud hosting comparison, VPS stands as the better choice for small or medium-sized multiplayer games. Whereas cloud proves to be suitable for larger ones.
Scalability
When analysing virtual private server vs cloud hosting for multiplayer gaming, scalability is also an essential factor, as it is the one responsible for determining how well the server can grow.
VPS: In terms of scalability, virtual private servers are very limited. There is no licensing option to increase the amount of a single resource. In case a resource has been exhausted or its demand has increased, then you will need to upgrade your entire plan. For this particular reason, VPS is suitable for a stable and predictable player base.
Cloud Hosting: Unlike VPS, cloud hosting is designed with scalability in mind. As the resources can be scaled at any time, it is the optimal choice for games such as Apex Legends and Fortnite, as the number of users in these games highly fluctuates, and it often rises when a new season releases.
In terms of scalability, the winner between virtual private server vs cloud hosting is the latter option. This is because cloud hosting can support both fast-growing and unpredictable multiplayer gaming titles.
Security : As all these sessions are being hosted on the internet and are being accessed by a multitude of users, malware attacks and data breaches are not that rare.
VPS: Firewall and DDoS protection are the common security protocols included in VPS. With root access, you can even configure these security layers, though a little technical knowledge is required for that aspect.
Cloud Hosting: This method comes with a more robust emphasis on security. In addition to both firewall and DDoS protection, cloud hosting also includes encryption and automated backups. Moreover, its security features are also open for custom configuration.
When comparing virtual private server vs cloud hosting for multiplayer gaming, cloud offers better built-in protection, while you will get more manual control with VPS.
To Conclude
When comparing virtual private server vs cloud hosting for multiplayer gaming side by side, the differences are clear. VPS stands as the ideal option for smaller communities with predictable player behavior. Cloud hosting is the optimal choice for large-scale or fast-paced multiplayer games.
As for which method is ideal for you, it completely depends on factors such as your project’s scale, budget, as well as performance. Keep these factors in mind and attain a thorough knowledge of VPS and cloud for multiplayer gaming, and you will be able to find the ideal method to host your games.
In case you are still not able to figure out which kind of method is best for multiplayer gaming, then we recommend that you connect with an expert at +1(800) 217-0394 to clear all your doubts and find the ideal solution for multiplayer gaming.Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between virtual private server vs cloud hosting in gaming?
The key difference between these two methods is that VPS offers dedicated resources, while cloud allows for managing the scale (increase or decrease) of resources.
Is VPS cheaper than cloud?
Yes, the pricing of virtual private server are comparatively cheaper than cloud hosting for multiplayer games.
Can I migrate VPS to cloud hosting?
Yes, you can migrate your entire data from VPS to a cloud environment. This is especially useful if your game starts small but later requires scalability.