Gaming Architectures: Engines, Networking and Latency
Gaming Architectures: Engines, Networking and Latency Game engines handle visuals, input, and physics, but multiplayer adds another layer. The key is a clean architecture where the engine stays focused on rendering while the networking layer hides distance. A responsive feel comes from smart netcode, not just fast graphics. How the engine and the server cooperate In most games, the server is authoritative. It runs the true game state and validates actions from players. Clients predict outcomes to appear responsive, then adjust when the server sends the authoritative result. The server and clients exchange state updates at a steady rate, while the engine renders frames between updates. Networking models and latency Client-server with a central server is the common choice for large games. It balances trust, fairness, and scalability. Peer-to-peer can work for small, local titles or special modes, but it faces trust and NAT challenges. Edge and cloud hosting reduce round trips by placing servers closer to players, cutting latency and jitter. Latency and user experience Prediction and interpolation hide latency. The client runs a forecast of the next state and smoothly blends in updates from the server. A higher tick rate improves responsiveness, but it costs bandwidth and compute. Finding the right balance is essential. Practical tips for developers Decide on a netcode model early and design data flows around it. Send essential state frequently; mark important events as reliable while keeping fast updates as unreliable. Use lag compensation and server reconciliation to keep actions fair for all players. Test with simulated lag and jitter to catch edge cases before launch. Real-world games often blend these ideas, using dedicated servers, fast edge nodes, and thoughtful prediction to feel smooth even with imperfect networks. ...