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Tackling latency in next-gen gaming

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Mathieu Duperré, CEO at Edgegap

Anyone that’s played a video game online has almost certainly experienced some kind of lag and connectivity issues. Despite huge infrastructure advances in the last few decades, latency remains a constant thorn in the side of gamers and detracts from the real-time experience that’s expected today.

Delivering a consistent experience to gamers playing on different devices with varying connection speeds – many of which are separated by thousands of miles – is a complex challenge. Massively popular online games like Roblox and Fortnite are just two of the many games which have benefited from years of investment into infrastructure in order to support millions of concurrent players. As the below chart from SuperJoost shows, multiplayer and online gaming is becoming the preferred way to play games amongst the most active gaming demographic, with all the technical challenges that this creates.

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Games which can be played seamlessly across mobile, PC and console (so-called cross-play games) are also pushing the limits of what current internet infrastructure can deliver. Add in a new generation of streaming cloud gaming services like Stadia, Blacknut Games and Amazon’s Luna – plus Microsoft’s Game Pass and Sony’s revamped PlayStation Plus service, and you can see how the promise of console-quality performance over a broadband connection risks overloading networks that were never designed for this level of gaming.

So how can game companies, telcos and ISPs deliver on the performance promises being made to gamers? That’s where edge computing comes in.

 

Lag, latency and the Edge

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When talking about latency it’s important to make it clear exactly what we mean. Latency refers to the amount of time it takes for game data to travel from one point to another. From the gamer’s perspective, it’s the delay between their command and seeing it happen in-game. How much latency a gamer experiences is dependent on the physical distance the data must cross through the multiple networks, routers and cables before it reaches its destination.

To use an extreme example, NASA’s Voyager 1 has made it about 14.5 billion miles from our planet so far, and it takes about 19 hours for its radio waves to reach us. Here on Earth, your latency is (hopefully) measured in milliseconds rather than hours; and gamers need around 30ms for the most optimal performance. Anywhere above 100ms can lead to noticeable lag and a frustrating experience.

This is where Edge computing comes in. As the name implies, Edge computing brings computation and data storage closer to the sources of data, placing it on the edge of the network where the performance gain is the greatest. As you’d expect, reducing unnecessary travel drastically speeds up the process providing an almost lag-free experience.

 

More players equals more chance for latency to be a problem

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In the early days of gaming, local, couch play was part and parcel of the gaming experience. Today, a game where hundreds or even thousands of players are in the same session is nothing out of the ordinary, and there are Battle Royale games now, a whole genre of games where a hundred or more players are whittled down to a single winner.

The sheer scale of some online games dwarfs many of the most popular streaming services. Whilst Netflix remains the most successful streaming video site with 222 million subscribers, kids game Roblox has 230 million active accounts and Fortnite has over 350 million registered players. So if we assume these games reflect a growing trend, the demand on server networks is only going to increase, and gaming companies will have to look for more innovative solutions to continue meeting demand.

 

Cross-Platform

The ability for gamers on different devices and platforms to play and compete together is becoming an increasingly common feature of AAA multiplayer games like Apex Legends, Fornite and Call of Duty. EA Sports recently confirmed that FIFA 23 will be joining other heavy hitters in exploring cross-platform play. Considering the large amount of games on the market, and the various game modes for each game, studios are looking at crossplay to increase the amount of players who can play together. One of the main driver is to lower matchmaking time and prevent players from having to wait hours before opponents are ready to play with them.

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From a latency perspective, different infrastructure across platforms means lag and downtime are far more likely. When it comes to cross-play, studios can’t use P2P (peer-to-peer) since console vendors don’t support direct communication (i.e. an Xbox can’t communicate directly with a playstation). On top of that, P2P may be limited by player’s home network (restrictive natting for example). That’s why studios typically use relays in a handful of centralised locations. Relays are seen as cheaper than authoritative server. They although have large flaws like making it harder for studios to prevent cheating, which is becoming more and more important with Web3 & NFT. This causes  higherlatency since traffic needs to travel longer distances between players. For example, when Apex Legends went cross-platform, players were inundated with frame rate drops, lags and glitches.

Edge computing allows studios to deploy cross-play games as close as possible to their players, significantly reducing latency. Which can negate some of the delay issues around differing platforms.

 

VR and the Metaverse

Despite hitting shelves in 2016, VR is only now slowly making its way into mainstream gaming. Advances in technology have gradually improved the user experience, while also bringing the price of hardware down and closer to the mass market – not to mention the metaverse bringing renewed attention to the tech. But latency issues still present a serious hurdle to wider adoption unless it’s addressed.

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Latency impacts the player experience far more in VR than in traditional gaming as it completely disrupts the intended immersive experience. A 2020 research paper found latency of over 30-35ms in VR, had a significant impact on players’ enjoyment and immersion, which was far lower than acceptable margins on a controller.  But when it comes to the metaverse, achieving this might not be enough. Latency between headset and player has to be sub 5ms to prevent motion sickness.

In a recent blog, Meta’s VP, Dan Rabinovitsj, explained that cloud-based video games require a latency of around 75–150ms, while some AAA video games with high graphical demand require sub 35ms. Comparatively, Rabinovitsj suggests metaverse applications would need to reduce latency to low double or even single digits.

For better or worse, we’ve seen glimpses of what the metaverse has to offer already. Decentraland’s metaverse fashion week gave major brands like Dolce & Gabbana an opportunity to showcase virtual versions of their products. But attending journalists reported that the event was fraught with lag and glitches.

Gamers are a fickle bunch, so early adopters will simply move back to other games and platforms if they have poor initial experiences. Google’s Stadia promised to revolutionise gaming, but its fate was sealed at launch as the platform simply couldn’t compete with its competitors’ latency. Today, Google has ‘deprioritised’ the platform in favour of other projects.

If the metaverse goes to plan, it should encompass a lot more than traditional gaming experiences. But if it’s going to live up to players’ lofty expectations, akin to Ready Player One, more thought needs to be given to scalable and optimised infrastructure.

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Unlocking next-gen gaming

The pace at which modern gaming is evolving is astounding, making the components discussed here work lag-free and as players expect will be a huge undertaking, and even more so when developers attempt to bring them all together in the metaverse.

The issue of latency may be less headline-grabbing than virtual fashion shows, NFTs and Mark Zuckerberg’s slightly unsettling promotional video, but the ability to seamlessly stitch all of these elements together will be critical in making the metaverse live up to expectations, and therefore, to its success.

 

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G2E LAS VEGAS 2025

Discover What’s Next for TCSJOHNHUXLEY at G2E Las Vegas 2025

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The excitement is building for G2E Las Vegas 2025, and TCSJOHNHUXLEY is proud to announce its participation, showcasing a range of revolutionary products and solutions designed to elevate the gaming industry in the Americas. The team will be located at a new space on Booth #4439 in The Venetian Expo, Las Vegas from October 7-9, 2025.

G2E 2025 marks a pivotal moment as TCSJOHNHUXLEY presents a comprehensive portfolio of innovations. A major highlight will be the highly anticipated US debut of the A Plus Shuffler®, the company’s automated card shuffling machine designed to dramatically increase game speed and enhance security on the casino floor. Visitors will have the opportunity to see this advanced shuffler in action, demonstrating its ability to deliver a continuous, rapid supply of perfectly shuffled cards. The A Plus Shuffler®’s untraceable shuffling process strengthens game integrity and security, while its versatile design allows it to accommodate 1 to 8 decks with interchangeable shoes for both Poker and Blackjack.

Attendees can also see new developments across its wider portfolio. A particular highlight will be the groundbreaking Ora Blackjack Vue Display Controller, a revolutionary technology that is unlike anything else on the market. This display, which is the Blackjack equivalent of its popular Baccarat and Roulette displays, utilises advanced camera recognition for automatic card entry. It provides players with real-time data such as dealer hand history, live dealer odds, and historical statistics, making the game more accessible and enjoyable for everyone from novices to seasoned pros. The company will also be presenting the Supernova Progressive Jackpot System, TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s unique customisable platform that adds excitement to any live table game, and significant software updates to the popular digital game wheel Lumin8, which features an enhanced interface and new capabilities such as Promotion Mode and a bonus game sub-mode.

In addition to these new products and developments, TCSJOHNHUXLEY will be demonstrating its full range of market-leading solutions. This includes the Chipper Champ 3, the industry-standard for automated chip sorting known for its speed, accuracy, and reliability. For Roulette, the company will showcase its world-renowned solutions, including SaturnTM Velocity Auto Roulette wheel that delivers faster game speeds setting a new industry standard for speed and efficiency as well manual SaturnTM Roulette Wheels and the popular game Roulette Xtra. This game incorporates the company’s patented Blaze LED Surface Technology, which displays eye-catching animations and highlights winning numbers, adding a thrilling random multiplier bet of up to 500 to 1. The company will also present the next generation of its electronic gaming terminals, Qorex 2 with a suite of impressive new features.

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The showcase of TCSJOHNHUXLEY’s world-class core product range will underscore the company’s renowned manufacturing expertise. From the precision of its globally recognised Roulette wheels and the superior craftsmanship of its Gaming Tables to the reliability of its Dice Shakers, visitors will witness firsthand the quality and dedication that define TCSJOHNHUXLEY products. This comprehensive portfolio demonstrates the company’s ability to create an end-to-end solution for all live game requirements.

Phil Lee, TCSJOHNHUXLEY Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director Americas comments, “This year’s G2E is a pivotal moment for us as we showcase our unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. We are bringing some of our most significant innovations yet to the Americas market, underscoring our long-term commitment to our customers in the region. G2E provides the perfect platform to demonstrate how we are not just keeping pace with the industry but actively shaping its future. Our team are looking forward to discussing how our new solutions can directly address business challenges and drive growth.”

To secure your free pass and to learn more, please visit please visit tcsjohnhxuley.com and be sure to visit Booth #4439 where the TCSJOHNHUXLEY team look forward to welcoming you.

The post Discover What’s Next for TCSJOHNHUXLEY at G2E Las Vegas 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Relax Gaming appoints Antonia Svensson as Chief Commercial Officer

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Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of award-winning content, has announced the appointment of Antonia Svensson as its new Chief Commercial Officer, marking a key step in the company’s next phase of commercial growth.

Svensson brings over 13 years of experience in the gaming industry, having held senior leadership roles across payments, content supply, and operations.

Her career began at Trustly, overseeing payment solutions for the gaming vertical, before joining Yggdrasil Gaming as Chief Commercial Officer. Most recently, she served as General Manager Malta at Light & Wonder, where she was responsible for the company’s online casino business across Europe.

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In addition to her executive background, Svensson has sat on several gaming industry boards, including Fantasma Games, contributing strategic insights to support business development and innovation.

Now based at Relax Gaming’s Malta headquarters, Svensson will oversee all commercial activity across the group, supporting its global roadmap and driving new revenue opportunities through strategic partnerships.

Martin Stålros, CEO at Relax Gaming, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Antonia to Relax as our new CCO. Her standout experience and industry knowledge can serve as a fantastic asset to the company on a commercial level and I’m delighted that she has joined Relax at such an exciting stage in our development.”

Antonia Svensson, Chief Commercial Officer at Relax Gaming, said: “Relax Gaming has carved out an impressive reputation as one of the most forward-thinking and dynamic companies in iGaming. Having watched its growth closely over the years, I’m incredibly proud to now be part of this journey.

“I’m eager to collaborate with the talented team here to drive strategic growth, strengthen our partner relationships, and unlock new commercial opportunities across global markets.”

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Neosurf and BridgerPay announce new strategic partnership

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Pioneering cash-to-digital payments company teams up with market-leading payment orchestration platform to help partners unlock their full potential

Neosurf, the progressive online payments company known for its expertise in cash-to-digital solutions, smooth user experiences and providing ongoing responsible gaming and AML support to its partners has announced it has formed a new strategic partnership with the highly scalable and data-centric payment orchestration platform, BridgerPay.

Famed in the online payments industry for its prebuilt connections, unified dashboard and single-source reporting, BridgerPay is a fully agnostic platform that can be integrated into any set-up to help clients automate their payment flows and gain real-time insights into their customers.

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Among the company’s wide range of solutions, BridgerPay is particularly well-known for its Bridger RetryTM capability, which empowers clients to save up to 30% of soft declined card payments by automatically referring them to fallback providers without disrupting the customer experience.

“Like Neosurf, BridgerPay is a company that’s fully committed to improving the online payments experience not just for operators, but for their customers as well,” said Andrea McGeachin, Neosurf’s Group CEO. “By teaming up with them, we’ll be able to ensure that Neosurf is seamlessly integrated into their clients’ checkouts as a payment option, giving bettors even more freedom over how they deposit.

“Not only will this improve the online cashier experience for customers by giving them instant access to our quick and secure cash-to-digital solutions, but it will also allow all BridgerPay partners to serve the huge number of players who prefer to use cash for their online transactions.”

With BridgerPay already helping organisations worldwide connect with hundreds of payment providers through simple, ready-made integrations,  adding Neosurf further expands merchant choice and customer access.

“We’re delighted to partner with Neosurf. Their cash-to-digital payment solutions will play an important role in helping our clients reach and engage new customers across a wide range of markets,” said Matthew Boundy, PSP Partnership Manager. “Offering a service that reduces operators’ transaction costs, supports responsible gaming and AML best practice and provides a frictionless user experience to customers, they’re a key partner for us and will add enormous value to our clients.”

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Though initially covering just European markets, the partnership between Neosurf and BridgerPay has plenty of scope to grow in future and will also see the two companies share knowledge and collaborate on technical solutions as they continue to innovate within the online payment space.

The post Neosurf and BridgerPay announce new strategic partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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