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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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ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona

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The news that January’s ICE Barcelona will include a major new feature dedicated to global gaming’s most influential trade associations has been welcomed by organisations in Europe and abroad.

Making full use of the additional space at the Gran Via Fira de Barcelona, the first ICE Association Assembly has been created to enable trade bodies to promote their values and create new opportunities for the gaming community across every sector and geography, including both the Brussels-based European Casino Association (ECA) and the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM), the global trade association for gaming equipment suppliers with its primary headquarters in Las Vegas.

Erwin Van Lambaart, Chair of the ECA confirmed: “Our members are already planning their week in Barcelona and they will be at this historic edition of ICE in great numbers. ICE is a pivotal event for the global gaming community and having a show floor feature which will enable us to engage directly with all sectors is a unique opportunity.

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“Traditionally, our association’s involvement at ICE and its Conference program has primarily centred around networking and product development orientation—connecting with our members, regulators, suppliers, and fellow trade bodies. However, ICE 2025 marks a significant milestone. For the first time, the ECA will have the chance to fully interface with the global industry supply chain in its entirety. We are looking forward to this unique opportunity to articulate our vision for the future to a diverse and comprehensive audience, where innovation, responsibility and significant partnerships for guest and customer centricity will have centre stage.”

Daron Dorsey, CEO of AGEM added: “We represent the interests of our gaming suppliers whose well-known brands are global in reach, so to be given the opportunity to explain our agenda and engage with what is a truly international audience of association colleagues on the ICE show floor is invaluable.”

January’s editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate will occupy 120,000sqm of space compared to the 100,00sqm at ICE 2024. In a major endorsement of the opportunities offered by the relocation to Barcelona 72% of the 25 biggest exhibitors will have an increased stand presence at ICE 2025.

The post ECA and AGEM applaud creation of Association Assembly at ICE Barcelona appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Aviatrix expands into Venezuela with FacilitoBet

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Aviatrix, the innovative crash game that is quickly growing in popularity across Latin America and elsewhere, has added FacilitoBet to its portfolio of operator partners.

The deal sees FacilitoBet integrate Aviatrix into its proprietary GEO VES platform, making the game available to its players across Venezuela.

This is a major move by Aviatrix’s into the Venezuelan market, following numerous deals elsewhere in Latin America over the past 12 months.

Gabriela Novello, Head of Business Development LATAM at Aviatrix, said: “We want to bring Aviatrix to the most respected brands across Latin America, and FacilitoBet absolutely meets those criteria. By integrating us into their own platform, we’re able to work directly with the FacilitoBet team to bring a truly world-class experience to players across Venezuela. This is another important step in the Aviatrix journey.”

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Henry Sanchez, Director of FacilitoBet, said: “Crash games have become a true phenomenon over the last couple of years, and we love Aviatrix because it brings something unique to the genre. The game is engaging, and their team is extremely helpful when it comes to onboarding to our own GEO VES platform. We are sure Aviatrix will be a big success among our players.”

Aviatrix is quickly becoming Latin America’s favourite crash game, following integrations with NGX, Salsa Technology, Vibra Gaming, Cactus Gaming, RedCap, Virtualsoft, Casa de Apostas, Portugabet and many more.

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Atlaslive and Alea Partner to Revolutionize Casino Offerings with Data-Driven Player Insights

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Atlaslive, a leading B2B software provider in the global iGaming industry, has announced an exciting partnership with Alea, a data-driven casino game aggregator. Together, the two companies will deliver highly customized, data-focused gaming experiences designed to boost player engagement and drive operator success.

Atlaslive’s multi-functional platform empowers sports betting and casino operators with a customizable, scalable solution. Partners have the freedom to tailor the platform to their brand style and market preferences, whether they’re focused on a regional niche or a global audience.

With over 15,000 games in Atlaslive’s casino library, which includes slots, live casino games, table games, virtual games, lotteries, and more, operators can offer a diverse selection to match any player demographic. This vast collection will now be complemented by Alea’s aggregation, creating an unmatched selection of casino content.

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Lidiia Vakulenko, COO of Atlaslive, commented on the collaboration: “At Atlaslive, our goal is to provide operators with not only a powerful platform but also the tools and content they need to stand out in a competitive market. Our partnership with Alea enhances our already robust casino offering with even more game diversity, while adding sophisticated data insights that help our partners design player experiences tailored to their audience. This partnership is a game-changer for both companies and our partners.”

In addition to its extensive game portfolio, Atlaslive’s platform provides operators with advanced tools to create custom segments and automated marketing triggers. This allows operators to design personalized campaigns and offers based on player behavior, boosting engagement, retention, and ultimately, revenue.

Jordi Sendra, CEO of Alea, also commented on the collaboration: “We are thrilled to partner with Atlaslive, a company that shares our vision of using data and technology to drive innovation in iGaming. Together, we can offer operators not just a vast range of top-tier games, but the deep player insights they need to refine their strategies and maximize engagement. We believe this partnership will open up new possibilities for both companies and the operators we serve globally.”

By bringing together Atlaslive’s dynamic platform and Alea’s data-driven approach, this partnership is set to transform the way casinos operate, providing powerful tools that will help them grow and thrive in the competitive iGaming landscape.

The post Atlaslive and Alea Partner to Revolutionize Casino Offerings with Data-Driven Player Insights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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