What Is A Dedicated Server For Gaming?

If you are an avid gamer, you have probably at least heard about game servers and/or dedicated game servers. It is important to do your research before you decide to set up your own dedicated server.

Today we will discuss dedicated private servers for gaming. We'll also talk about the pros and cons of choosing one over other options.

Are you ready to jump in? Go ahead!

A dedicated server, by definition, is an enterprise-grade server designed to host one client.

Dedicated servers are just one of many hosting choices for gaming. You also have shared hosting where you share server resource with others and virtual private server (VPS) which gives you more flexibility than a shared one but offers more power and flexibility.

Shared hosting might not be enough if you are an avid gamer, or hosting a multiplayer gaming session. You may have to deal with latency issues, unreliable connections, and other problems. A VPS may be sufficient for you, but dedicated servers are best if your goal is to have full control over your gaming experience.

Pro Gaming Servers

While dedicated gaming servers can be a great advantage on many levels, they can be expensive if you're responsible for the entire operation.

However, dedicated servers are essential for hosting multiplayer games and if you're a game designer or managing a data center. This will allow you to provide high-performance, latency gaming for clients or your co-players.

Power and Control

Players must follow the rules in any game scenario. If your game is on a dedicated servers, however, you can make the rules. You can decide who is allowed to join and who is not, and you can even remove people from the server. This is a serious advantage in terms of quality control as you can limit the number of players to optimize performance and prevent latency.

You are the ultimate authority. You are the one who drives the gaming experience. It's a huge responsibility but someone has to take it on. Right?

Gaming Experiences Customized

With a dedicated server, you are in control of your gaming environment. You can create shared features or elements in your game, which will benefit all players. If you have a Minecraft server you can install many additional features that all players can enjoy.

You can adjust the length of your rounds to your liking, for example. You can also create environments to do battle in, add custom maps, restrict the types of weapons and tools available; the world is your oyster.

Latency: Be Gone!

If you aren’t in charge of the server, you won’t just have to deal your own latency issues. When you're playing, your connections and ping times can have a negative impact on the quality of your gameplay.

You can take full control of your game and get rid players who slow it. This is likely more of an issue for first-person shooter or other high-action games, but it can happen in any multiplayer ecosystem.

Consistency of Dedicated Gaming Server

A dedicated gaming server is a dream for many but there is also a dark side. What you go with will all depend on what matters most to you and what you can afford.

Technical Ability

If you are hosting a server yourself, you are responsible for security, maintenance, upkeep, and repair. Maintenance is essential to maintain a secure environment, and depending on your level of comfort with server hardware, this may or may not be your jam.

Cost of a dedicated Gaming Server

The cost of having your own dedicated gaming server may be the biggest hurdle. On the low end of the scale, you'll pay in the range of about $100 per month, plus whatever plug-ins and security add-ons you want. If you want all the bells-and-whistles and the maximum bandwidth to support hundreds, you could be paying $1000 per mois or more.
all kinds of games

Also, be prepared for high energy bills if your server is physically located. It's going to be a lot more work to maintain server uptime if you run it 24/7. This is why most people will rent a dedicated server from a hosting company. Although renting a dedicated server removes all the back-end work, some aspects, such as security, are typically charged per-use. A core group might be able to share the cost, making it more affordable.

Security can be weak

Security is crucial in a gaming environment. There is a high prevalence of DDoS attacks in gaming, primarily sparked by ruthless competition. Even if everyone is careful about who they allow into your game you must secure the perimeter of your game and be vigilant about updating. If you're running your own server, you could be at even higher risk as what you don't know will definitely hurt you.

Why an Out of the Box Gaming Server is Not Ideal

The server comes with your gaming system when you buy it. It's easy to connect to the internet and set up. As you know, there are many drawbacks to this method.

Primarily you will log onto a server shared with thousands, if not millions of others. Connectivity issues, outages, and individual player ping times will impact the quality of your gameplay. You can't control what happens and the same goes for security issues. If your hosting server is attacked, it could make your game and your local network vulnerable.

There's also the issue with competency. While every gamer must start somewhere, it can be frustrating to have to deal avec inept laggards or novices. If you have high standards and enjoy being challenged (in a positive way, not just by newbies), you will love an outside-of-the box gaming server.

You won’t have many options to customize the game, which may be something you care about. It all comes down ultimately to what matters to you.

Are You Ready to Get a Dedicated Gaming server?

Today's gaming platforms provide immersive, dynamic environments that are fun to explore with friends and enemies. Hosting a dedicated gaming server gives you superior control and provides many options that other server configurations do not.

A dedicated gaming server is the best option if you want to take your game to the next level. Check out OVHcloud’s plans and options for dedicated servers to explore new worlds.