Authoritative Server Networking vs Turn-Based Networking
Developers should learn and use authoritative server networking when building multiplayer games that require anti-cheat measures, competitive integrity, or large player counts, such as MMOs, first-person shooters, or real-time strategy games meets developers should learn turn-based networking when building multiplayer games that require deterministic outcomes and fairness, such as chess, civilization-style strategy games, or online card games like hearthstone. Here's our take.
Authoritative Server Networking
Developers should learn and use authoritative server networking when building multiplayer games that require anti-cheat measures, competitive integrity, or large player counts, such as MMOs, first-person shooters, or real-time strategy games
Authoritative Server Networking
Nice PickDevelopers should learn and use authoritative server networking when building multiplayer games that require anti-cheat measures, competitive integrity, or large player counts, such as MMOs, first-person shooters, or real-time strategy games
Pros
- +It prevents issues like speed hacking or item duplication by ensuring all game decisions are processed server-side, though it introduces latency challenges that must be managed through techniques like client-side prediction and server reconciliation
- +Related to: multiplayer-game-development, network-programming
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
Turn-Based Networking
Developers should learn turn-based networking when building multiplayer games that require deterministic outcomes and fairness, such as chess, Civilization-style strategy games, or online card games like Hearthstone
Pros
- +It helps prevent cheating by ensuring all players see the same game state and reduces the impact of network latency, as actions are processed in discrete turns rather than in real-time
- +Related to: game-development, multiplayer-networking
Cons
- -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case
The Verdict
Use Authoritative Server Networking if: You want it prevents issues like speed hacking or item duplication by ensuring all game decisions are processed server-side, though it introduces latency challenges that must be managed through techniques like client-side prediction and server reconciliation and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.
Use Turn-Based Networking if: You prioritize it helps prevent cheating by ensuring all players see the same game state and reduces the impact of network latency, as actions are processed in discrete turns rather than in real-time over what Authoritative Server Networking offers.
Developers should learn and use authoritative server networking when building multiplayer games that require anti-cheat measures, competitive integrity, or large player counts, such as MMOs, first-person shooters, or real-time strategy games
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