The concept of utilizing Docker for Unreal Engine multiplayer game servers has grown in popularity for its potential to streamline deployment processes and enhance scalability. Docker, a prominent platform in software containerization, facilitates the encapsulation of applications in containers, ensuring consistent operation across various computing environments.

This blog post explores the feasibility of using Docker to run Unreal Engine multiplayer servers, the benefits and challenges of containerizing them, cost implications, and whether this approach is suited for game studios and developers working with Unreal Engine.

Can Games Server Use Docker?

The short answer is yes—Unreal Engine multiplayer game servers can be containerized using Docker, making them easier, faster, and potentially cheaper to host and operate.

Docker excels at encapsulating and isolating applications, giving each Unreal Engine game server its own environment without the heavy resource use of a full virtual machine. This results in easier server management for developers, with Docker containers able to be configured once and deployed consistently across development, testing, and production environments.

Many studios building multiplayer games with Unreal Engine—particularly those requiring dedicated servers for low-latency online experiences—are turning to Docker-based deployments. Developers can package the compiled server binaries and any required dependencies into a Docker container, simplifying deployment across cloud platforms or on-premise infrastructure. This reduces setup time and avoids compatibility issues stemming from inconsistent system configurations.

The trend is evident in the increasing adoption of container-based server orchestration platforms such as Edgegap, which enables just-in-time deployment of containerized Unreal Engine servers to edge nodes around the world.

Can Anyone Use Docker as a Server?

Also, yes—Docker can be configured to run dedicated Unreal Engine game servers, offering a flexible platform for multiplayer hosting. Once the Unreal Engine server build is containerized, Docker allows for rapid deployment, auto-scaling, and more efficient use of resources.

When combined with an orchestration platform like Edgegap, containerized Unreal Engine servers can dynamically scale in response to player demand. This is especially helpful in multiplayer games where traffic is highly variable. These systems optimize both cost and performance by allocating resources based on real-time usage, automatically spinning up servers near players for low-latency experiences.

How Much Does It Cost to Host a Game Server?

The cost of hosting a containerized game server can vary significantly based on several factors, including the game's requirements, server specifications, and the chosen hosting platform. Generally, the cost components include:

1. Compute Resources: The server's CPU, memory, and storage requirements will influence the overall cost. Games with high computational demands will necessitate more robust and, consequently, more expensive server configurations.

2. Bandwidth: Online games consume substantial bandwidth, especially with many concurrent players. The hosting cost will reflect the amount of data transferred to and from the server.

3. Hosting Provider: The choice of cloud provider or hosting service can impact costs. Some providers offer specialized gaming server plans that might include additional features beneficial for game hosting.

4. Maintenance and Management: While containers simplify deployment and management, ongoing maintenance, updates, and monitoring are crucial, which may incur additional costs depending on the level of automation and support services chosen.

All this management requires game developers to build a backend structure themselves, which can take weeks with self-managed solution, if not months if starting from zero, for even the most experienced backend developers.

Edgegap, with its automated game servers that fully manage the game server’s containers, then orchestrates them on the world’s largest edge network takes care of all the work for you. Meaning it takes you minutes, rather than weeks, to get your game online worldwide easily. Best of all, Edgegap’s pay-per-use pricing means you only pay when player play as Edgegap is free during development.

Want to better understand how Edgegap orchestrates millions of containers and deploys them just-in-time? Make sure to check out our technology explainer page which breaks down Edgegap's game server hosting & orchestration, or watch our in-depth video explainer:

What Are the Biggest Disadvantages of Docker?

While Docker offers numerous benefits for game server hosting, there are some disadvantages to consider:

1. Performance Overhead: Although Docker's overhead is less than complete virtual machines, there is still a performance cost, especially regarding I/O operations. For latency-sensitive games, even minor delays can impact the gaming experience. This is where orchestration solves this issue by deploying game servers nearest users – helping you deliver sub-100 ms latency for 91% of your player base instantly.

2. Complexity: Docker can introduce complexity in deployment and management, particularly for those unfamiliar with containerization concepts. Proper configuration and optimization are essential to harness Docker's full potential and avoid potential pitfalls. Edgegap automatically handles the containerization of the game server thanks to its plugin for major engines including Unity and Unreal. What can take hours to program now takes barely minutes with Edgegap’s plugins.

3. Security Concerns: Containers share the host OS's kernel, which can pose security risks if not properly isolated. Ensuring robust security measures and updating containers are vital to mitigating these risks. Edgegap provides security solutions to overcomes these issues.

4. Storage and Data Persistence: Managing data persistence for game states and player information can be challenging with Docker, as containers are inherently ephemeral. Implementing effective data storage solutions that ensure data persistence outside containers is crucial.

Conclusion

Game servers using Docker presents a viable solution for game server hosting, offering benefits in terms of deployment speed, scalability, and resource efficiency in comparison to traditional, non-container based hosting. However, weighing these advantages against the potential downsides, such as performance implications and management complexity, is essential.

By carefully considering these factors, game developers and server administrators can make informed decisions to leverage Docker effectively in the gaming realm.

Thanks to containerized game server platform that orchestrates game servers worldwide, all these challenges are solved from the onset. With Edgegap leading the way in simplicity, security, and performance. Learn more here.