Edgegap vs AWS Gamelift
AWS GameLift is a managed service offered by Amazon Web Services that focuses primarily on providing dedicated game server hosting and scaling. It is limited to AWS infrastructure and operates within AWS Regions and Availability Zones. GameLift requires developers to manually configure server fleets and scaling policies to manage player demand, which can be more complex and time-consuming.
Edgegap, on the other hand, is a multi-cloud solution that leverages edge computing to optimize player experience. Edgegap's platform is designed to work with over 17+ different cloud providers worldwide, including AWS, GCP, and Azure. This provides a more extensive network and allows for automatic edge location configuration, which results in lower latency and improved performance for players. Edgegap also features a built-in matchmaker optimized for latency and player preferences, whereas AWS GameLift relies on customizable matchmaking services that require additional setup and integration. Edgegap's infrastructure is designed to automatically scale and turn server costs off when unused, leading to more cost-effective resource management than AWS GameLift's pay-as-you-go model.
While AWS GameLift and Edgegap provide multiplayer gaming infrastructure, Edgegap's multi-cloud support, automatic edge location configuration, built-in matchmaker, and more efficient resource management make it a potentially more attractive option for game developers seeking to optimize the player experience and minimize infrastructure cost.
Initial setup
Edgegap's initial setup involves integrating its SDK and API into your game, and Edgegap automatically configures edge locations for the player’s latency optimization. Edgegap includes a matchmaker that streamlines connecting players based on location, player elo, developer preferences, or other criteria.
AWS GameLift's initial setup requires integrating their SDK and API into your game and manually using the AWS Management Console to set up and manage server instances, fleets, and scaling policies. AWS GameLift allows developers to configure custom matchmaking logic or use AWS's FlexMatch system.
Edgegap’s services are ready to go out-of-the-box, whereas AWS GameLift has a moderate setup complexity due to the need to configure servers and other settings. The choice between Edgegap and AWS GameLift depends on your specific needs and whether you prioritize game server orchestration with automatic edge location configuration or a managed game server service (AWS GameLift).
Connectivity
Edgegap is designed for game server orchestration and leverages edge computing to provide low-latency experiences for players. It selects the nearest edge server for each player from a wide range of cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, GCP, and 16+ other providers worldwide. This approach ensures global access, better latency optimization, and decentralized network infrastructure.
AWS GameLift is a managed service from Amazon Web Services that focuses on deploying, operating, and scaling dedicated game servers for multiplayer games. AWS GameLift's connectivity is limited to AWS servers and uses region-based server selection to optimize latency. While it offers multi-region support, its network infrastructure is centralized within the AWS ecosystem.
Both Edgegap and AWS GameLift support cross-platform play and use a client-server network topology. The choice between the two depends on your specific connectivity needs and priorities. Edgegap provides broader global access and better latency optimization through edge computing and multiple provider support, while AWS GameLift offers a managed game server service within the AWS infrastructure.
Performance
Edgegap's pricing model is usage-based, meaning users only pay for the resources they use. This model provides global access to multiple cloud providers and edge locations, allowing for a more extensive reach and better latency optimization. Edgegap's servers are designed to be turned off when inactive, which reduces idle costs and makes the platform more cost-effective.
AWS GameLift uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on usage and AWS resources. It offers global access within the AWS infrastructure (limited to AWS Regions and Availability Zones) and charges for server capacity and running time. This pricing model can lead to moderate idle costs if the server capacity needs to be fully utilized. AWS GameLift offers a limited free tier for new customers to try the service.
Overall, Edgegap's pricing model provides more cost-efficiency and broader global access, while AWS GameLift's pricing is based on the AWS infrastructure and resources. The choice between the two platforms depends on your requirements, budget considerations, and whether you prefer a multi-cloud approach (Edgegap) or a single-cloud solution (AWS GameLift).
Scalability
Edgegap's scalability model is centered around dynamic scaling. This means that the platform automatically adjusts to accommodate changes in player demand, ensuring that servers are always available when needed. Edgegap leverages edge computing and a wide range of cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, GCP, and 16+ other providers worldwide, to ensure a globally distributed and scalable infrastructure. The Edgegap Matchmaker also aids in scaling by efficiently connecting players based on various criteria.
AWS GameLift's scalability model focuses on auto-scaling and flexible matchmaking. The platform uses elastic scaling based on player demand and pre-configured settings to ensure that server capacity is always available to meet demand. AWS GameLift's scalability is limited to the AWS infrastructure through its multi-region support via AWS Regions and Availability Zones.
Both Edgegap and AWS GameLift offer scalable solutions for multiplayer gaming infrastructure. The choice between the two depends on your specific needs and whether you prioritize dynamic scaling and a multi-cloud approach (Edgegap) or auto-scaling within just the AWS infrastructure (AWS GameLift).
Pricing
Edgegap's pricing model is usage-based. This model provides global access to multiple cloud providers and edge locations, allowing for a more extensive reach and better latency optimization. Edgegap's servers are designed to be turned off when inactive, which reduces idle costs and makes the platform more cost-effective.
AWS GameLift uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model based on usage and AWS resources. It offers global access within the AWS infrastructure (limited to AWS Regions and Availability Zones) and charges for server capacity and running time. This pricing model can lead to moderate idle costs if the server capacity needs to be fully utilized. AWS GameLift offers a limited free tier for new customers to try the service.
Overall, Edgegap's pricing model provides more cost-efficiency and broader global access, while AWS GameLift's pricing is based on the AWS infrastructure and resources. The choice between the two platforms depends on your requirements, budget considerations, and whether you prefer a multi-cloud approach (Edgegap) or a single-cloud solution (AWS GameLift).
Switching from AWS Games to Edgegap
Switching from AWS GameLift to Edgegap should be manageable since both platforms provide multiplayer gaming infrastructure and support various game engines. However, you'll need to follow some specific steps and considerations during the migration process. Here's a general outline of the steps to switch from AWS GameLift to Edgegap:
Analyze your current AWS GameLift implementation: Understand the architecture, features, and services used within your AWS GameLift setup. This will help you identify the necessary components to migrate to Edgegap.
Familiarize yourself with Edgegap's features and services: Review Edgegap's documentation and features, including matchmaking, edge computing, and multi-cloud support. This will help you determine how to map your current AWS GameLift implementation to Edgegap's services.
Plan the migration: Create a detailed plan outlining the steps to migrate your game from AWS GameLift to Edgegap. This may include reconfiguring your game server logic, updating your matchmaking system to use Edgegap's matchmaker, and setting up the necessary integrations with Edgegap's API.
Migrate game server logic: Adapt your game server logic to work with Edgegap's infrastructure. This may involve modifying server-side code or implementing new game server features to take advantage of Edgegap's unique offerings.
Update matchmaking: Replace AWS GameLift's matchmaking with Edgegap's matchmaker. Ensure that your game properly connects to Edgegap's matchmaking service and that the logic for creating and joining game sessions works as intended.
Test the migration: Thoroughly test your game after migrating to Edgegap, ensuring that all features and services function correctly and the performance meets your expectations.
Monitor and optimize: After successfully switching to Edgegap, monitor your game's performance and resource usage. Make any necessary optimizations to improve the gaming experience further.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Edgegap
AWS Gamelift
Leverages edge computing through the world's multi-cloud network for optimized latency and performance.
Managed orchestration service.
Distributed edge computing deployments nearest to players to lower latency & improve multiplayer experience.
Region-based server selection selection on AWS Regions and Availability Zones
Extensive global distribution with over 17+ providers with 615+ locations worldwide.
34 Regions and 108 Availability Zones
Pay-as-you-go by the minute, paying only for active use and traffic, with precise costs calculations.
Pay-as-you-go (Based on usage and AWS resources)
Plugins for native support within the Unity & Unreal editor, and support for Godot, Cocos. Soon available for Bevy.
Deployable with major game engine supporting cloud game servers.
Up to 14M CCCU with dynamic rapid-scaling of 40 deployments per seconds for 60 minutes sustained.
Auto-scaling with possibility of wasted capacity due to server-based vertical scaling.
Comprehensive documentation, dashboard, and 24/7 support for clients.
Documentation, dashboard, and limited support.
"One click" plugins for major game engine (Unreal, Unity), alonside seamless SDK/API integration. Video tutorials for major engine, netcodes & more.
AWS is extremely complex to use for newcomers.
Optimized, low-latency network due to the world's largest edge computing network built by Edgegap.
Region-based server selection.
17+ providers, including public cloud and Bare Metal, for multi-cloud to ensure automatic rerounting of traffic for the ultimate resilience.
AWS Regions and Zones.
