Dedicated Game Servers vs. P2P

To know which server will work best for you, you need to take a look at all the differences and similarities between dedicated servers and peer-to-peer servers. Peer-to-peer (P2P) servers use server technology and spread it across a network of hosts. Unlike dedicated servers, which have their resources and central platform in one location, each hub or server in a P2P network divides hosting responsibilities evenly.

In comparison to dedicated servers, peer-to-peer servers are relatively new technologies. People use both for a variety of practical purposes.

What Are Dedicated Game Servers?

A dedicated gaming server is a private, fully remote server that hosts video games for the server admin and all the other remote players who connect to the server. Using this type of private server, players experience online gaming at its best. It provides a smooth experience backed by a supply of processing and storage, no matter how memory-intensive the game is.

Unlike shared servers, which distribute resources among various users, a dedicated server gives the user exclusive access to those resources. This means that the server's memory, processing power, bandwidth, and storage are only used to execute the game, resulting in good performance and stability during gaming sessions.

What Is a P2P Server?

Peer-to-peer gaming or P2P gaming, refers to a multiplayer game that is hosted by one of the players’ machines, whether that be a PC or a gaming console. When using a P2P server, a local client, either the player who first joined the server or the player with the best connection is selected to host the game for all other players. The problem is that you're relying on at least one of the players to have adequate computing power, bandwidth, storage space, and an internet connection. If that is not available, the game may become glitchy, and the entire game may be dropped.

Dedicated Game Servers vs. P2P

In order to make a decision when choosing between dedicated game servers or P2P, you need to understand their similarities and their differences. Let’s take a look at both of these:

What Are the Similarities Between Dedicated Game Servers and a P2P Network?

A similarity between dedicated and peer-to-peer shines through if you were to make a game server. Game developers generally don’t provide dedicated servers to their users. All they need is a controller server to host and list the dedicated servers for which the game’s players wind up footing the bill.

Regarding P2P gaming, people continue to host your server platform, but the framework has changed slightly. For example, all gamers using the platform share resources. You do not have to select from a list of servers. Players simply need to join a team or lobby and choose a game type.

What Are the Differences Between Dedicated Game Servers and a P2P Network?

Significant differences between dedicated game servers and a P2P network is the size of the organisation they can accommodate, their budget, and their responsibility.

Looking at peer-to-peer and dedicated servers, you’ll see that P2P’s capabilities are somewhat limited. You’ll only be able to support a small network in a peer-to-peer framework. 

What Are the Advantages of Dedicated Game Servers?

Dedicated game servers provide various benefits for developers and gamers alike. Here are the top benefits of a dedicated game server:

• Ideal for synchronous multiplayer games: dedicated gaming servers are a particularly popular option for synchronous multiplayer games (SMGs), as they require a lot of infrastructure to support all the real-time action. The control of resources, power and connectivity available to dedicated gaming server hosts make dedicated gaming servers the preferred choice for SMGs.
• Control: dedicated gaming server hosting allows control over how many players can join the game, or restrict users from joining the server if they break the rules.
• Customisation: dedicated gaming servers also allow the game rules to be customised. For example, the number of rounds played can be customised.

What Are the Disadvantages of Dedicated Game Servers?

Even though dedicated game servers provide various benefits, there are certain disadvantages. This includes:

• Cost: Dedicated game servers can be expensive to purchase or rent, especially if you need to pay extra for additional features.
• Expertise required: Managing a game server requires some basic knowledge of networking, command-line interface, and system administration.
• Time and effort: Setting up and maintaining a game server can be challenging, especially if the hosting provider doesn't offer features to simplify the process.

What Are the Advantages of a P2P Network?

In order to make an informed decision between dedicated and P2P servers, you need to understand the advantages of both. Here are the advantages of a P2P network:

• Cost: P2P networks operate without an expensive server which makes it a cheaper and more budget-friendly option. 
• Flexibility: Each user manages their own computer, eliminating the need for a network manager.
• Network traffic: P2P networks typically have less network traffic than a client-server network.

What Are the Disadvantages of a P2P Network?

Just like with dedicated game servers, P2P networks also have their disadvantages. This includes:

• Dependence on player connections: The main issue with peer-to-peer gaming is its reliance on players having sufficient internet speeds, usually within their homes. 
• Host advantage: The host of the peer-to-peer gaming server has a definite advantage over the other gamers. They have almost zero ping, which is not what you want in a competitive game.
• Security concerns: Peer-to-peer gaming is vulnerable to sabotage by players who can intentionally induce lag when there is no central authority in the form of a neutral server.