• Question: how do game servers run globally 24/7

    Asked by ever520john on 11 Mar 2025.
    • Photo: Aurelia Brzezowska

      Aurelia Brzezowska answered on 11 Mar 2025:

      Game servers are designed to run 24/7 and not be turned off unlike a computer. Through what we call cloud computing and virtualization, you can use the internet to connect to these servers regardless of where you are in the world. Cloud computing makes this much easier by letting gamers around the world connect to their nearest data centers for a fast connection. Some companies choose to use in-house servers, where you connect to the same server in one location, which can cause lag though a lot of companies tend to buy multiple, some for each major country theyโ€™re in. Servers also donโ€™t come alone! If one does go down, companies usually have backups to keep the games running while everything updates or is maintained.

    • Photo: Kate Whyles

      Kate Whyles answered on 10 Apr 2025:

      Game servers are able to run 24/7 all around the world thanks to a mix of advanced technology and smart organisation. They are often hosted in big data centres filled with powerful computers that stay online with reliable power and cooling systems. Many developers use cloud services, which allow them to easily adjust the server resources as needed and place them in different locations worldwide. To keep everything running smoothly, they use load balancing to spread out the number of players across multiple servers so that no single one gets overwhelmed. Plus, they create backups of important game data on different servers, so if one fails, another can quickly take over with minimal disruption. Game companies also constantly monitor their servers for any issues and can update them automatically without causing downtime, ensuring players can jump in and enjoy the game anytime they want!

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