Last week, developer Bungie revealed big details about Destiny 2, getting mixed reactions. However, there was one thing that disappointed almost everybody: no dedicated servers. Following the criticism on Thursday, the developer revealed more details about the game’s network infrastructure in an attempt to reduce the concerns of players and explain why the team believes in the strategy it has chosen.
Why Destiny 2 lacks dedicated servers
In the most recent weekly blog post, engineering boss Matt Segur talked about how the game’s “networking model” works and why there are no dedicated servers. Segur explained that every activity in the game is hosted by one of their servers, which means the user will never again suffer a host migration during a Trails match or Raid attempt.
“This differs from Destiny 1, where these hosting duties were performed by player consoles and only script and mission logic ran in the data center,” the executive said.
Users can check the in-depth video Destiny 1 presentation from the Game Developers Conference to understand the foundation on which the game developer is working.
“Using the terms from this talk, in Destiny 2, both the Mission Host and Physics Host will run in our data centers,” said Segur. The game uses a hybrid of peer-to-peer technology and client-server.
He explained that they have spent heavily on new server technology for Destiny 2, including cloud servers for gameplay, and in no way are they trying to save money by using peer -to-peer tech for the game. Further, he said that they have no regrets about the unique technology they have built for Destiny 2, and they really believe peer-to-peer technology is the best model for all competitive and cooperative experiences in the game.
Overall, the developer said that they are trying to ensure that the game feel responsive, is accessible to players worldwide, and is fair to all.
Bungie confident of overcoming PC challenges
The game is coming to PC with the peer-to-peer model, and some are concerned about cheating and other potential issues. Though the game developer acknowledged that the PC version comes with unique security challenges, they are confident that their security team is up to the task. He said that their “security Ninjas” have spent many years creating a plan for how to engage with this vibrant and new community.
“We have a variety of top-secret strategies to ensure that the life of a cheater in Destiny 2 PC will be nasty, brutish, and short,” the executive said.
Fans will be able to test the servers when the beta starts around the summer (or winter in Australia), notes PCGamer. Players can also send their feedback to help the developer adjust the game as needed. There is no exact date yet for the Destiny 2 beta’s release, nor is there any confirmation that the PC version will be included in it. We do know that the game is launching Sept. 8 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. More details on the upcoming game will come at E3 this year.
