Best Dedicated Game Server Hosting – A Guide for Devs

Hello Devs! If you’re looking for the best dedicated game server hosting for your game, you’ve come to the right place. Having a dedicated server ensures that your game is always available for your players, and that you have complete control over how it’s managed. But with so many hosting options out there, it can be hard to know where to start. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best dedicated game server hosting options available, and help you select the one that’s right for you.

What is Dedicated Game Server Hosting?

Before we dive into the best dedicated game server hosting options on the market, let’s take a closer look at what dedicated game server hosting actually is. A dedicated game server is a physical server that is solely dedicated to hosting your game. Unlike shared hosting, where your game shares server resources with other websites, a dedicated server gives you complete control over the server’s resources, allowing you to configure it to suit your game’s specific needs. This means that you can allocate more CPU power, RAM, and disk space to your game, ensuring that it runs smoothly and without interruptions.

Why Choose Dedicated Game Server Hosting?

There are many advantages to using dedicated game server hosting, including:

Advantages
Explanation
Increased Performance
A dedicated server ensures that your game always has access to the resources it needs, resulting in faster load times, smoother gameplay, and fewer crashes.
Greater Control
With a dedicated server, you have complete control over how the server is configured, allowing you to optimize it for your game’s specific needs.
Better Security
Dedicated servers are more secure than shared hosting, as they are not vulnerable to security breaches caused by other websites hosted on the same server.
Flexibility
With dedicated game server hosting, you can choose the operating system, control panel, and other software that you want to use, giving you complete flexibility over how your server is set up.

Top 5 Best Dedicated Game Server Hosting Providers

1. HostGator

HostGator is a well-known web hosting company that also offers dedicated game server hosting. With HostGator, you can choose between Linux and Windows operating systems, and you can scale up or down as your game grows. HostGator offers managed hosting, which means that they take care of the server maintenance, security, and updates, so you can focus on developing your game.

Pros

  • 24/7/365 support
  • 99.9% uptime guarantee
  • Easy to use control panel
  • Scalability

Cons

  • Higher pricing compared to other providers
  • No live chat support
  • Only offers one data center location

2. BlueHost

BlueHost is another popular web hosting company that offers dedicated game server hosting. They offer both Windows and Linux operating systems, and you can customize your server with different RAM, CPU, and disk space options. BlueHost also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try their services risk-free.

Pros

  • 24/7 support
  • Free domain name registration
  • Easy to use control panel
  • Customizable server options

Cons

  • Higher pricing compared to other providers
  • No live chat support
  • Limited data center locations

3. InMotion Hosting

InMotion Hosting offers dedicated game server hosting with both Linux and Windows operating systems. They offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee, 24/7 support, and a user-friendly control panel. InMotion Hosting also offers free server backups, so you can ensure that your game data is always safe.

READ ALSO  Difference Between Hosting and Server

Pros

  • 24/7 support
  • Free server backups
  • User-friendly control panel
  • Scalability

Cons

  • Higher pricing compared to other providers
  • Limited data center locations
  • No live chat support

4. Liquid Web

Liquid Web is a premium web hosting company that offers dedicated game server hosting. They offer fully managed hosting, which means that they take care of the server maintenance, security, and updates. Liquid Web also offers 24/7 support, and a 100% uptime guarantee.

Pros

  • Fully managed hosting
  • 24/7 support
  • 100% uptime guarantee
  • Customizable server options

Cons

  • Higher pricing compared to other providers
  • No live chat support
  • Limited data center locations

5. A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting offers both unmanaged and managed dedicated game server hosting. They offer a variety of operating systems, including Windows and Linux, and customizable server options. A2 Hosting also offers 24/7 support, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Pros

  • Customizable server options
  • 99.9% uptime guarantee
  • 24/7 support
  • Flexibility

Cons

  • Limited data center locations
  • No live chat support
  • Unmanaged hosting requires server management skills

FAQ

What is the difference between shared hosting and dedicated hosting?

Shared hosting means that your website shares server resources with other websites, which can result in slower load times, less control over the server, and less security. Dedicated hosting means that you have a physical server dedicated solely to your website, which results in faster load times, more control over the server, and better security.

Is managed hosting worth the extra cost?

If you don’t have server management skills, managed hosting is definitely worth the extra cost. Managed hosting means that the hosting company takes care of the server maintenance, security, and updates, so you don’t have to.

Do I need a dedicated server for my game?

It depends on the size and complexity of your game, as well as the number of players you expect to support. If you’re running a small indie game with a limited player base, shared hosting may be sufficient. However, if you’re running a larger game with a larger player base, a dedicated server is usually necessary.

How much does dedicated game server hosting cost?

The cost of dedicated game server hosting varies depending on the hosting provider, the server specifications, and the level of management required. Prices can range from $50 to $500 or more per month.

Can I switch hosting providers if I’m not happy with my current one?

Yes, you can switch hosting providers at any time. However, it’s important to carefully research and compare hosting providers before making a switch, to ensure that you’re getting the best deal and the best service possible.

Conclusion

Choosing the best dedicated game server hosting provider for your game is an important decision that can have a big impact on your game’s performance, security, and overall success. By considering factors such as pricing, scalability, support, and uptime guarantees, you can make an informed decision that will help ensure the success of your game. We hope that this guide has been helpful in your search for the best dedicated game server hosting provider, and wish you the best of luck in your game development endeavors!