As we're finalizing our optimizations to the server and the client for the coming RO2 update, we're considering an option that I'd like to get feedback from the community on. We've made great strides in improving the server CPU performance in the beta with what looks to be a reduction of 30-40ms off of the ping times of players. We are at the point now with the beta where we truly believe that we've eeked out just about every last bit of performance that we can out of the server.
With that said we believe the game could still potentially benefit from lowering the max player count by reducing the server CPU load more and improving client performance. The number we've been kicking around as a possible best compromise would be about 50 players (same max as RO1). In our server tests that has resulted in pings that are a good 10+ milliseconds lower than with 64 players.
Since this is a big change I figured we ought to poll you, the community, before we made it. At the end of the day, we believe the most important thing is that players have a great experience when they play the game. Especially with an upcoming free weekend and promotions around the game, we feel the player experience will be vital to growing the playerbase. And with the gameplay experience between 50-64 players we feel it is potentially worth it. If players have an even better ping, and even better client performance it means there are more people that can get into and enjoy the game.
One idea we are considering as well is reducing the ranked server max to 50, but allowing unranked servers to run 64 players. In this way players still have the option to play on a 64 player server if their machine can handle it, and if the server CPU can handle the load.
So with all of that said, here is the poll, please let us know what you think.
- Reduce the player counts to 50 across the board
- Reduce the player counts to 50 on ranked servers, let unranked run 64
- Leave the player counts alone, we'll deal with it
With that said we believe the game could still potentially benefit from lowering the max player count by reducing the server CPU load more and improving client performance. The number we've been kicking around as a possible best compromise would be about 50 players (same max as RO1). In our server tests that has resulted in pings that are a good 10+ milliseconds lower than with 64 players.
Since this is a big change I figured we ought to poll you, the community, before we made it. At the end of the day, we believe the most important thing is that players have a great experience when they play the game. Especially with an upcoming free weekend and promotions around the game, we feel the player experience will be vital to growing the playerbase. And with the gameplay experience between 50-64 players we feel it is potentially worth it. If players have an even better ping, and even better client performance it means there are more people that can get into and enjoy the game.
One idea we are considering as well is reducing the ranked server max to 50, but allowing unranked servers to run 64 players. In this way players still have the option to play on a 64 player server if their machine can handle it, and if the server CPU can handle the load.
So with all of that said, here is the poll, please let us know what you think.
- Reduce the player counts to 50 across the board
- Reduce the player counts to 50 on ranked servers, let unranked run 64
- Leave the player counts alone, we'll deal with it