Multiplayer Game Backend

[bsharif]

I have some card games already published in google play store (All free). I used real-time multiplayer of google play game services for online multiplayer feature. But, Real-time multiplayer in Play Game Services will go away on March 31, 2020. So, I am trying to find a better alternative. What I want:

• Player Authentication (Email, Facebook, Guest)

• Leaderboards

• Store and Manage Player Data

• Chat

• Real-time Multiplayer (or, Active Turn-based Multiplayer)

In short I want to make something like Zynga poker or similar kind or card games. My findings so far,

• PlayFab + Photon: Perfect according to their claim. Also I have found good tutorials. For example,
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQtQZ-LT5gU

• Gamesparks: Will do my job. https://docs.gamesparks.com/tutorials/community-tutorials/multiplayer-games-with-gamesparks-and-unity1.html

• Firebase: Google suggested to consider Firebase but can’t find any unity multiplayer tutorial.

• Nakama: Free or $599. Cant find any tutorial.

Now the main issue is pricing as all of my apps are free and there is no in app purchase. I have at least 200k monthly active user. If I consider, PlayFab for Authentication and Photon for multiplayer, according to photon ˜ 400 k MAU and 1000 CCU will cost me $185. But on a peak time my required CCU will be greater than 1000. And on PlayFab Unlimited MAU for Essentials free package. I don’t know how much it will cost me if I want to use PlayFab and Photon together. On the other hand Gamesparks will cost 299 + .008 after 37375 MAU. So I guess it will cost me more. About Firebase Blaze Plan will cost a lot. Nakama, how to use the free one?

Which will be better and less costly for me? Is there any other good alternatives? If anyone can help I will be very grateful and thanks in advance.

[g_a_p]

You may also want to consider SmartFoxServer 2X. The price of the Elastic License for 1000 CCU is 50€/month, to which you have to add the cost of the hosting service.
From the features point of view, there’s no out-of-the-box leaderboard, and it is up to you to implement Facebook authentication. The other features you are looking for are fully supported.
You can learn more here: SmartFoxServer 2X documentation: introduction

[bsharif]

@g_a_p

You may also want to consider SmartFoxServer 2X. The price of the Elastic License for 1000 CCU is 50€/month, to which you have to add the cost of the hosting service.
From the features point of view, there’s no out-of-the-box leaderboard, and it is up to you to implement Facebook authentication. The other features you are looking for are fully supported.
You can learn more here: http://docs2x.smartfoxserver.com/ExamplesUnity/introduction

Thanks for the information. I’ll definitely have a look.

[MrsPiggy]

@bsharif In your requisite list you did not include server authority. Since you’ve mentioned card games I’d expect it to be an essential requirement. If so, I’d add a +1 for SmartFoxServer. Very solid choice for any client-server multiplayer game, imho.