Where can I host a Master Server?

Unity Engine
1

Hi,
Two questions.
Firstly can I use the default Unity Master Server for my game?It seems to work OK. If not why not?
Secondly, if not can you suggest a cheap/free hosting service where I can host a Master Server? I am on Yahoo Business for my website can I use this at all?
(Or maybe someone out there has a Master Server I can use for a small price? Like £1 a month?)

2

From the docs:

Meaning that they can shut it down whenever they want.
Also, the masterserver is an application which you can’t run on a website, you need a physical server with an OS.

3

Sure they could shut it down. Then again Mark Zuckerberg could decide to shut Facebook down. But is there anything stopping me from just using it anyway? Like will Unity object to that? Would anyone from Unity like to comment? I wouldn’t mind paying Unity a small subscription if they would guarantee a stable Master Server, I’m sure others would like that too! Would they consider making the Master Server available for commercial purposes?

Yes the master server EXE file has to run on a physical server, I was asking are there any companies out there that could host this on their server? (Websites are hosted on “physical” servers with an OS so I don’t get what you’re saying). Or alternatively I hear some people have made a PHP version?

4

“Then again Mark Zuckerberg could decide to shut Facebook down.”
This is not really a bad idea.

5

So I take it that if I use Unity’s Master Server for my commercial game they won’t object?

6

Not really a good comparison, Facebook is Facebook’s only source of revenue. Hosting MasterServer only costs money for Unity, and isn’t core to their business model.

In the IT industry (at least in some circles), there is a saying about never building a business model around an API you don’t own or have control over. People mostly are speaking about Google who has a tendency to just shut down APIs with a very short notice period. Any time you are getting something for free because a company chooses to give it to you, be prepared to lose it at any time.

7

The ‘physical server’ your looking for is known as a Virtual Private Server (VPS), which can be bought for a varies amounts of money. Just google VPS hosting and you’ll find your answer.
You could find one as slow as $5/per month if you looked hard enough.

  • NKR.