From the adrenaline-pumping action of battle royale games like Fortnite and PUBG to the lore-rich worlds of MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft, multiplayer games offer immersion like never before, along with the chance to interact with other players in real-time.
But as multiplayer games have gotten bigger, increasingly complex, and more resource-intensive, you’ll have noticed their hardware demands have grown, too.
If you’ve been playing a multiplayer game and your PC fans start going full throttle or your machine heats up, it’s a surefire sign that your resources are being pushed to the max. They’re resource-intensive and demand substantial computational power to run smoothly.
Multiplayer games often push the boundaries of what today’s hardware can handle. They boast bleeding-edge graphics, complex simulations, large-scale environments, intelligent enemies, and more. Great examples include Cyberpunk 2077, which is known for its detailed open world and advanced graphics, and Microsoft Flight Simulator, which simulates the entire Earth with real-time weather and traffic.
There’s no real end to where we’re going with bigger and detail-oriented games in the next few years. One game that comes to mind is the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, which will likely set entirely new precedents in terms of how much we can practically get out of current and next-gen hardware—especially if they decide to add a multiplayer element to it, as they have with the previous iteration.
What Contributes to A Game’s High Resource Demands?
A few factors contribute to multiplayer games’ high resource demands. High-resolution textures, lighting, and complex shaders create visually stunning environments but require considerable GPU power to render effectively. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 highlight this with their lifelike cityscapes, countryside, and detailed character models.
Elaborate game mechanics combined with physics simulations add to the computational load. Realistic physics, such as those in racing simulators, demand precise calculations for vehicle dynamics, collisions, and environmental interactions. These simulations rely heavily on the CPU to maintain accuracy and responsiveness.
Large-scale environments paired with endless player interactions put more strain on the system. Massively multiplayer online games, such as EVE Online, feature expansive universes with thousands of players engaging in real-time combat and trade, and managing these interactions smoothly requires both powerful hardware and efficient game design.
Survival-based titles like DayZ add another layer of intensity with persistent open worlds, unpredictable player behavior, and system-driven elements like weather and loot spawning, creating a heavy load on computers and servers running the game. To maximize performance, many players prefer setting up their own community servers, as they offer better performance stability than official servers.
AI is also adding to the load, as we’re beginning to see its integration in more multiplayer games. AI is used for NPC behavior and other areas of the game, but it also means increased CPU usage due to the advanced decision-making, pathfinding, adaptation, and powerful real-time physics processing capabilities AI systems provide.
The Impact on The Gaming Experience
If you have a powerful, high-spec machine, you’ll enjoy smoother gameplay, faster load times, and more immersive visuals. Conversely, if you’ve got less powerful, older hardware, you’re likely to encounter performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and reduced graphical fidelity, which greatly detracts from the fun of playing the game, sometimes making it impossible to play.
Developers work hard to balance visual quality and performance so that games run smoothly on as many hardware configurations as possible. Techniques such as dynamic resolution scaling, level of detail (LOD) adjustments, and efficient use of system resources help maintain a consistent gaming experience across different platforms.
The game itself isn’t always the issue, either, especially when we consider how Windows functions on devices with older hardware. This is partly why more gamers are turning to alternative operating systems such as Linux (including derivatives like SteamOS), which has become a much more stable choice than just a few years ago. In fact, many developers have begun to support official Linux ports for a variety of multiplayer games.
How To Meet Increased Hardware Demands
You can invest in more powerful hardware to meet the challenges posed by high-resource games. CPUs and GPUs have the biggest overall impact on gaming performance. The CPU handles game logic, AI calculations, and physics simulations, while the GPU renders graphics and visual effects. High-end games often require multi-core CPUs and powerful GPUs to maintain smooth frame rates and reduce latency.
Alongside raw processing power, you need enough RAM to store game data and assets. A lack of RAM leads to stuttering and slowdowns, especially in games with large, open worlds. Storage solutions, such as SSDs, also reduce load times and improve your machine’s responsiveness.
A stable and fast internet connectivity is a must when it comes to multiplayer games. A reliable connection means low ping while minimizing lag, bettering the real-time interaction between players.
The Future of Multiplayer Gaming
The ever-increasing power of GPUs and CPUs will mean more realistic gaming experiences in the coming years. New technologies like real-time ray tracing and advanced AI will also become more accessible. For players, this equates to improved visual fidelity and better gameplay.
Cloud gaming and streaming services are set to play a role, too. Platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now allow players to enjoy top-end games without needing powerful local hardware at home. These services rely on cloud infrastructure to handle the heavy computational lifting, making gaming more accessible to a broader audience on tablet and mobile.
We’re also seeing the integration of VR, AR, and mixed-reality technologies, which have new immersion and real-time interaction dimensions. However, their general adoption in multiplayer games is not as complete as was hoped a few years ago.
The resource-intensive nature of multiplayer games is a testament to the industry’s commitment to pushing what’s possible in virtual environments. While these demands present challenges for hardware, they’re needed to drive innovation in an industry where players are always looking for the next big release.
Going forward, game studios will need to strike the right balance between resource demands and accessibility, which is more important than ever for shaping the future of multiplayer gaming as a whole.