multiplayer

State synchronization broadcasts the complete game state to all clients, whereas input synchronization only sends player inputs, relying on deterministic simulation to reconstruct the state and reduce bandwidth.

Choosing a server architecture depends on your game type and scale: host-based models suit casual peer-to-peer sessions, while dedicated servers or client-server models provide the server authority and security needed for real-time or MMO games.

The best way to handle latency is implementing lag compensation techniques alongside strict server authority, allowing the game to reconcile client-side predictions with the authoritative server state for smooth real-time gameplay.

You need a dedicated server or a strict client-server model to enforce server authority and implement anti-cheat measures, preventing clients from directly manipulating the game state or bypassing security validations.

Optimize bandwidth in MMO games by selecting appropriate network update rates, compressing state synchronization payloads, and prioritizing input synchronization for critical real-time events over background state changes.