In the world of gaming, pixels and polygons converge to create immersive experiences, and the future is always in a state of rapid transformation.

The boundaries of what’s possible are continually pushed as technology and innovation join forces to redefine the landscape. Game developers are adapting to new working models, and the global workforce is contributing to the industry’s growth. With the continued development of cloud technologies and the exploration of immersive experiences, the gaming world is poised for even greater advancements in the years to come.

“I think game development in the cloud right now is pretty strong,” said Zach Blitz (pictured, right), head of core technology at Epic Games Inc. “Throughout COVID, the cloud really enabled game studios to go remote, enabled to be kind of s spread globally. And I think about game development in the cloud … Amazon specifically has done a lot to help with things that are kind of outside of the game server.”

Blitz and Chris Lee (left), general manager and director for rendering, game and geospatial technologies at Amazon Web Services Inc., spoke with theCUBE industry analyst John Furrier at the AWS “Enabling Global Collaboration in Game Development” event, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed how the cloud has become a game-changer in the development process and how the very essence of game developers is evolving. (* Disclosure below.)

Game development in the cloud: Transforming the industry

The gaming industry has seen significant growth over the years, with gamers of the past becoming veterans while new enthusiasts join the ranks. This transformation brings a wealth of opportunities, from gamification to expanding audiences. However, at the heart of this evolution lies the integration of technology, and the cloud has played a pivotal role.

“We also have things like game production in the cloud we’re talking about here today and game security, game servers,” Lee said. “We’re talking about live operations and maybe data and analytics in that growth phase to really help game developers understand what’s going on in their games and what’s going on with their population to make sure that they can understand the best ways to engage their players and make the best experience for them possible.”

Everything that occurs within the game server and everything outside were two facets of game development within the cloud highlighted by Blitz and Lee. AWS has been instrumental in supporting the latter, offering solutions such as GameLift, which streamline game server management.

“Things like GameLift have been really welcome additions to the industry, especially in areas where startups would have to build game server management platforms on their own,” Blitz said.

The changing face of game developers: Adaptation and optimism

As the gaming industry grows and embraces the era of games as a service, the dynamics within the game development workforce have shifted. Traditionally, game development often involved intense, crunch-filled periods leading up to a fixed release date. Developers faced immense pressure and burnout, leading to a less sustainable work environment.

“The pandemic was this really transformational time for game developers, where we had to radically shift from a lot of culture around building games in the same building together to a more hybrid workforce or fully remote workforce,” Lee said. “We’re seeing game developers really want to think about how they work coming out of the post pandemic.”

However, the advent of games as a service has ushered in a more optimistic approach. Developers now have the flexibility to launch a minimum viable product and iterate based on player feedback. This approach reduces the need for high-pressure crunch times and allows for a more gradual optimization process, according to Blitz.

“Games today go out rather unoptimized and then kind of gradually become more optimized just as any business would over time,” he added. “I think the cloud definitely provides the ability for devs to do that.”

Global workforce and the role of cloud providers

The availability of remote work has expanded access to a global talent pool, allowing game studios to tap into expertise from around the world. This has led to a surge in demand for computing power and fidelity, driving the need for elastic resources.

“I think observability, single panes of glass are huge for us both in terms of where players are, where they aren’t, how to be elastic in the right environment,” Blitz said. “Service, health, all of that stuff is a huge deal … I think having excellent data people manage at both of those companies is really critical to both business health and operational health.”

Latency is also an important consideration, especially in competitive gaming and esports. The cloud’s role in providing low-latency solutions, such as Amazon’s Local Zones, is pivotal in ensuring a seamless gaming experience. These solutions enable game developers to optimize player interactions and engagement.

“We are very excited to get the edge closer to players,” Lee said. “We’re always looking at the way that our customers want to engage their player base and where they need the edge in relation to those players to make sure they have a great game experience that meets the unique needs of their games.”

Another topic creating excitement is the role of generative artificial intelligence in game development. AWS is actively working to democratize AI and machine learning for game developers, making it more accessible and cost-effective. This paves the way for innovative game experiences that leverage the power of AI, according to Lee.

“We’re very excited about generative AI at AWS,” he said. “We really want to help every game developer figure out how they can incorporate that into their game production. One of the things we talk about is helping every company be an AI company if that’s their goal.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the AWS “Enabling Global Collaboration in Game Development” event:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for the AWS “Enabling Global Collaboration in Game Development” event. Neither Amazon Web Services Inc., the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE