Real-Time Gaming Backend

The Problem

A gaming studio needed a backend for their real-time multiplayer strategy game that could handle thousands of concurrent players with sub-50ms latency. The initial Node.js prototype couldn't maintain connection stability under load, and game state synchronization between players was unreliable — causing desyncs, lost turns, and player frustration.

The Solution

Built the real-time game backend in Elixir with Phoenix Channels for WebSocket management, leveraging the BEAM VM's lightweight process model for per-player state management. Designed a distributed game state system using Redis for fast reads and PostgreSQL for persistence. Implemented conflict resolution, reconnection handling, and a spectator mode — all while maintaining strict latency budgets.

Results

• <50ms average latency for game state updates across all regions
• 10,000+ concurrent players sustained during load testing
• 99.9% uptime in production over the first 6 months
• Zero game-state desyncs after launch — down from hundreds daily on the prototype
• Spectator mode and replay system shipped as bonus features within timeline

Technologies