Nerial Goes From Single to Multiplayer in Weeks Without Hiring Additional Backend Engineers

Nerial, the UK-based indie studio behind the hit Reigns series, took a bold step with Reigns: Three Kingdoms by adding asynchronous, turn-based multiplayer for the first time. Players could now challenge opponents around the world, marking a major shift for a team known for narrative-driven singleplayer games.

To bring this vision to life, Nerial partnered with AccelByte who provided tailored backend solutions that handled matchmaking, friend codes, and Netflix authentication.

What might have taken a small team two to three months to build internally from scratch was completed in just a few weeks allowing Nerial to stay on schedule and deliver a seamless multiplayer experience without needing to hire additional backend engineers.

Mission and Vision    

Nerial’s goal has always been to craft simple yet meaningful narrative experiences. While their games are easy to pick up, such as the bubble-popping Singular and the 18th-century French adventure Card Shark, they are layered with depth and humor that captivate players. With Reigns: Three Kingdoms, they aimed to push their creative boundaries beyond singleplayer experiences by:

• Introducing a multiplayer feature
• Allowing players to engage in strategic, turn-based duels

The Game: “Reigns: Three Kingdoms”   

In this installment of the Reigns series, players swipe left or right to make decisions as rulers of ancient China, navigating the political intrigue of the Three Kingdoms period.

For the first time in the franchise, multiplayer functionality was introduced, enabling players to challenge friends or other opponents.

This feature added a new layer of complexity, requiring AccelByte’s backend solution to manage matchmaking and peer-to-peer battles without compromising the game’s signature simplicity.

The Challenge  

With no prior experience in multiplayer, going from singleplayer to multiplayer was uncharted territory for Nerial. François Alliot, the design director, recognized that this shift required careful integration to preserve accessibility while ensuring smooth and reliable experience and sought a solution that could:

• Solve both technical and platform-specific challenges
• Handle matchmaking, friend codes, and player connections
• Integrate with Netflix's mobile platform and authentication system
• Provide scalable multiplayer infra that works with their game’s unique mechanics

All without hiring additional engineers to build it all themselves from scratch. 

The Solution  

AccelByte provided exactly what Nerial needed to bring multiplayer to life. By collaborating closely with the studio, we delivered solutions that were both custom-tailored and scalable:

• Custom Matchmaking and Friend Code Integration: AccelByte developed a matchmaking system specifically for Reigns: Three Kingdoms, allowing players to connect using unique friend codes.
  
  
• Turn-Based Multiplayer Support: We adapted our backend to support the asynchronous, turn-based gameplay structure and enable smooth peer-to-peer communication after matchmaking.
  
  
• Netflix Integration: AccelByte integrated the game with Netflix’s authentication system, enabling secure player logins and making the game easily accessible on Netflix’s mobile platform.  

Cost-Effective, Scalable Solution: AccelByte worked with Nerial to align the pricing structure with their needs and only charged them for the specific services required, such as matchmaking and peer-to-peer connections.

Results   

With AccelByte’s support, Nerial successfully launched Reigns: Three Kingdoms with full multiplayer functionality on schedule. AccelByte’s tailored backend solutions streamlined complex processes that would’ve taken months for a small team to build on their own. By working with AccelByte, Nerial was able to:

• Implement matchmaking in weeks instead of 2–3 months
• Avoid hiring additional engineers and continuous maintenance
• Integrate friend codes and Netflix authentication without building infrastructure
• Launch multiplayer without compromising gameplay performance or design vision 

AccelByte’s support allowed Nerial to focus on what they do best: building creative, narrative driven games resulting in a smooth multiplayer launch and an improved gameplay experience.  

Looking Forward  

With AccelByte’s backend in place, Nerial not only powered their first multiplayer venture but also are eager to explore more multiplayer elements in future projects. The studio plans to continue leveraging AccelByte’s expertise to push the boundaries of narrative-driven multiplayer games. Their successful experience with Reigns: Three Kingdoms has opened the door to even more ambitious projects.

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