Genun Games is an indie studio based in Seattle that is renowned for its innovative approach to game development. Founded by four passionate developers, the multiplayer game development company has been working on Ascent Rivals for more than two and a half years. Ascent Rivals is a racing shooter hybrid, offering a unique “Death Race brawl” experience that sets it apart from other games in the genre.
Ascent Rivals combines high-speed racing with intense shooter gameplay, making it a standout in the gaming industry. Players participate in high-stakes eSports competitions, navigating dynamic environments while engaging in combat with opponents. The game's unique mechanics and competitive nature have made it a thrilling experience for players, having already won indie awards at Dreamhack and PAX.
“One of the things we always debated was whether to go with a networked game due to the complexities. AccelByte’s solutions made it feasible, providing the support we needed despite our small team.”
- Michael Yagi, CEO and Co-Founder of Genun Games
Challenges
- Managing multiplayer complexities with a small team
- Finding the best tools for indie game developers
- Ensuring effective skill-based matchmaking and custom lobbies
- Integrating social features across platforms like Steam, PSN, and Xbox
- Handling dynamic sponsorships and advertisements within the game
Solutions
- Enhanced competitive gameplay and provided personalized experiences with skill-based matchmaking and custom lobbies
- Enabled targeted branding and in-game advertising through dynamic sponsorships with AccelByte Extend
- Facilitated seamless platform integration with Steam, PSN, Xbox, and blockchain technology from Cardano using AccelByte’s Web SDK
- Managed dedicated servers in different regions to ensure low latency and seamless multiplayer experiences with AccelByte Multiplayer Servers (AMS)
Results
- Accelerated development timelines with faster iteration cycles.
- Reduced development workload, equivalent to the efforts of at least three full-time developers over a year.
- Enhanced flexibility with swift pivots in response to changing requirements
- Optimized game backend architecture to support robust multiplayer game development
