Photon Engine: 5 Key Technologies for Multiplayer Games

Contents:

• Photon Engine Overview
• Photon Engine Multiplayer Development Tools
• Games Developed with Photon Engine

Photon Engine is a comprehensive suite of technologies and services designed for creating multiplayer games. In this article, the editorial team of Gamedev Skillbox Media will talk in detail about the capabilities of this technology, its creators, and products under the Photon brand.

Photon Engine Overview

Photon Engine is the result of the work of Exit Games, which has been actively developing its solutions since 2004. The technologies offered to developers are constantly updated and adapted to the modern requirements of the gaming industry.
Photon products are based on client-server architecture, which greatly simplifies the integration of multiplayer into games. These solutions are compatible with popular game engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine, which makes them universal for developers. Photon also provides tools for player interaction, including voice and text chat.
Photon Engine servers run on the Photon Cloud platform, providing a stable connection for over 1.4 billion players worldwide. These numbers confirm the technology's popularity among a diverse audience of gamers.

Tools for developing multiplayer in Photon Engine

In 2025, Exit Games continues to offer game developers comprehensive solutions for creating Multiplayer projects. These tools significantly simplify the integration of network functions and ensure high-quality synchronization of game sessions, which is especially critical in the face of growing demand for cross-platform projects.

Photon Fusion

This network technology, introduced in 2022, has become the standard for indie and midcore studios using Unity by 2025. Its key advantages:

• predictable network code with deterministic physics (State Synchronization + Prediction);
• flexible architecture: support for both server and P2P modes;
• The free plan remains for projects with ≤20 CCU (Concurrent Users);
• Paid plans from $115/month (100 CCU) to $600/month (500+ CCU) with dynamic scaling.

Photon Quantum

By 2025, this tool has strengthened its position in the AAA projects and competitive gaming segment thanks to:

• complete replacement of low-level network code;
• built-in anti-cheat protection: server-side action verification algorithms;
• quantum synchronization: frame-perfect match for fighting and racing games;
• pricing policy: free for ≤20 CCU, paid - from $150/month (100 CCU) to $650/month (Enterprise)

Photon Realtime

The solution remains optimal for dynamic cross-play projects in 2025:

• Cross-platform: native support for Unity + Unreal Engine 5.3+, iOS/Android, PS6/Xbox Series Z, WebGL.
• Real-time chat: noise-canceled voice channels via Realtime Voice.
• Economy: free package (20 CCU), paid — from $145/month (100 CCU) with the possibility of hybrid deployments (cloud/on-premise).

Evolution of Legacy Solutions

Photon Bolt and PUN (Photon Unity Networking) technologies have officially been moved to legacy mode:

• Support is limited to Unity 2019–2022 LTS.
• New projects are not accepted into the SDK after Q1 2024.
• Developers are offered the PUN → Fusion migration tool with automatic conversion of RPC calls.
• Bolt expertise is retained only for enterprise clients.

Games developed using Photon Engine

Photon Engine has established itself as one of the leading engines for creating multiplayer games. Below is a list of popular projects developed with it:

• Albion Online — a multiplayer role-playing game in a fantasy setting;
• LEGO Star Wars Battles — an exciting strategy with construction elements;
• Project Winter — a cooperative survival game with elements of betrayal;
• Phasmophobia — a horror game in which players act as hunters for ghosts;
• Risk — a classic strategy game;
• Tannenberg — a historical shooter dedicated to World War I;
• Soccer Battle — an arcade football simulator.