If you're looking for a service to build online games and virtual worlds without worrying about the back-end servers to run them, Beamable is a good contender. It's got a complete set of tools built on a serverless design using microservices and C# scripting. That means developers can build and deploy games without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. Beamable supports Unity and Unreal Engine and has features like events, tournaments and leaderboards. It's got a free tier and flexible pricing plans.
Another option is Dreamlab, which is geared for building multiplayer games with today's web technology. It lets developers concentrate on game design by handling real-time multiplayer abilities and AI-generated assets. Dreamlab supports web-based development and real-time collaboration, and games can be published as standalone web apps or Discord Activities. It also comes with an integrated AI coding assistant and a developer support program.
If you want to build cross-platform multiplayer games, Photon Engine could be a good option. It's got sophisticated state synchronization and low-latency cloud hosting for Android, iOS and PC games. Photon Engine has features like voice and chat support, matchmaking and room management, so it's adaptable to developers large and small. The service has a free plan and relatively inexpensive upgrade options.
Last, Azure PlayFab is a broad set of tools for building and operating live games on multiple platforms. It includes tools for multiplayer services, analytics, live operations and more. With flexible pricing and good security, it's geared for helping developers quickly build and operate live games, so it's a good option for those who want to expand their projects without a lot of back-end work.