Unity has a number of multiplayer packages and services available to help you create a multiplayer project. If you’re just getting started with multiplayer games, the recommended entry point is the Multiplayer Center package.
The Multiplayer Center provides a starting point to create a multiplayer game. It recommends Unity multiplayer packages and services based on the needs of your game, and gives you access to samples and tutorials to help you use them.
The Multiplayer Center package is installed in the Editor by default. It opens automatically when you create a new multiplayer project in the Editor, or you can open it directly using Window > Multiplayer > Multiplayer Center.
The Multiplayer Services package provides an SDK to add multiplayer elements to a game that leverage Unity Gaming Services (UGS) to define how groups of players interact in your games through Sessions. You can use the Multiplayer Widgets package to easily test aspects of the workflow before further developing them yourself.
The Multiplayer Services package is compatible by default with both Netcode for GameObjects and Netcode for Entities, while also supporting custom networking solutions for more advanced use cases.
Netcode for GameObjects is a high-level networkingThe Unity system that enables multiplayer gaming across a computer network. More info
See in Glossary library that abstracts networking logic and allows you to send GameObjectsThe fundamental object in Unity scenes, which can represent characters, props, scenery, cameras, waypoints, and more. A GameObject’s functionality is defined by the Components attached to it. More info
See in Glossary and world data across a networking session to many players at once. It’s suitable for most types of multiplayer project, but if you want to create a large or highly-optimized game then Netcode for Entities might be a better choice. Netcode for GameObjects supports both client-server and distributed authority network topologies.
Netcode for GameObjects is compatible with Multiplayer Tools, Multiplayer Play Mode, the Dedicated Server package, and Unity’s Gaming Services.
Netcode for Entities is part of Unity’s Data-Oriented Technology Stack (DOTS) and provides a server-authoritative networking solution with a client prediction framework that you can use to create multiplayer games. It can be used for any multiplayer project, but is primarily recommended for large-scale games that require heavy optimization and for advanced developers that have experience making multiplayer games. Netcode for Entities only supports client-server network topologies.
Netcode for Entities is compatible with Multiplayer Tools, Multiplayer Play Mode, the Dedicated Server package, and Unity’s Gaming Services.
The Multiplayer Tools package provides a variety of tools to analyze, debug, and test your multiplayer game, including a profiler and network simulator. You can install the package using the Unity Package Manager, and access it from the Editor using Window > Multiplayer Tools.
Multiplayer Tools is compatible with both Netcode for GameObjects and Netcode for Entities.
Use Multiplayer Play Mode to test multiplayer functionality from within the Unity Editor. You can simulate up to four Players (the main Editor Player and three Virtual Players) simultaneously on the same development device while using the same source assets on disk. You can install the package using the Unity Package Manager, and access it from the Editor using Window > Multiplayer Play Mode.
Multiplayer Play Mode is compatible with Netcode for GameObjects, Netcode for Entities, the Dedicated Server package, and Unity’s Gaming Services.
The Unity Transport package is a low-level networking library for multiplayer game development. It’s the underlying protocol for both Netcode for GameObjects and Netcode for Entities, but you can also use it with a custom solution. Unity Transport supports all platforms the Unity Engine supports using a connection-based abstraction layer (built-in network driver) provided over User Datagram Protocol (UDP) and WebSockets.
You can install the package using the Unity Package Manager.
The Dedicated Server package allows you to switch a project between the server and client role without the need to create another project, improving the multiplayer development workflow when targeting the Dedicated Server build target. You can install the package using the Unity Package Manager.
The Dedicated Server package is compatible with Netcode for GameObjects, Netcode for Entities, and Multiplayer Play Mode.
The Multiplayer Services package provides an SDK to add multiplayer elements to a game that leverage these Unity Gaming Services (UGS) to define how groups of players interact in your games through Sessions.
Multiplay Hosting is Unity’s scalable server hosting platform. It’s a self-serve experience for hosting and scaling your game that removes the complexity of running and operating infrastructure at scale, so you can focus on developing your multiplayer projects.
Unity’s Lobby service provides a way for players to discover and connect to each other in a multiplayer game.
Unity Matchmaker automatically assigns remote players to a game instance and helps you to customize your matchmaking logic.
Unity Relay allows players to use a join code to connect to a game instance. Instead of using Dedicated Game Servers, the Relay service provides connectivity through a universal Relay server acting as a proxy.