Super Evil Megacorp (SEMC) is a multi-award-winning game studio known for its ambition to build the very best cross-platform AAA multiplayer gaming experiences. SEMC firmly believes that mobile, PC, and console gamers shouldn’t be segregated. By insisting on gameplay parity across billions of mobile phones, PCs, consoles, and next-generation hybrid devices, SEMC aims to ensure gamers can compete with anyone, anywhere.
To support their latest games, Catalyst Black and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, SEMC needed a reliable backend infrastructure. These games required robust database solutions, networking, and monitoring capabilities. SEMC previously hosted their games on AWS and had in-house familiarity mainly with that environment from prior successful launches, like Vainglory. However, for cost efficiency and operational flexibility, SEMC decided to shift the infrastructure to Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
To avoid burdening their small development team, SEMC engaged ABCloudz to build, deploy, and maintain their new backend infrastructure.
Here’s how ABCloudz helped SEMC achieve their vision, step by step:
GCP migration while keeping development on track
SEMC’s small but growing team faced a significant technical challenge: shifting their backend infrastructure from AWS to GCP. The architecture was designed to closely follow SEMC’s proven approach from Vainglory, utilizing Couchbase, Redis, and Elasticsearch.
To successfully run multiplayer games on GCP, SEMC needed a solution that included hosting their user profile store, in-game inventory, matchmaking databases, and more.
The primary issue was that SEMC did not have in-house resources skilled in managing Couchbase and other database solutions on GCP. Hiring, training, and building expertise internally would have significantly delayed development timelines and increased costs.
How we built SEMC’s gaming infrastructure on GCP
SEMC came to ABCloudz specifically for our expertise with cloud-native database solutions, especially Couchbase, as well as our experience building infrastructure on Google Cloud Platform. Our team took on the entire scope of designing, building, and maintaining the infrastructure, ensuring SEMC could concentrate fully on game development.
Here’s exactly what we did:
Cloud infrastructure deployment
We designed and deployed the backend infrastructure across four GCP regions, each containing three subnets. Within each subnet, we deployed multiple Google Cloud Compute instances. While these were standard instances without specialized customizations, their strategic distribution ensured robust redundancy and reliability.
Database deployment (Couchbase)
For Catalyst Black and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate on Apple Arcade, SEMC needed a database backend that could scale globally and remain resilient under heavy multiplayer loads. ABCloudz built this solution from the ground up, designing, deploying, and continuously supporting Couchbase clusters tailored for real-time gaming.
We started by sizing the databases according to SEMC’s specific requirements and actual measured loads. Our team created database buckets, performed data modeling optimized for gaming workloads, developed efficient indexing strategies, and rigorously tested performance under simulated player traffic.
To guarantee stability and uninterrupted gameplay, we architected Couchbase clusters across multiple Google Cloud regions, distributing instances evenly across availability zones. Cross Data Center Replication (XDCR) connected these clusters, providing real-time data synchronization and ensuring there was never a single point of failure. This approach allowed SEMC’s backend to instantly handle traffic spikes, maintain seamless access to player profiles and matchmaking, and remain operational even during regional outages.
Networking and security setup
ABCloudz configured VPCs (Virtual Private Clouds), subnets, and firewall rules for secure and isolated network environments. We established Cloud DNS for reliable domain name resolution and implemented bastion hosts for secure remote administration. Key management and security protocols were strictly applied throughout the infrastructure.
Automated backups and disaster recovery
The infrastructure utilized automated backups, leveraging Google Cloud Filestore (Amazon EFS-compatible storage) to ensure that the databases had reliable, recoverable snapshots available at all times.
Monitoring and alerting
We deployed a dedicated monitoring infrastructure with open-source technologies, including Prometheus and Grafana. The monitoring systems operated from separate subnets within each region, continuously tracking the health and performance of database instances. Alert Manager was configured to send real-time email alerts about any issues, ensuring quick resolution.
Transitioning into ongoing support and scalability
Our engagement with SEMC didn’t end at launch. We continued providing dedicated support, ensuring uninterrupted operations and smooth gameplay experiences for SEMC’s users.
Specifically, our continuous support included:
Incident Management and Rapid Response: Utilizing robust monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, and custom-built scripts), we established a clear escalation and incident-response workflow. Our support team promptly addressed and resolved issues around-the-clock, significantly reducing downtime and preventing service disruptions.
Routine Maintenance and Capacity Planning: Regular health checks, capacity reviews, and performance tuning were conducted proactively. We continuously evaluated database metrics, adjusted indexes, monitored backups, and optimized resource allocation to support ongoing growth.
Long-term Trusted Partnership: Our role evolved from initial infrastructure deployment to becoming SEMC’s trusted advisor. We assisted SEMC in deploying new database services for additional games and expansions, advising on scalability, performance, and operational best practices.
Measurable results and business value
SEMC’s partnership with ABCloudz produced real, measurable results that powered the success of their flagship multiplayer games.
- Catalyst Black and TMNT: Splintered Fate successfully launched on Apple Arcade, reaching millions of players globally.
- The infrastructure effortlessly handled more than 500,000 multiplayer matches, each involving 2-4 players simultaneously.
- Database stability was exceptional, consistently maintaining 99.99% uptime — crucial for a seamless player experience.
- SEMC avoided the substantial cost and time investment associated with building an internal team specialized in Couchbase and GCP operations.
What our customer says
Craig Wells, Senior Director of Operations at Super Evil Megaсorp, described the experience:
“Super Evil Megacorp engaged with ABCloudz to administer our databases on Google Cloud Platform for the launch of our critically acclaimed multiplayer games Catalyst Black and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate (Apple Arcade). Their expertise, diligence, and efforts ensured we had zero downtime and no data loss during our global launch to millions of players.”
Google Cloud Gaming Expertise awarded to ABCloudz
The outstanding results delivered in this project have been officially recognized by Google. ABCloudz earned the prestigious Google Cloud Partner Expertise designation in Gaming.
This designation highlights ABCloudz’s proven ability to architect and deliver reliable, scalable, and high-performing solutions on Google Cloud, specifically for the gaming industry. For our clients, this recognition means added confidence that they are working with a partner trusted and approved by Google for mission-critical, industry-leading cloud gaming projects.
Partner with ABCloudz for unmatched cloud reliability
If you’re a game studio or a business looking for a dependable partner to build, scale, and manage your cloud database infrastructure, ABCloudz can help. Our team delivers reliable, high-performing cloud solutions, so you can focus on your core mission.
Contact us today!
