BioWare has announced a new test server hosted by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that will be available to players without needing to install the PTS!
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is Amazon’s actual main business and the largest Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) company in the world. IaaS companies provide all the server infrastructure so they can connect their internet product (website, online store, online game, app, etc.) to their users without having to deal with the hassle of building and maintaining data centers.
Imagine if you owned a shipping company and had to pave and maintain your own roads, rail systems, and bridges to deliver your products to customers. Amazon Web Services as an Infrastructure as a Service company is akin to how the government handles the paving and maintenance of roads, rail systems, and bridges, so you just have to worry about the delivery trucks, drivers, and actual products.
BioWare explained some of the benefits of such a migration for SWTOR’s servers including:
- This technology allows us to improve the overall player experience such as connectivity, ping, faster start up, and better in-game performance
- Backend updates that are crucial to the continued health and stability of the game can be streamlined more efficiently
- The resources required to maintain our current systems can be reallocated to focusing on enhancing the game experience
- We will be able to leverage and integrate updated tech such as newer hardware, software, and graphics
- Once finalized, SWTOR may be capable to extend its servers capabilities to reach new players
I’m personally excited to hear that BioWare’s limited resources will be used more efficiently since they won’t have to maintain their own infrastructure any longer. I’m hopeful that this combined with 64-bit will enable them to increase the tick rate so that people don’t have to worry so much about the infuriating server lag from things like taking damage from circles you were definitely out of in time and other position lag-relates issues.
That said, BioWare needs to do some testing before migrating SWTOR’s servers to AWS. They are opening up a new test server that will not require players to download the PTS, but rather be accessible on the server select screen alongside Satele Shan, Star Forge, Darth Malgus, The Leviathan, and Tulak Hord.
The test server will be called Shae Vizla and be based in the APAC region. While it will be available to players in the live game, it is still just for testing purposes, so there will be no access to the Cartel Market and it will be wiped once testing has concluded.
The devs plan for the server to be online from April 3rd at 12PM Central / April 4th at 4AM AEST to April 18th at 10AM Central / April 19th at 2AM AEST.
BioWare wants players to test out and provide feedback on the following in particular:
- Compared to an existing server, how is the performance? Any specific areas or planets where you feel the performance has lessened?
- What region/country do you reside in?
- Provide a comparison of ping from existing servers to Shae Vizla.
- Is grouped content working properly? How quickly can you get into a match or Flashpoint you’ve accepted?
- Is travel to any location (planet, Stronghold, Fleet, etc…) hindered?
- Are there any issues with the UI such as missing assets or loss of functionality?
- Are there any issues with visuals or sounds with the cinematics?
In addition, they are offering another opportunity for players to earn the Opal Vulptilla mount for players that do all of the following:
- Log into the new server
- Complete an Arena or Warzone PvP match
- Complete a GSF match
- Complete a Flashpoint
The mount will be awarded to eligible players with the next update after the test server is closed.
BioWare has not mentioned any other changes to servers like the reintroduction of a permanent APAC server or merging existing ones like Star Forge and Satele Shan.
If BioWare plans to do something like that, I expect it’s still quite a ways off. Last time they did server merges, they announced them a month in advance and then it took another month to do the server merge and that required multiple patches.
A new update has just been released to the game. If you have missed something, catch up with my overview of all changes from SWTOR 7.2.1. You can also take a look at some of the other Cartel Market Item Reviews I did for 7.2.1. And don’t miss your chance to role-play as Din Djarin in SWTOR!
