Asobi
asobi.dev
What it is
Asobi is an open-source multiplayer game backend built on Erlang/OTP for solo developers and small teams making indie 2D games. It provides authentication, matchmaking, real-time sync, leaderboards, a virtual economy, social features, cloud saves, and an admin dashboard. Developers can build ephemeral matches or persistent worlds with lazily loaded zones. Lua match logic can be changed while a match runs, with updates taking effect on the next tick. Official client SDKs are listed for Unreal, Unity, Godot, Defold, TypeScript/JavaScript, Dart/Flutter, Lua, and LÖVE. Monitoring includes OpenTelemetry integration, structured logging, and telemetry events for matches, queues, and connections. The Apache 2.0 core can run locally with Docker Compose or be self-hosted as a Docker container. Asobi Cloud is hosted on Hetzner in Germany and uses EU-only infrastructure subprocessors, but is invite-only while studios are onboarded. The project is single-node by design and pre-1.0, so minor breaking API changes may occur before 1.0.
Spec sheet
- Product
- Asobi is an open-source multiplayer game backend built on Erlang/OTP.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Intended users
- The repository describes Asobi as intended for solo developers and small teams building indie 2D multiplayer games.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Trial
- The Cloud page says prospective users can ask on Discord for an environment to try Cloud before paying.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Integrations
- Official client SDKs are listed for Unreal, Unity, Godot, Defold, TypeScript/JavaScript, Dart/Flutter, and Lua.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Support
- The maker invites users to ask questions and share projects in its Discord community.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Headquarters
- Uppsala, SwedenRead 28 Sep 2026 · asobi.dev
- Maker
- The site identifies the maker as Widgrens IT AB and lists an address in Uppsala, Sweden.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Backend features
- The backend includes authentication, matchmaking, real-time sync, leaderboards, virtual economy, social features, cloud saves, and an admin dashboard.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Client SDKs
- Official client libraries are listed for Unreal, Unity, Godot, Defold, TypeScript/JavaScript, Dart, and Lua.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Cloud availability
- Asobi Cloud is invite-only, with access requested through Discord; the site says broader signup is planned toward the end of 2026.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Cloud hosting
- Asobi Cloud is hosted on Hetzner in Germany, uses EU-only infrastructure sub-processors, and is invite-only while studios are onboarded.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Cloud pricing
- The Cloud page says pricing is flat per environment and directs visitors to the console for current plans; it does not state an amount on that page.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Cloud tryout
- The Cloud page says prospective users can ask on Discord for an environment to try before paying.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Data protection
- The Cloud page states that it provides per-player data export and deletion endpoints and a 72-hour breach notification clause.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Game models
- It supports ephemeral matches and persistent worlds, with matchmaking and lazy-loaded zones respectively.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Game modes
- It supports ephemeral matches and persistent worlds with lazy-loaded zones.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Hot reload
- Lua match logic can be updated while a match is running, with changes applied on the next tick.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- License and self-hosting
- The core is Apache 2.0 licensed and can be self-hosted.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Limitations
- The repository says Asobi is single-node by design, with node-local subsystems, and is not intended for twitch-latency AAA shooters.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Maturity
- The repository states that Asobi is pre-1.0 and may have minor breaking API changes before 1.0.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Observability
- Asobi lists OpenTelemetry integration, structured logging, and Telemetry events for monitoring matches, queues, and connections.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Privacy and GDPR
- The Cloud page describes player data export and deletion endpoints, a 72-hour breach notification clause, and a DPA based on EU Standard Contractual Clauses.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Runtime
- Asobi describes per-process garbage collection, preemptive scheduling, OTP supervision, graceful shutdown, health endpoints, and rolling deploy support.Read 7 Oct 2026 · asobi.dev
- Self-hosting
- The project is Apache-2.0 licensed and can be run locally with Docker Compose or self-hosted as a Docker container.Read 7 Oct 2026 · github.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Open-source Apache 2.0 core
- Lua match logic can hot reload
- Supports matches and persistent worlds
- SDKs listed for several game engines
- Can be self-hosted with Docker
Limits
- Single-node by design
- Not intended for twitch-latency AAA shooters
- Pre-1.0 API may change
- Asobi Cloud is invite-only
Who it suits
Asobi is aimed at solo developers and small teams building indie 2D multiplayer games. It may suit projects that can work with a single-node backend and a pre-1.0 API.
Verdict
Asobi provides multiplayer backend services with self-hosting options and a broad listed SDK set. Its single-node design and pre-1.0 status are important constraints to weigh for a project.
Where Specifiction places it
- Game Matchmaking Software#7 of 288.8