The backend that runs every game we make, ten years and counting
Summary
This article by Mike Hergaarden details a self-built backend (the Game Development Toolkit) that powers seven games across 11 platforms for the past decade, originally on PHP with Google App Engine and Firestore, now migrated to C# on Cloud Run. It covers architecture choices, cost efficiency, and practical decisions that kept the system simple and maintainable. It also reflects on lessons learned and how the toolkit supports rapid porting and stable long-term operation for a small studio.