Should Devs Upgrade Their GPU or Use Cloud Rendering?

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Devs Have Multiple Options Today!

Story Highlight

  • Game development can sometimes be held back by the use of local hardware due to rising costs and tight deadlines.
  • Relying on cloud rendering can help combat some of these problems.
  • A hybrid approach usually works best for most teams.

Making game art is among the most challenging parts of development, and it’s here that a more capable GPU comes in handy.

With graphics card prices being as high as they are today, however, a GPU upgrade isn’t the most viable option for many indie and AA teams. Therefore, many developers often go the route of hiring services like Fox Renderfarm to borrow additional rendering power.

Why it matters: Game development now costs millions of dollars, so teams must decide whether to invest in local hardware or opt for cloud rendering.

Rendering For Game Production

Nvidia RTX 60 Series
Nvidia’s GPUs Are Great For Game Development

Note that when making a game, developers spend a lot of time tuning what the final product looks like.

Real-time engines generate frames as the player moves through a scene; offline rendering is required for things like pre-rendered cutscenes, Steam store images and key art, animations, etc.

This is also why sometimes a powerful GPU can appear to be a hurdle or bottleneck. When the GPU is busy, programs like Maya and Blender may not work too well. Meanwhile, sustained loads can lead to increased power consumption and heat. This can be a major problem for a large team working on a tight schedule. 

Where A Local GPU Makes Sense

A local GPU works best when developers require constant interaction without interrupted workflows. Thus, work on elements like fast material and lighting previews, frequent test renders, etc., is suited to a local graphics card.

However, a local GPU is not without its drawbacks, since it can sometimes necessitate a new power supply, a more powerful CPU, or improved cooling. Note that high-end GPUs can even lead to more power consumption overall.

Where Cloud Rendering Works Best

Cloud Rendering
Cloud Rendering Can Make A Developer’s Job Easier

When a project relies on hundreds of animation frames or limited hardware, cloud-based hardware can be a huge help.

The fact that cloud rendering allows for multiple frames to be rendered in parallel itself is a huge advantage. This also means that local hardware is freed up for artists and other developers to continue making progress.

All of this can add up to be extremely useful when a deadline is approaching, allowing teams to work in an efficient manner. Compatibility with mainstream technology like Unreal Engine also matters here, and the good news is that Fox Renderfarm supports UE-based cloud rendering for offline sequences.

Going The Hybrid Route

Ultimately, using both options may be the best bet for most teams. This is where tasks like building and revising scenes can be done locally, while other more intensive work can be offloaded to the cloud rendering.

In particular, when there is a need to submit work in a limited time period, the benefits of cloud rendering become much more apparent.

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