Lesson 13: Web Deployment & Hosting

After months of development, your web game is finally ready to meet the world. But building a great game is only half the battle—deploying it to production so players can access it anywhere, anytime, is equally important. Proper deployment ensures your game loads quickly, scales with traffic, and provides a smooth experience for players worldwide.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to deploy your web game to production hosting platforms, configure CDN and performance optimization, and launch your game for real players. By the end, you'll have your game live and accessible to players around the globe.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to:

Choose the right hosting platform for your web game needs
Deploy to production using modern hosting services
Configure CDN for global content delivery
Optimize performance for production environments
Set up continuous deployment with automated workflows
Monitor production performance and errors
Scale your game to handle traffic spikes
Configure custom domains and SSL certificates

Why This Matters

Proper deployment and hosting enable:

Global Accessibility - Players can access your game from anywhere
Performance - Fast loading times improve player experience
Scalability - Handle traffic spikes without downtime
Reliability - Uptime and availability for players
Professional Presence - Custom domains and SSL certificates
Automation - Continuous deployment saves time and reduces errors

Prerequisites

Before starting this lesson, make sure you have:

Completed all previous lessons in this course
A web game ready for deployment
A GitHub account (for version control)
Basic understanding of command line tools
Your game code committed to version control

Step 1: Choose Your Hosting Platform

Selecting the right hosting platform depends on your game's requirements, budget, and technical needs. Here are the most popular options for web games:

Platform Comparison

Vercel - Best for static sites and serverless functions

Pros: Zero-config deployment, excellent performance, free tier
Cons: Limited server-side capabilities
Best for: Static web games, client-side only games

Netlify - Great for static sites with serverless functions

Pros: Easy deployment, built-in CI/CD, free tier
Cons: Serverless function limitations
Best for: Static games with API integrations

Cloudflare Pages - Excellent performance and global CDN

Pros: Fast global CDN, generous free tier, easy setup
Cons: Limited server-side features
Best for: Static games requiring global performance

AWS Amplify - Full-featured cloud hosting

Pros: Scalable, feature-rich, integrates with AWS services
Cons: More complex setup, pricing can escalate
Best for: Games requiring cloud services and scalability

GitHub Pages - Simple static hosting

Pros: Free, integrated with GitHub, simple setup
Cons: Limited features, no server-side capabilities
Best for: Simple static games and prototypes

Decision Framework

Consider these factors when choosing:

Game Type - Static client-side game or requires server?
Traffic Expectations - Expected player count and traffic patterns
Budget - Free tier sufficient or need paid plans?
Technical Requirements - Need serverless functions, databases, or APIs?
Team Size - Simple deployment or need advanced features?

For most web games, Vercel or Netlify provide the best balance of ease, performance, and features.

Step 2: Prepare Your Game for Production

Before deploying, optimize your game for production:

Build Optimization

Create a production build of your game:

// package.json
{
  "scripts": {
    "build": "vite build",
    "preview": "vite preview"
  }
}

Run the build command:

npm run build

This creates an optimized production build in the dist folder.

Environment Variables

Set up environment variables for production:

// .env.production
VITE_API_URL=https://api.yourgame.com
VITE_AI_API_KEY=your_production_key
VITE_WEBSOCKET_URL=wss://ws.yourgame.com

Never commit API keys or secrets to version control. Use environment variables instead.

Performance Checklist

Before deploying, verify:

✅ Code minification - All JavaScript is minified
✅ Asset optimization - Images compressed and optimized
✅ Bundle size - JavaScript bundles are reasonable size
✅ Lazy loading - Assets loaded on demand
✅ Caching - Proper cache headers configured
✅ Error handling - Production error handling in place

Step 3: Deploy to Vercel

Vercel provides the easiest deployment experience for web games. Here's how to deploy:

Option 1: Deploy via Vercel Dashboard

Sign up at vercel.com
Import your project from GitHub
Configure build settings:
- Build Command: npm run build
- Output Directory: dist
- Install Command: npm install
Add environment variables in project settings
Deploy - Vercel automatically deploys on every push

Option 2: Deploy via CLI

Install Vercel CLI:

npm install -g vercel

Deploy your project:

vercel

Follow the prompts to configure your deployment.

Vercel Configuration

Create vercel.json for advanced configuration:

{
  "buildCommand": "npm run build",
  "outputDirectory": "dist",
  "headers": [
    {
      "source": "/(.*)",
      "headers": [
        {
          "key": "Cache-Control",
          "value": "public, max-age=31536000, immutable"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "rewrites": [
    {
      "source": "/(.*)",
      "destination": "/index.html"
    }
  ]
}

This configuration:

Sets cache headers for static assets
Handles client-side routing with rewrites
Configures build output directory

Step 4: Deploy to Netlify

Netlify offers similar features with a focus on developer experience:

Deploy via Netlify Dashboard

Sign up at netlify.com
Import project from GitHub
Configure build:
- Build command: npm run build
- Publish directory: dist
Add environment variables
Deploy - Netlify builds and deploys automatically

Netlify Configuration

Create netlify.toml:

[build]
  command = "npm run build"
  publish = "dist"

[[redirects]]
  from = "/*"
  to = "/index.html"
  status = 200

[[headers]]
  for = "/assets/*"
  [headers.values]
    Cache-Control = "public, max-age=31536000, immutable"

This handles routing and caching similar to Vercel.

Step 5: Configure CDN and Performance

Content Delivery Networks (CDN) improve performance by serving assets from locations close to players:

CDN Benefits

Faster Load Times - Assets served from nearby servers
Reduced Latency - Lower ping times for players
Global Distribution - Consistent performance worldwide
Bandwidth Savings - Reduced load on origin server

Vercel CDN

Vercel automatically provides a global CDN. Configure caching:

// vercel.json
{
  "headers": [
    {
      "source": "/assets/(.*)",
      "headers": [
        {
          "key": "Cache-Control",
          "value": "public, max-age=31536000, immutable"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

Cloudflare CDN

For additional CDN features, use Cloudflare:

Add your domain to Cloudflare
Update DNS records to point to Cloudflare
Enable CDN features in Cloudflare dashboard
Configure caching rules for optimal performance

Performance Optimization

Optimize for production:

// vite.config.js
export default {
  build: {
    rollupOptions: {
      output: {
        manualChunks: {
          vendor: ['react', 'react-dom'],
          game: ['./src/game'],
        }
      }
    },
    chunkSizeWarningLimit: 1000
  }
}

This splits code into chunks for better caching and loading.

Step 6: Set Up Continuous Deployment

Automate deployments so every code push triggers a new deployment:

GitHub Integration

Both Vercel and Netlify integrate with GitHub:

Connect repository to hosting platform
Configure branch for production (usually main or master)
Enable automatic deployments on push
Set up preview deployments for pull requests

Deployment Workflow

Typical workflow:

# Make changes
git add .
git commit -m "Add new feature"
git push origin main

# Platform automatically:
# 1. Detects push
# 2. Runs build command
# 3. Deploys to production
# 4. Updates live site

Environment-Specific Deployments

Set up different environments:

Production - Deploys from main branch
Staging - Deploys from develop branch
Preview - Deploys from pull requests

Configure different environment variables for each.

Step 7: Configure Custom Domain

Add a custom domain to your deployed game:

Vercel Domain Setup

Go to project settings in Vercel dashboard
Add domain in Domains section
Configure DNS records as instructed
Wait for SSL certificate (automatic, takes a few minutes)
Verify domain is active

Netlify Domain Setup

Go to site settings in Netlify dashboard
Add custom domain in Domain management
Configure DNS records
Enable HTTPS (automatic SSL)
Verify domain is working

DNS Configuration

Update your DNS records:

Type: A
Name: @
Value: [Platform IP address]

Type: CNAME
Name: www
Value: [Platform domain]

Both platforms provide specific DNS instructions in their dashboards.

Step 8: Monitor Production Performance

Track your game's performance in production:

Vercel Analytics

Enable Vercel Analytics:

Go to project settings
Enable Analytics
View metrics in dashboard:
- Page views
- Performance metrics
- Geographic distribution
- Error rates

Netlify Analytics

Enable Netlify Analytics:

Go to site settings
Enable Analytics
View metrics:
- Page views
- Bandwidth usage
- Build times
- Error logs

Custom Analytics

Add custom analytics:

// Track game events
function trackEvent(eventName, data) {
  if (typeof gtag !== 'undefined') {
    gtag('event', eventName, data);
  }
}

// Track game start
trackEvent('game_start', {
  game_version: '1.0.0',
  player_id: getPlayerId()
});

Error Monitoring

Set up error monitoring:

// Error tracking
window.addEventListener('error', (event) => {
  // Send to error tracking service
  fetch('/api/errors', {
    method: 'POST',
    body: JSON.stringify({
      message: event.message,
      source: event.filename,
      line: event.lineno,
      stack: event.error?.stack
    })
  });
});

Step 9: Scale for Traffic

Prepare your game to handle traffic spikes:

Auto-Scaling

Most platforms auto-scale, but verify:

Vercel - Automatically scales, no configuration needed
Netlify - Scales automatically on paid plans
Cloudflare - Handles traffic spikes with CDN

Performance Monitoring

Monitor these metrics:

Response Time - Should be under 200ms
Error Rate - Should be under 1%
Uptime - Should be 99.9% or higher
Bandwidth - Monitor usage to avoid overages

Optimization Strategies

If performance degrades:

Enable caching for static assets
Optimize images and reduce file sizes
Implement lazy loading for non-critical assets
Use CDN for global distribution
Optimize code to reduce bundle sizes

Step 10: Launch Checklist

Before going live, verify everything works:

Pre-Launch Checklist

✅ Game tested in production environment
✅ All features working as expected
✅ Performance optimized and tested
✅ Error handling in place
✅ Analytics configured and tracking
✅ Custom domain configured and working
✅ SSL certificate active (HTTPS)
✅ Environment variables set correctly
✅ Build process working correctly
✅ Monitoring set up and active

Post-Launch Monitoring

After launch, monitor:

Traffic patterns - Player activity and peak times
Error rates - Any issues or crashes
Performance - Load times and responsiveness
Player feedback - Comments and reviews
Server costs - Monitor usage and costs

Mini Challenge: Deploy Your Game

Deploy your web game to production:

Choose hosting platform (Vercel or Netlify recommended)
Prepare production build with optimizations
Deploy to platform using dashboard or CLI
Configure custom domain (optional but recommended)
Set up monitoring and analytics
Test production deployment thoroughly
Share your game with friends and community

Success Criteria:

Game loads in under 3 seconds
All features work correctly
HTTPS enabled and working
Analytics tracking active
No console errors

Pro Tips

Tip 1: Use Preview Deployments

Preview deployments let you test changes before production:

# Create pull request
git checkout -b new-feature
git push origin new-feature

# Platform creates preview URL
# Test changes before merging

Tip 2: Monitor Bundle Sizes

Keep bundle sizes reasonable:

# Analyze bundle size
npm run build -- --analyze

# Check for large dependencies
npm run build -- --report

Tip 3: Use Environment Variables

Never hardcode secrets:

// ❌ Bad
const API_KEY = 'secret-key-123';

// ✅ Good
const API_KEY = import.meta.env.VITE_API_KEY;

Tip 4: Set Up Alerts

Configure alerts for critical issues:

Uptime monitoring - Alert on downtime
Error tracking - Alert on error spikes
Performance - Alert on slow response times

Tip 5: Optimize Images

Compress images before deployment:

# Use image optimization tools
npm install -g imagemin-cli
imagemin images/* --out-dir=dist/images

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Forgetting Environment Variables

Problem: Game works locally but fails in production Solution: Always set environment variables in platform dashboard

Mistake 2: Not Testing Production Build

Problem: Local build works but production fails Solution: Test production build locally before deploying

Mistake 3: Ignoring Performance

Problem: Game loads slowly for players Solution: Optimize assets and enable CDN caching

Mistake 4: Missing Error Handling

Problem: Errors break game experience Solution: Implement comprehensive error handling and monitoring

Mistake 5: Not Monitoring

Problem: Issues go unnoticed until players complain Solution: Set up analytics and error monitoring from day one

Troubleshooting

Issue: Build Fails

Symptoms: Deployment fails during build Solutions:

Check build logs for errors
Verify all dependencies are in package.json
Test build locally: npm run build
Check Node.js version compatibility

Issue: Assets Not Loading

Symptoms: Images or assets return 404 errors Solutions:

Verify asset paths are correct
Check build output directory
Ensure assets are included in build
Verify CDN configuration

Issue: Routing Not Working

Symptoms: Direct URLs return 404 errors Solutions:

Configure redirects/rewrites for SPA routing
Verify index.html fallback is configured
Check platform-specific routing configuration

Issue: Environment Variables Not Working

Symptoms: API calls fail or features don't work Solutions:

Verify environment variables are set in platform dashboard
Check variable names match code (VITE_ prefix for Vite)
Restart deployment after adding variables
Verify variables are available at build time

Issue: Slow Performance

Symptoms: Game loads slowly for players Solutions:

Enable CDN caching
Optimize images and assets
Reduce JavaScript bundle size
Implement lazy loading
Check server location and CDN distribution

Key Takeaways

Choose the right platform based on your game's needs and requirements
Optimize for production before deploying to ensure best performance
Configure CDN for global content delivery and faster load times
Set up continuous deployment to automate releases and reduce errors
Monitor production performance and errors to maintain quality
Scale appropriately to handle traffic spikes and growth
Test thoroughly before and after deployment

What's Next?

Congratulations! You've deployed your web game to production. In the final lesson, you'll learn how to:

Launch your game and build a player community
Implement analytics and user feedback systems
Plan post-launch updates and improvements
Grow your player base through marketing and community building

Ready to launch? Continue to Lesson 14: Launch & Community Building to learn how to successfully launch your game and build a thriving player community.

Related Resources

FAQ

Q: Which hosting platform is best for web games? A: Vercel and Netlify are excellent choices for most web games. Choose Vercel for better performance or Netlify for more features. Both offer free tiers and easy deployment.

Q: Do I need a custom domain? A: Not required, but highly recommended for a professional presence. Custom domains are free to add and improve branding and trust.

Q: How much does hosting cost? A: Most platforms offer generous free tiers. Paid plans typically start at $20/month for additional features and higher limits.

Q: Can I deploy multiple environments? A: Yes! Most platforms support production, staging, and preview deployments. Configure different branches and environment variables for each.

Q: How do I handle server-side features? A: Use serverless functions provided by platforms like Vercel or Netlify, or integrate with backend services like Firebase or Supabase.

Q: What if my game needs a database? A: Use managed database services like Firebase, Supabase, or PlanetScale. These integrate easily with hosting platforms and scale automatically.

Q: How do I update my game after deployment? A: Simply push changes to your connected Git repository. The platform automatically builds and deploys updates.

Q: Can I roll back to a previous version? A: Yes! Most platforms keep deployment history and allow instant rollbacks to previous versions if issues occur.

Ready to deploy? Start by choosing your hosting platform and preparing your production build. Your game is almost ready to meet the world!