Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

XInput VS Amazon GameLift

Compare XInput VS Amazon GameLift and see what are their differences

XInput logo XInput

XInput is an API that allows applications to receive input from the Xbox Controller for Windows.

Amazon GameLift logo Amazon GameLift

Amazon Gamelift is a dedicated server platform for online video gaming. Notable customers include High Horse Entertainment, Wargaming Mobile, Gearbox Software, Aon Interactive and Proletariat, Inc... read more.
  • XInput Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-27
  • Amazon GameLift Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-23

XInput features and specs

  • Standardization
    XInput provides a standardized API for accessing game controller features, ensuring consistent behavior across different Windows platforms and Xbox controllers.
  • Ease of Use
    XInput is designed to be straightforward and easy to use, reducing the complexity developers face when implementing controller support.
  • Full Compatibility with Xbox Controllers
    It offers full compatibility with Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers, which are widely used by gamers, ensuring a seamless experience.
  • Vibration Support
    XInput includes built-in support for controller vibration feedback, enhancing the gaming experience without additional setup.
  • Dead Zone Handling
    The API provides automatic handling of dead zones for thumbsticks, improving input accuracy and performance with minimal developer effort.

Possible disadvantages of XInput

  • Limited to Xbox Controllers
    XInput is primarily designed for Xbox controllers, which limits its use with other types of gamepads and input devices.
  • No Support for Older Devices
    It does not support devices that were designed for DirectInput, potentially alienating users with older hardware.
  • Restricted to Windows
    XInput is a Windows-specific API, which can be a limitation for developers aiming for cross-platform compatibility.
  • Limited Number of Controllers
    XInput natively supports up to four controllers, which might be insufficient for certain multiplayer scenarios.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    It does not provide access to advanced features such as controller LED customization or low-level input data, which can be a constraint for developers needing these capabilities.

Amazon GameLift features and specs

  • Scalability
    Amazon GameLift offers robust scalability options, allowing developers to accommodate varying player loads efficiently without managing physical infrastructure.
  • Global Reach
    GameLift provides access to a global server network, enabling low-latency gaming experiences for players around the world.
  • Integration with AWS
    GameLift integrates seamlessly with other AWS services, offering extensive flexibility and power in building comprehensive gaming backends.
  • Cost Efficiency
    With its pay-as-you-go model, GameLift can be more cost-effective compared to maintaining private servers, especially for startups and smaller gaming companies.
  • DDoS Protection
    GameLift includes built-in DDoS protection features to help safeguard games from malicious network attacks, ensuring smoother player experiences.

Possible disadvantages of Amazon GameLift

  • Complexity
    Setting up and effectively using GameLift can be complex, requiring a solid understanding of AWS infrastructure and gaming server management.
  • Cost Variability
    While GameLift can be cost-effective, unexpected spikes in user activity or inefficient resource allocation can lead to significant increases in cost.
  • Learning Curve
    Developers new to AWS or GameLift might face a steep learning curve, potentially increasing development time and requiring additional training.
  • Vendor Lock-In
    Using GameLift heavily ties your backend to AWS services, which could pose challenges if migrating to another platform in the future.
  • Limited Customization
    While GameLift offers flexible features, it might not cater to every specific need of a game, limiting customization options in certain aspects.

XInput videos

Redgear Pro Wireless Gamepad | Review after 1 yr | Best Controller | Xinput vs Direct Input

More videos:

  • Review - Razer Raiju Review - Best PS4 and PC Xinput Controller?
  • Review - Steelseries Stratus XL for Windows and Android Bluetooth Game Controller Review - Supports Xinput

Amazon GameLift videos

Amazon Gamelift: Amazon Gamelift Dedicated Game Server Hosting Made Easy

More videos:

  • Review - Creating realtime game servers in minutes with Amazon GameLift

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to XInput and Amazon GameLift)
Game Development
36 36%
64% 64
Game Engine
35 35%
65% 65
3D Game Engine
37 37%
63% 63
Photos & Graphics
46 46%
54% 54

User comments

Share your experience with using XInput and Amazon GameLift. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Amazon GameLift should be more popular than XInput. It has been mentiond 14 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

XInput mentions (3)

  • what is your unpopular opinion regarding simracing?
    DirectInput dates back to the Win9x days, and the current implementation dates back to the WinXP days. It's officially deprecated by Microsoft, which basically means "stop using it for new development." Its replacements are XInput (the Xbox controller API) and a similar API called Windows.Gaming.Input, intended for UWP applications. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Looking for steering wheels that uses XInput on PC?
    For those unfamiliar with the XInput standard https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/xinput/xinput-and-directinput. Source: over 2 years ago
  • odd wheel base hardware
    I have experience making Teensy joysticks, so the hardware/firmware side is covered. I'm happy to hear DirectInput is still being used contrary to MS advice https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/xinput/xinput-and-directinput Https://github.com/redragonx/can2rNET provides the interface to wheelchair control system. Source: over 3 years ago

Amazon GameLift mentions (14)

  • Multiplayer in Unity with AWS (with downloadable Rock, Paper, Scissors game demo)
    Although not production-ready solution for multiplayer, it is a quick, easy and low-cost way to implement multiplayer functionality for prototyping purposes. For more long-term solutions, AWS does offer its own game server hosting service - AWS Gamelift. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Why does BHVR refuse to acknowledge this? I went out of my way to upgrade my internet since 2021 to have 35-45ms ping, but killers like this can VPN or play on dial-up and it goes in their favour? Why am I being punished for having good internet?
    You think Amazon servers aren't industry standard? https://aws.amazon.com/gamelift/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Nexon's in-house notice spread in KR community
    There are a ton of technology solutions sold by other companies these days that - with the appropriate funding - can accelerate the timeline of damn near any project, multiplayer online games included. With a bit of expertise and a big enough credit limit, damn near anything's possible. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Looking for free advice
    Before you get too far into things, give the documentation on GameLift a read: https://aws.amazon.com/gamelift/ I’ve never used it myself but it’s an AWS service that handles a lot of the “this is annoying” of deploying game servers on the AWS cloud. It can be used as a complete solution or as modules, and some of those modules might ease your development time. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I'm monitoring network traffic of my Playstation and noticed increased numbers of p2p-hosted games instead of dedicated servers
    On PC, less than 5% of my matches are P2P connections. Google Cloud Game Servers can handle high amount of traffic; it is Google for God's sake! Google & Amazon host a lot of games. The only logical reason that would make the game switch to a player-hosted match should be because you & your opponent are closer to each other than the nearest server, but that's not always the case from the matches I see on PC. I am... Source: almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing XInput and Amazon GameLift, you can also consider the following products

BitBucket - Bitbucket is a free code hosting site for Mercurial and Git. Manage your development with a hosted wiki, issue tracker and source code.

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