Writer: Jordan Sprogis
Editor: Lillian Castro
Reviewer: Cristian Lopez
TL; DR: We’d be right back in the ‘90s if gaming weren’t what it is today, and few know better than 20-year game server host veteran GPORTAL. Whether you’re exploring Minecraft, battling it out in Apex Legends, or building something amazing on your favorite simulator, CEO Jörg Hensen told us about how GPORTAL accomplishes seamless gameplay for its millions of players.
Most of us know of the Brontë Sisters, the 19th-century prolific writers who penned some of the most timeless classics in human history.
And yet, none of their books were actually published under their real names. Since nobody would touch a female-authored book with a 10-foot pole, the sisters used male pseudonyms.
Now, most of us look back at that time in awe and disbelief. But I think it’s also an exciting opportunity to observe how trends change in society over time. One could even draw a parallel to the gaming industry.
OK, let me explain.
Only a couple of decades ago, the gaming industry was predominantly male, with boys and young men making up the primary audience of many titles. The male-dominated environment often pressured female gamers to hide their identities just to be accepted, similar to what the Brontë sisters likely experienced.
But the landscape began to shift in the 2010s. Women started to assert their presence in gaming, engaging in popular titles such as Call of Duty, Fortnite, FIFA, and The Legend of Zelda.
To me, this transformation not only reflects the changing demographic but also showcases the gaming industry’s evolving trends.
Actually, I would even dare to say that I believe the evolution contributes to one undeniable fact: The gaming industry is flourishing. In 2023, there were 3.22 billion gamers worldwide. By the end of 2024, that number is projected to surge by another 10 billion.
And with a growing community of gamers — particularly in popular online worlds like Minecraft, Apex Legends, Among Us, and Fortnite — the demand for reliable gaming infrastructure is no longer just a request; it’s a necessity.
Jörg Hensen, CEO of the game server host GPORTAL, knows this very well.
With more than 20 years of game server industry experience under its belt, GPORTAL has a few secret ingredients that have allowed it to maintain its millions-strong player base and consistently release new games.
What’s Driving the Demand
I love covering market trends and their responses to consumer demands, but before we dive in, I want to talk about who GPORTAL is.
GPORTAL was established in 2003 and has grown a lot since then. Today, it’s not only home to 10 million monthly players, but it’s also the host of trusted game studios, including Funcom, Stunlock Studios, Giants Software, Gamepires, DoubleEleven, and Keen.
Although GPORTAL is based in Munich, it also has strong US-based Support , Marketing, and DevOps Teams.
Right now, some of GPORTAL’s most played games are Hell Let Loose, Palworld, Enshrouded, V Rising, and 7 Days to Die. But be sure to check out its newest releases daily because the team is constantly updating its library.
In fact, GPORTAL updates its libraries carefully and based on consumer demand.
“We look at the market very closely and regularly ask our customers how satisfied they are and what they would like to see in the product in the future,” Jörg explained. “We qualify these recommendations and incorporate them into our product road map.”
For example, GPORTAL recently launched BungeeCord server hosting.
“Innovation is deeply rooted in the GPORTAL culture, and I think we’ve shown that we not only strive for feature parity but also want to offer leading solutions,” said Jörg.
If you’re unfamiliar, BungeeCord is a customizable Minecraft server proxy that lets players hop between different servers on the same network without logging out. This can be a game changer for load balancing or when one server is packed and lagging. Or, maybe you just want to switch to a server where your friends are currently playing.
Building the Backbone
Not only is the gaming industry’s user base now split evenly between genders, but there was a notable surge in online gaming amid the pandemic.
At a time when so many of us went weeks without human contact, that interaction online during a fun game was life-saving.
But with millions of people staying home for months at a time, servers needed to catch up too. It was more than anybody could have ever expected: The gaming market saw a 26% market expansion between 2019 and 2021.
And today, the online gaming market is worth $27.97 billion.
GPORTAL understands the demands that come with this surge…especially in a market where there are dozens of other competitors.
That’s why its 15 data centers are located throughout the U.S., South America, Europe, South Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and Australia.
Jörg also added there are three main driving factors that separate GPORTAL from other providers.
- Game scouting: GPORTAL identifies games that would work best on its platform
- Game integration: GPORTAL launches private servers alongside official releases
- Business development: GPORTAL collaborates closely with studios and publishers
“We work closely with the studios and publishers both technically and in marketing to be able to offer private servers at the same time as the official game release,” Jörg explained.
While GPORTAL offers public server hosting, it also offers private servers. Private servers are more stable and can be configured to manage a player’s community. For example, on Minecraft, you can create custom maps and modify game rules.
Jörg said this all centers around catering to the players: “For us, the gameplay experience is paramount. We simply want to provide the best experience for the community.”
With that said, there are a few technologies GPORTAL uses that I would like to explore (after all, a platform is only as strong as its foundation, right?):
- Intel Processors: GPORTAL relies on Intel Xeon Platinum processors and Intel Optane memory as its exclusive providers.
- NVMe SSDs: NVMe SSDs offer speeds that can be up to 10 times faster than traditional SSDs.
- DDoS Protection: To keep players safe, GPORTAL leverages DDoS protection from Bulwark™ and Corero.
- Gamecloud Technology: For Minecraft hosting, GPORTAL employs Gamecloud technology, allowing users to enjoy high-end gaming on low-end devices — so no need to upgrade your computer for new games!
Jörg also said customer support is an important factor, albeit not a tech one.
“This applies to the ordering process, the quality of our servers, and of course the support, too,” he added. “In my opinion, this total customer focus is what makes GPORTAL so special.”
Where Players Come First
GPORTAL knows customers want to play smoothly with their community and with as little downtime as possible, said Jörg, adding: “We ensure this through low latency through our globally distributed data centers.”
Latency refers to the delay that occurs when you perform an action in-game and when you see the result. So for example, if you want to jump over the object, the time between you clicking that control and your character performing the action is latency.
Low latency is what everyone’s striving toward, though only some are able to succeed.
But GPORTAL seems to be able to — so let’s take a look at its plans:
- Minecraft Server Hosting: Choose from 2 GB RAM to 6 GB RAM (or configure your own) starting from $1.49 to $13.91 per 30 days.
- Game Server Hosting: Prices vary depending on the game, but most games appear to be less than $5 for three days (with many games, like the simulators, hovering below $2).
- TeamSpeak 3 Hosting: Choose from 10 to 60 slots (or configure your own) ranging between $1.20 and $14.82 per 30 days.
Plus, with each plan, users get 24/7 support at no extra cost. So, if you’re noticing an issue or have some feedback, just let GPORTAL know, and they’ll get back to you soon.
Plus, GPORTAL regularly adds updates to its blog where you can see what new games have been added, watch walkthrough videos, get behind-the-scenes info, and version breakdowns for all your favorite games.
There are plenty of happy customer stories to back this up: If you take a look at its reviews on Trustpilot, they’re glowing with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
It’s so clear how passionate GPORTAL is about delivering the best of the best.
“With GPORTAL, it is now possible to connect server worlds and create endless adventure worlds with a single click,” said Jörg.
So whether you’re a game studio or content creator, odds are you need reliable servers. (I’m being facetious — you definitely do.)
With 15 data centers across the globe and new games added weekly, there’s a reason GPORTAL has been around for more than 20 years and is trusted by more than 10 million active players.
