Pick the Right Photon Product
for Your Game

After selecting your engine (Unity, Unreal, etc.), the next critical step is choosing the right network topology. We created the Photon Quadrant to help you understand the four dominant models and pick the one that best fits your game’s genre, goals, and constraints.

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1. Four Core Topologies

All multiplayer games follow four proven netcode patterns.

The Quadrant is built on four topologies: three are state-synchronization models (Fusion), and one is input-synchronization (Quantum). These reflect real-world approaches used across the industry and cover the spectrum from lightweight casual games to precision-critical competitive titles.
2. Genres and Example Games

Each topology aligns with specific genres and mechanics.

We’ve placed common genres into the Quadrant based on how well they align with each topology. Example games are included to illustrate use cases — not to suggest they use Photon, but to give clear reference points for design fit and architecture expectations.
3. Photon Products

Photon SDKs directly match each topology.

Use Fusion for state-sync topologies: Dedicated Server, Client Host, or Shared Authority. Choose Quantum for input-sync with deterministic simulation and rollback. All topologies can be extended with Photon Voice and Chat — scalable, secure communication for voice, text, and 3D audio.
4. Final Step: Dive into Docs

Build with confidence using targeted resources.

Once you've selected the topology that matches your game, dive into the Photon SDK documentation. You'll find tailored guides, samples, and tooling for Fusion, Quantum, Voice, and Chat — all designed to accelerate your implementation with best practices built in.