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Ever thought about running a game like Grand Theft Auto V in the cloud? Not just streaming it, but actually installing and playing it on an AWS EC2 instance? I decided to put that theory to the test, and to my surprise, everything worked—like, really well. This isn’t your typical ‘how to play games on the cloud’ guide; it’s more like a thrilling adventure where I pushed AWS to its limits, experimented with spot instances, and navigated the quirky world of running a AAA game on virtual hardware—all while staying under a $5 budget. Buckle up, because I’m about to take you on a wild ride!
Initial thoughts and the setup
Before diving into the technicalities, I had to make sure it was actually feasible to run such a demanding game on AWS. Amazon offers G5 GPU instances equipped with NVIDIA GPUs that support DirectX 12, which seemed promising. However, I quickly found the documentation lacking. There wasn’t much community knowledge about installing and running heavy desktop games like GTA V directly on EC2, and that just made the idea even more tantalizing. Who wouldn’t want to be a pioneer in this space?
Overcoming the hurdles
As I embarked on this journey, I quickly realized there were several hurdles to jump. The most significant challenge? Downloading and transferring such a large game without incurring massive costs. I tried a few different methods before finally hitting on the most efficient way to do it. Spoiler alert: it involved launching a t2.micro Debian spot instance, which costs about $0.0016 per hour, and using Legendary, a command-line interface for Epic Games, to install the game—smooth sailing from there! By the evening, I had GTA V fully installed on my EBS volume.
Transferring files to a windows instance
Next, I faced the task of transferring the files onto a Windows instance equipped with a GPU. I attached a new 150 GB EBS volume and formatted it with exFAT for compatibility between operating systems. The t2.micro instance was in ap-south-1c, while the GPU instances were only available in ap-south-1a and -1b. EBS volumes can’t be directly attached across availability zones (AZs), so I had to get creative. I created a snapshot of the volume and restored it in ap-south-1a, a process that took around two hours.
Encountering setbacks
After spinning up a g5.2xlarge Windows Server instance, I attached the EBS volume, but Windows threw me a curveball—it didn’t recognize the exFAT filesystem and prompted a reformat. My heart sank for a moment. To keep the data safe, I took a deep breath and figured out a workaround. Once I had the files on the Windows machine, I faced yet another obstacle: the dreaded ‘Unable to update the Rockstar Launcher’ error. I was convinced Rockstar had detected the VM. But wait—what if it was something simpler? It turned out, I just needed to run the launcher as Administrator. Easy fix!
The moment of truth
Finally, the moment I had been waiting for arrived. I launched GTA V on the g5.2xlarge instance. And you know what? It ran flawlessly. High settings, smooth graphics, and stable performance. It wasn’t just about getting a game to function; it was a testament to the creative and efficient use of cloud infrastructure. This project wasn’t merely a technical exercise; it became a thrilling adventure that deepened my understanding of AWS.
Lessons learned along the way
Through this hands-on experience, I discovered several key takeaways that I believe are invaluable for anyone venturing into the world of cloud computing. First off, understanding that EBS volumes are tied to specific availability zones is crucial. You can’t just swap them across zones without some clever workarounds like snapshotting.
Secondly, leveraging S3 for intermediate storage is a game-changer. Data transfers between EC2 and S3 within the same region are free, which makes it easy to move large files without breaking the bank. And let’s not forget about spot instances. Using them allowed me to experiment with powerful resources like the g5.2xlarge without draining my wallet.
The future of cloud gaming
As I reflect on this journey, I realize that running a demanding game like GTA V in the cloud isn’t just a technological flex; it showcases the versatility of AWS for non-traditional use cases. If you’re serious about diving into cloud technology, I wholeheartedly encourage you to embark on a fun and practical project. You’ll encounter real-world challenges and learn to solve them in creative ways. So, here I am, ready to explore the streets of Los Santos—all while floating in the cloud.
One last thing: this blog post is educational and contains personal insights. All product names and trademarks mentioned belong to their respective owners. I legally obtained the game through my Epic Games account, and I firmly believe in adhering to all relevant terms and conditions.