DirectPlay

Warning: Microsoft DirectPlay has been deprecated. Deprecated components of Microsoft DirectX 9.0 for Managed Code are considered obsolete. While these components are still supported in this release of DirectX 9.0 for Managed Code, they may be removed in the future. When writing new applications, you should avoid using these deprecated components. When modifying existing applications, you are strongly encouraged to remove any dependency on these components. The DirectPlay application programming interface (API) provides developers with the tools to develop multiplayer applications such as games or chat clients. For simplicity, this documentation will refer to all such applications as "games." A multiplayer application has two basic characteristics: Two or more individual users, each with a game client on their computer. Network links that enable the users' computers to communicate with each other, perhaps through a centralized server. DirectPlay provides a layer that largely isolates your application from the underlying network. For most purposes, your application can just use the DirectPlay API, and enable DirectPlay to handle the details of network communication. DirectPlay provides many features that simplify the process of implementing many aspects of a multiplayer application, including: This documentation provides a high-level overview of the capabilities of DirectPlay. Subsequent sections will take you into the details of how to use DirectPlay in your multiplayer game. Ask Learn is an AI assistant that can answer questions, clarify concepts, and define terms using trusted Microsoft documentation.