Games & Interactive Systems

Client Prediction & Server Rewind

Shot arrives late → server rewinds to T-100ms → evaluates hit in past state

Zone 01

Local Client

👤

Player

fires shot at T=0
sees instant feedback

🔮

Prediction Loop

simulate ahead
no wait for server

+100ms
RTT

Zone 02

Network

🌐

Network

~100ms RTT
variable latency

arrives
late

Zone 03

Authoritative Server

🗄️

State Buffer
/ History Ring

last 1s of ticks
circular buffer

↩ rewind to T-100ms

🎯

Hit Registration
Engine

evaluate in
rewound state

correction
/ ACK

Result

Client
Correction

✅

Reconcile

snap to server
authoritative pos

local prediction

delayed input (+100ms)

rewind to T-100ms

evaluate hit

correction / ACK