Greetings, Commanders!
As part of our ongoing efforts to bring War Commander to Steam, we wanted to share some behind-the-scenes details about how we’re handling logins and account connections. War Commander is technically a cross platform game as it is playable on both Facebook and Kixeye.com. However, the backend server code makes a lot of assumptions about the platforms and doesn’t know anything about an external authorization (auth) source like Steam. This requires several changes to both the server and the client as a first step for a desktop version of War Commander.
Whether you’re a long-time player or new to the battlefield, we know how important it is to have a seamless experience when accessing your account.
How Steam Logins Work
When you launch War Commander through Steam, the login process begins with the Steamworks SDK. This toolkit, provided by Steam, allows us to integrate their platform’s features into our game. One of the key features we use is the authentication ticket.
Auth Ticket:
When you start the game, the Steam client generates a unique authentication ticket for your session. This ticket is sent to our servers as part of the request to load the game. On our end, we verify the ticket using the Steam Web API, which confirms that the ticket is valid and gives us your Steam ID. This process ensures that your login is secure and tied directly to your Steam account.
Once we have your Steam ID, the next step is to check if it’s already linked to an existing War Commander account. Here’s what happens behind the scenes:
- If we find a match: Great! You’re logged in and ready to play.
- If we don’t find a match: No problem. We’ll create a brand-new War Commander account for you, linked to your Steam ID.
This means that even if you’re new to the game, you can jump right in without any extra account creation steps.
What’s Next: Account Linking
While the previous method works great for NEW accounts, we know that many of you have been playing War Commander for years. Your accounts are already tied to platforms like Facebook or Kixeye.com and that’s why we’re working on a feature to let you link your existing accounts to Steam.
How it will work:
On game launch, if we don’t find a War Commander account linked to your Steam ID, we’ll prompt you to log in with your Facebook or Kixeye.com credentials. Once you log in, we’ll associate your Steam ID with your existing account. This way you can keep your existing base, platoons, alliance, and be able to play from either platform whenever you like! This feature is still in development, but we’re excited about the flexibility it will offer. Whether you’re a veteran commander or a new recruit, you’ll have the freedom to manage your account across platforms.
By integrating Steam’s authentication system and building tools for account linking, we’re making it easier than ever to access War Commander while keeping your account secure.
We hope this gives you a glimpse into some of the work happening behind the scenes!