[Discussion] Do data centers need to be merged/allow cross play?

[aesteval]

However, I fail to see why they can not do this for data centers that are located in the same building IRL. Wouldn't it be as simple as just using a wire at that point? Why can't Crystal play with Aether?

How would you propose load balancing that wire? If it was as simple as connecting a wire it would be complete by now. The task actually requires re- architecting their server infrastructure to allow for it and then requires comprehensive testing to make sure it works correctly and doesn't cause problems. When you're talking about a connection point that's managing thousands to tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of concurrent connections it's never a matter of just connecting a wire.