Gaming is a hobby enjoyed by billions all over the world. Some play RPGs, some play sports games, and some prefer shooters. And while some people are content playing single-player games, others like to head online to play against others. However, for a lot of people, the online gaming experience is not a good one. This could be due to connection issues, the internet, and a variety of other problems. A great way to improve this experience is by using a VPN (a virtual private network).
Whether you get your idea from AlwaysVPN
or choose your VPN based on what your friend suggests, these are some of the ways that using a VPN can improve your gaming experience.
Ensure a Smoother Online Experience
One of the primary reasons people use a VPN is to allow for a smoother online experience with less lag. Lag can be awful to deal with when playing online, and having it can often feel like you are a second behind your opponent, or simply don’t have a good experience. A VPN can often streamline a poor connection and help it improve. While a VPN won’t always reduce the lag you experience, it can help if you live very far from a server. If you can move to a location closer to said server, you should see your performance improve and your lag be reduced. And although many areas have servers nearby, some remote or less developed areas of the world may not have servers near, and players struggle to even play a game, let alone get a good connection.
A VPN can help these individuals have fun with online games and not be restricted due to where they are. However, if you reside very close to your primary server, connecting to a VPN server elsewhere may actually hurt your lag, so keep that in mind.
Unlock Content That Would Be Otherwise Blocked
Some game creators and publishers will restrict access to certain content, levels, or expansions to different parts of the world. So, depending on where you live, you may not be able to experience everything that a video game has to offer, especially if you choose to stick to your standard internet connection. Because your VPN essentially transports you and your connection to somewhere else in the world, a VPN can get you access to content you may have never been able to experience otherwise. This could be hidden levels, exclusive characters, or anything in between.
While geo-blocking is prevalent in the gaming industry, it is also common in entertainment, and streaming services will regularly offer different content in different areas of the world. Also, some people may use a VPN to virtually be in Australia and gain access to a game a few hours before it drops in North America.
Improve Download Speeds
As a gamer, there are several times when you need to download files. This could be downloading new content, downloading the game itself, or even making updates. These updates are often dozens (or hundreds) of GB in size. If your connection quality is subpar, it can take hours or days before you can play your game. While using a VPN generally won’t improve your download speeds, it can help you evade annoying bandwidth restrictions that could be slowing down your internet.
Also, if you want to confirm your download speeds and see how they measure up against others or what your ISP says you are getting, be sure to perform a download speed test to confirm. In conclusion, we hope this article has helped you learn more about the various ways that using a VPN can improve your gaming experience.