A VPN, or virtual private network, can be a helpful tool for securing your internet connection. However, even the greatest VPNs can disrupt your relationship, sometimes to the point where your favorite PC game becomes laggy or unplayable. Some games may even prevent you from utilizing a VPN entirely. At the same time, we cannot advise you on every difficulty that may develop due to using a VPN while gaming. We can break down the concerns and give some solutions to allow you to play your favorite games easily.
But why would a gamer need a VPN?
Privacy and security are certainly concerns, but VPNs can help gamers. For example, you may spoof your location and connect to servers around the globe. VPNs can also prevent competitors from executing DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks to take down players. We have not investigated the effectiveness of VPNs in guarding against DDoS attacks.
Will a VPN cause my game to lag?
The most common complaint about VPNs is that they can decrease internet speeds. It makes sense because passing online traffic through a VPN server adds additional physical distance and machinery between PCs and the content—even when playing a video game.
Playing video games is likely to cause more latency than other activities. Split seconds can mean the difference between victory and defeat in fighting games. A decent rule of thumb is that the greater the latency, the further the VPN server is from you. A VPN with an extensive list of servers may assist you in finding a nearby server.
Given the importance of latency, users should choose VPNs that have the most negligible impact on latency. To make the cut, a VPN has to increase latency by less than 13% from the baseline results.
What Is the Most Effective Free VPN for Gaming?
Very little in life is free, yet some VPNs are. Most reliable free VPN providers impose data limits. However, a few do not. So far, a VPN provides the finest free membership option.
Even paid VPN service subscriptions can be relatively inexpensive. A VPN membership typically costs roughly $9.78 per month or $65.82 per year. You can generally save money by purchasing a longer-term membership plan, but you should try out the service on a trial basis to ensure it works for you.
Most VPN services allow you to secure up to five devices simultaneously. If a firm gives fewer devices per subscription, it had better offer something unique to compensate. Remember that you’ll only need one subscription to cover your gadgets. Several services no longer set a limit on the number of concurrent connections.
Of course, not all devices are capable of running a VPN client on their own. Innovative home equipment, as well as numerous handheld or TV-connected game systems, cannot. You can configure a router to provide VPN protection for these devices. This means that the VPN protects all traffic from all devices connected to the router (usually, every connected device in your home). While firms have sought to shorten the process, it is still more of a do-it-yourself affair and likely more of a headache for the typical person.
Will My Games Work When I Use a VPN?
For players, speed is one of many challenges. Some web services become perplexed or outright refuse VPN traffic. Netflix, for example, prohibits VPNs from enforcing distribution agreements that make different content available in other areas.
Some games will not work if you use a VPN, likely due to matchmaking systems that use your IP address to pair you with similar opponents or place you on a particular server. It could also be due to anti-cheating or anti-piracy safeguards. Whatever the reason, the end consequence is the same: utilizing a VPN sometimes means your game will not operate.
Conclusion
VPNs are effective privacy and security technologies that protect your online activity from spies, advertisers, and others without breaking the bank or suffocating your internet connection. However, there are limitations, and the requirements of some video games mean that a slow, inflexible VPN will not suffice.
It is worth noting a VPN only makes a difference if you use it frequently. That is why it is critical to test out various vendors before settling on one that best suits your needs. If you are unable to find a reliable VPN, then consider the following tips to find the best one out of the lot:
- Look for VPN brands that are highly recommended online. Besides checking out reviews on the VPN’s site, look for user reviews on other forums. If need be, scour platforms like Reddit to get a deep insight into the VPN brands and their offerings.
- Make sure the potential VPN brand offers a zero logs policy. A zero logs policy ensures no user data is recorded or monitored.
- Choose a VPN brand with a dedicated customer support team available at all times. A customer support team is important because it allows users to resolve their issues immediately.
