Why Do I Need a VPN for Gaming?

As a gamer, experiencing issues in the middle of a game is the worst because it takes away the immersion from the game. Lags can be quite frequent, especially during prime time, but you won’t be frustrated by them anymore if you use a VPN. 

There are some gaming VPNs that guarantee better latency and ping. Sounds great, doesn’t it? But what is a VPN, you might ask. 

Well, let’s jump right into it and explore the ins and outs of a VPN for gaming.

The VPN stands for a virtual private network. Simply put, a VPN creates an encrypted channel for Internet data. It routes the user data through a different server and IPs than your network. 

A VPN allows users to surf the Internet anonymously without revealing their location. It also allows users to change their geolocation and access content unavailable in their country. 

For instance, the Netflix USA library has limited anime shows. However, users can unlock a vast library of anime shows unavailable on Netflix USA library by using a VPN and connecting to a Japanese server. 

A VPN is useful for gaming in many ways. By encrypting the data and changing the location, a VPN can help gamers connect to different region servers, play geo-restricted games, protect against DDoS attacks, and reduce ping and latency.

There are many other reasons why you may need a VPN for gaming. Here is a detailed list of them.

1. Unlocking Region Limited or Banned Games.

Some games are restricted to a certain region. For example, some JRPG games are available in the Asian region and not in the US or Europe region. By using a VPN and connecting it to an Asian location, gamers can access these JRPG games.

Also, some countries enact bans on games that don’t comply with their terms and conditions. 

China is notoriously known for banning games that glorify violence and capitalism. 

Germany has bans set in place for games that showcase or promote Nazism.

South American countries have policies that restrict games with violence and narcotics from releasing in their country. 

Not all games with violence or narcotics are bad, and some gamers want to play these games. For them, using a VPN and changing their location to a country that has easier restrictions is the best solution. 

2. Participate in Promotional Offers and Game Beta

Before a game comes out, developers usually run a trial phase of the game, known as a beta. However, sometimes game betas are only available for gamers in certain countries. Hence, a VPN can bypass the restriction and allow you to get the game beta. 

3. Play Games Before Anyone

There are multiple time zones throughout the world. Game developers mostly do not set a standard time for the launch of the game. 

For example, a game developer has set the game’s launch to January 3rd, 12pm. New Zealand is 18 hours ahead of the United States, so January 3rd, 12pm will come in New Zealand earlier than in the United States.

So, by using a New Zealand VPN, you will get access to the game 18 hours before anyone gets a chance to play the game in the United States. 

4. Avoid Getting DDoS Attacked

DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attacks have become increasingly common with the rise in popularity of online gaming. 

A DDoS attack is when someone overwhelms your network by sending excessive requests to it. As a result, the network becomes choked, and gamers start to experience degradation in the Internet service. 

A DDoS attack can cripple your Internet service. However, you can stop that from happening by using a VPN, as it will change your IP location. So, the DDoS attacker will not be able to penetrate your network. 

5. Being Protected From Getting Swatted

Many gamers face the issue of fake swatting. Many individuals you will meet in games sometimes cannot accept defeat, so they resort to swatting against you. 

Using a VPN will change your location, so you will not get swatted because your real address will be hidden and not accessible to anyone on the Internet. 

6. Reduce Ping and Latency

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a VPN is its ability to reduce ping. Specific gaming VPNs like KillPing and Exitlag focus solely on reducing ping in online games. 

VPNs connect to virtual servers through which user data is routed to the game server. Due to load on the network, your Internet service provider can experience routing issues. 

However, using a VPN can bypass the choked network of your Internet service provider and provide the data with an alternate, less congested path. Therefore, the ping to the game server will reduce. 

7. Playing With Friends From Different Regions

Some games restrict playing with gamers in different regions, but what should you do if your friends are from different regions? 

Well, you can use a VPN and connect to the region they are from. As a result, your geolocation will also be the same as theirs, and you can enjoy playing games together. 

8. Escape IP Bans

Some games enforce IP bans, which means that gamers cannot log on to the game with their internet. 

However, since connecting to a VPN changes the user’s IP, gamers will be able to log into games on which they have IP bans.

Using a VPN on games that have IP bans is also a good preventive measure. It will ensure gamers don’t get an IP ban on their account.

These are some situations where using a VPN is very helpful for gaming. There is no reason why you shouldn’t connect to a VPN at all times when gaming. Using a VPN can save many of the hassles that you may encounter if you don’t use a VPN.

Let me know your reason for using a VPN for gaming in the comment section below. Till the next time, stay safe and happy gaming!