Today, competitive gaming is more than just a hobby. This fun-filled pastime also offers plenty of lucrative career options. The North American esports market alone is the most valuable in the world, with millions of players and spectators giving it a worth of over $1.07 billion. Tournament prize pools can reach almost $30 million in value. The globe’s biggest esports team, TSM, is worth over half a billion dollars—and the most successful player has won over $7 million.
If you’re into competitive gaming, you’re probably looking to get in on the action yourself. The best way to hone your skills and ensure you’re tournament-ready is ultimately to keep playing and have fun in the process! But that can be hard to do amid lagging internet connections, geo-blocking, an increased vulnerability to malware and viruses, and even the risk of being harassed by other members of online communities. That’s why 77% of the gamers polled by PCMag and IGN report that they feel safer when they use a virtual private network (VPN).
Curious about what VPNs have to offer and how you can maximize them to enhance your competitive gaming experiences? Keep reading below.
The benefits of a gaming VPN
The main advantage of using a VPN is improved security. It offers dedicated servers to give you your own private internet connection, then encrypts your IP packet. NordVPN defines the IP packet as being crucial for transmitting data across networks. However, it also contains sensitive information, including your IP address and data regarding the site you’re on—which is why you want to keep it safe from hackers. By fully encrypting it, gaming VPNs provide an additional layer of security while it passes through already private internet connections, protecting you from DDoS attacks, malware, spyware, and even falling victim to the stalking and swatting incidents common in online gaming communities.
VPNs also offer additional benefits for gamers. Because they mask your IP address, for instance, you can bypass geo-blocking and play competitive titles typically not available in your country or region. VPNs can also reduce pings and latency, prevent bandwidth throttling, and improve your internet’s overall speed, resulting in a faster connection that’s less prone to lags and more conducive to seamless competitive gaming experiences.
Maximizing VPNs for competitive gaming
Credit: Pexels
Choose the right VPN
So how do you find the best gaming VPN for your competitive playing needs? Our post recommends starting by looking at factors like budget and effectiveness. Make sure the VPN you can afford doesn’t compromise on security—for safer competitive gaming experiences, look for one that’s particularly equipped to defend against DDoS attacks. If you’re willing to splurge, consider extra features like the AI-powered ones on KonnektVPN. Here, the emerging tech is used to tailor the provided protection to your specific gaming needs, allowing for a more optimized experience.
From here, make sure the VPN you’re eyeing is compatible with all the devices you use for gaming, such as PCs and consoles, and can accommodate the multiple gadgets you use simultaneously. Meanwhile, getting a VPN that offers servers in the same locations as your favorite game’s servers will ensure a faster connection. If you’re new to VPNs, you may also want to choose one with a user-friendly interface and good customer service.
Optimize your internet connection
For a more seamless and secure competitive gaming experience, consider using wired ethernet connections rather than WiFi alongside a gaming VPN. The fact that they’re direct, wired, and can thus only be hacked physically will boost the benefits of the faster and more secure internet connections VPNs provide. You can take things even further by switching to fiber-optic internet, as it’s generally considered to be faster and more reliable than regular broadband. These alternatives to your typical internet connection setup can help lay the groundwork for better gaming VPN performance.
Free up device memory
Bloated device memory means less room for your VPN to work at its best, so be sure to maintain the space you have and clear up any unwanted data. Delete files you no longer need, uninstall any bloatware that came with your device, and use anti-virus programs to detect and remove any harmful software lurking in its storage system. If you’re gaming competitively on your PC, you can also consider defragmenting your hard drive. TechTarget defines defragmentation as a process that rearranges the data on your device for more efficient storage. It will improve your computer’s overall performance and speed—which, in turn, will help you maximize the benefits of a fully-functioning VPN.
Choose your server wisely
If your VPN provider offers dedicated gaming servers, take advantage of them. These servers aren’t clogged with other types of traffic unrelated to gaming, resulting in more focused protection, faster connections, and an overall better playing experience. Some providers even offer intelligent search features that recommend servers based on factors like the game you’re playing and your geo-target, allowing you to more immediately choose the fastest one located closest to either you or the servers of the game you want to play. You may want to take that into consideration when choosing your first gaming VPN or switching to a new provider.
Try split-tunneling
One final step you can take to boost your gaming VPN’s overall speed and performance is to try split-tunneling. Providers like IPVanish offer this security feature to give users more control over the protection they receive, as it allows you to select which apps get routed through your VPN’s encrypted network and which ones to exclude. If you use specific apps or websites for competitive gaming, this can further boost your internet speed while playing.
