Online gaming is a crucial component of today’s gaming scene, and a lot of players are now playing online. This is common for all gaming platforms whether it is PC, consoles such as Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch, or mobile devices such as phones or tablets. Online gaming allows people to connect with other similar-minded players from around the world and play games together whether in co-op or competitively. With the scope of gaming going global with online gaming, it is vital that you protect yourself in this digital space as well and this is where a good VPN comes into play.
While playing online, your personal and official information could end up in the wrong hands and to prevent this, you can simply use different VPN services that will provide you with security as you play online safely. There are different VPN installer services out there that will allow you to download their clients and explore the digital landscape without any worries. Here, we have some pros and cons for using a VPN service during online gaming which will help you decide whether you really need to have a VPN service or not.
Pros Of Using VPN For Online Gaming
This section of the feature will go over the pros of using a VPN service for online gaming.
Protecting Your Privacy
When you are going online, your information will be available to everyone involved in the process which normally includes the game developer, the game servers, and any other server owners whose connection you might be currently present depending on what sort of game you are playing online.
While most of the developers ensure proper security systems are in place to avoid any data leaks, some of the third-party gaming servers might not be as vigilant as those of first-party developers. In such cases, it is vital that you use a good VPN service in order to protect your online privacy from prying eyes.
If the gaming servers are using trackers for advertisem*nts or other things, a VPN can easily mask your important details and ensure that no one has access to your private data online apart from the ones it is intended for.
Securing Your Identity
With mobile gaming on the rise, it is becoming equally important to hide your IP and physical location from the evil eyes of the internet. For this very reason, using a VPN is important because a good VPN will not only secure your sensitive data but will also hide your IP from other people who might use this information for their own gains. There are tons of mobile games these days that work on ad revenue and for this purpose, they collect data regarding your location and other personal information such as age, name, and interests for serving the right ads but a VPN can easily hide all of this information, and keep you secure.
Accessing Games Not Available in Your Region
This is mostly common with MMORPGs because they start in one region and then gradually expand into other regions or do not expand at all. If you want to play an MMORPG or any other game that is not available in your region, you can use a good VPN service and play that game. If the game requires a constant online connection, make sure that you are using a good premium VPN because you will need a consistent and decent connection to the game servers through the VPN servers and this is something that you cannot achieve with free VPN services. Using a good premium VPN service, you can access any game that is currently not available in your own region.
Cons Of Using VPN For Online Gaming
This section of the feature will go over the cons of using a VPN service for online gaming.
Added Price
Apart from purchasing the game and purchasing an online service for playing online (e.g., Game Pass, PS Plus, Nintendo Switch Online), you will have to purchase a good VPN service as well. Most of the VPN services have a monthly or a yearly subscription model and you will need to dish out additional money on them if you want to use VPN for online gaming. All of this combines together for a fairly huge amount of monthly expense that will certainly increase your gaming expenditure.
Low-Quality Online Experience
If you are using a poorly designed VPN service or your VPN is connecting to the gaming servers through a server that is too far away from them, this is ruining your online gaming experience. You will not only experience high pings in gaming but if you play competitively, this will negatively impact your gaming performance as well as your every move will be registered after a delay and what would have been a confirmed kill, will turn into a confirmed death. Not all VPN services offer a global solution, so you have to be very careful in making your selection when it comes to a VPN service.
By checking out the pros and cons of using a good VPN service for online gaming shared above, you can determine whether you want to opt for the service or not. The scenario will be unique to every gamer. However, by using information available online, you can easily determine your needs for a good VPN service. You can also check out additional information on how you can stay online along with 5 most dangerous threats online and how you can avoid them.
Are you using a VPN service for your online gaming? Let us know in the comments section below and if you have some suggestions for us, you can share them as well.
FAQs
The main reason to connect to a VPN when gaming online is the ability to choose your own servers. That flexibility has a few benefits, including the potential to lower your all-important ping, aka latency. Ping measures how quickly your device can get information from a game's servers.
Does VPN slow down online gaming? ›
Does a VPN slow down gaming? Yes, a VPN might dial down your gaming speed because your data detours through a VPN server. However, it's a small price for the security benefits you gain. A VPN protects you from DDoS attacks and keeps your connection secure.
Is it illegal to use a VPN for gaming? ›
Is it legal to use a VPN for gaming? VPNs are legal in most countries but check your specific country's laws before using one. For example, while VPNs are legal in China, they are restricted and using them can be viewed as suspicious behaviour.
What is VPN and its pros and cons? ›
VPN pros and cons at a glance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|
| Enhances privacy — hides personal data | Premium VPNs cost money |
| Helps overcome internet access restrictions | Free VPNs may be too slow and may collect your data |
| Removes bandwidth throttling | VPNs may be restricted in some countries |
| Saves you money on online purchases | |
4 more rowsFeb 5, 2024
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for gaming right now, thanks to its impressive speeds, excellent privacy protections and expansive global network of servers. NordVPN is the fastest VPN we tested, with a best-in-class 11% average internet download speed loss.
How to use a VPN for gaming? ›
Setting up a VPN for gaming on mobile devices is similar to using computers. First, download the app from your chosen provider and launch it. Once the app runs, select a server location and connect to it by pressing the "connect" button. That's all there is to it.
How much latency does a VPN add? ›
The latency increases to 150 ms when using the VPN. A multi-hop VPN will always have a higher latency than a single hop tunnel.
Why is internet so much slower on VPN? ›
VPNs primarily slow down internet speeds due to the encryption process they use to secure data. When you use a VPN, your data is encrypted before being sent over the internet. This process, while crucial for protecting your privacy and ensuring data security, adds additional steps in the data transmission process.
How much will a VPN slow down my internet? ›
Let's say you have a 100Mbps download speed, and connecting to a VPN brings it down to 80Mbps: Regular browsing: you wouldn't even feel the difference; Streaming: you're still going to do it comfortably; Downloading: you might notice a change, but not by a lot (the speed may even improve, but we'll explain that later).
Will I get banned for using a VPN? ›
Are VPNs legal to use? Yes, VPNs are legal in most countries around the world, including the US, Canada, and most of Europe. However, you might risk heavy fines or even imprisonment for using a VPN in a country that bans it, for example, North Korea or Iraq.
No, it's not illegal to gamble with a VPN. By using a VPN to access gambling sites, you are simply protecting your online traffic from being tracked and ensuring that your personal information is kept secure.
Can you get in trouble for gambling with a VPN? ›
Also, if gambling is illegal in your country, gaming at a betting site would still be considered illegal even when using a VPN. Before gambling with a VPN, make sure you are well acquainted with your country's stance on real money games.
Should you use a VPN when streaming? ›
Technically, you can certainly stream without a VPN. But, you know, it's probably better to use one. Increased security, better connections, better privacy, protection from certain kinds of attacks… these are just a few of the things a VPN can do for you while you stream.
Is VPN a good thing or a bad thing? ›
A VPN will hide the contents of your web traffic from some observers and can make it harder for you to be tracked online. But a VPN can, at best, provide only limited protection against the threats you're most likely to encounter on the web: malware, social engineering scams, and phishing sites.
Are VPNs worth it in 2024? ›
See our Terms of Use for details. Learn about the benefits of using a VPN and how to choose the right one for your business needs. Yes, virtual private networks are worth it. In today's digital age, it's become increasingly important to protect online data.
Does a VPN slow down your ping? ›
Can a VPN reduce ping? A virtual private network (VPN) can reduce ping if it sets up a more optimized path to your gaming server than your ISP.
Why does my VPN make games lag? ›
This happens if the VPN server adds extra distance to the route between you and the game server or if the VPN's server is not performing optimally. Plus, the process of encrypting data with a VPN can introduce a slight delay, although with fast and reliable VPNs, this impact is often minimal.
How to increase internet speed while using VPN? ›
Here's how to increase Internet speed when using a VPN.
- Choose a reputable VPN provider. ...
- Connect to another server. ...
- Use a wired connection. ...
- Use a VPN protocol with faster performance. ...
- Disable unnecessary features. ...
- Optimize VPN settings. ...
- Turn on Split Tunneling. ...
- Double-check your Internet connection.
The dangers of gaming without a VPN
You are at risk of DDoS attacks: DDoS attacks are a serious threat to any online gamer. These attacks can overload your connection with traffic, resulting in severe lag or even a complete loss of connection. Without a VPN, you are more vulnerable to these types of attacks.
