Online gaming has been around since we used clunky dial-up connections. While the Quake III Arena and Unreal Tournament days are decades away in the past, online gaming has exploded and is continuously growing by the day. Broadband internet and internet access are spreading across the globe, giving opportunities to thousands of new players to join the party.
One of the most long-lived and popular franchises, Call of Duty gets around 90 million monthly players, and battle royale heavyweight Fortnite amassed over 500 million players globally in 2023.
For competitive players, each millisecond is essential. That is why gamers chase high-speed internet access, and computer monitors with above 240 Hz refresh rates, and quality peripherals like gaming mouse and high-end mechanical keyboards.
Because there are so many players and high-level competition, creating perfect gaming conditions is essential for many gamers. Aside from broadband internet access and quality gaming hardware, another thing that can help with better results is proxy servers.
Why should you use proxies for gaming?
First of all, let’s look into what a proxy server is. Proxies act as an intermediary between your gaming rig and game servers. The most popular proxy feature is hiding the client’s IP address. That way, you can have more privacy, anonymity, and security while joining crowded game servers. The only thing revealing your identity is your in-game nickname, which isn’t telling much to others about your whereabouts.
Aside from anonymity, proxy servers can help gamers with several other potential issues. Realistically, most gamers are less obsessed with security than with performance. Proxy servers can deliver on that front by improving infamous ping in games.
Because proxy server providers offer various locations for their IPs, you can choose the one conveniently located near the game server, reducing the distance and thus getting lower latency and response time. Minimizing distance between servers is an effective way to gain a slight advantage. When choosing your proxy server, try to find the one with high uptime. Another way proxies can improve ping times is because of their distributed network structure.
More than just a performance boost
New players are connecting to game servers each second. Unfortunately, some countries or regions don’t always have access to gaming services like Xbox Game Pass or dedicated game servers. Proxies can help you avoid geo-restrictions and allow you to play your favorite game regardless of your original location. This benefit extends to early access opportunities, as some studios release beta or demo versions of games to a limited number of users from specific regions.
Proxies can also filter the network traffic, leaving all unnecessary packages out when you’re gaming. It would be hard for malicious users to fire a DDoS attack when you use a proxy server. Having a security blanket in the form of a proxy server will increase your security, and you can focus on gaming without worrying about security issues.
Which proxy servers to choose for gaming?
Residential proxy servers are the most popular option for most advanced users. These proxy servers have IP addresses from Internet Service Providers, allowing them to seem authentic to destination servers. Finding quality static residential servers will give you all the benefits discussed earlier. Residential proxies are more expensive than other popular datacenter proxy servers. You can also encounter slower speeds unless you opt for premium service with guaranteed uptime and speed.
On the other hand, Datacenter proxies come with more speed and incredible IP addresses. Simultaneously, those IPs are not as genuine as residential ones because ISPs did not assign them. Speed and affordability are the main advantages of datacenter proxies.
You can also find mobile proxies, which are similar to residential but are not as convenient for gaming purposes as they have mobile ISPs.
The other differentiating factor when choosing proxies is between static and rotating services, where static IPs will remain unchanged and stable. Rotating proxies is not ideal for gaming, as game servers might frown upon different IPs from the same users. If you have the budget, having exclusive IPs is also a step above-shared IPs, and you will know the IP was not banned or compromised by previous users.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving world of online gaming, where every millisecond counts, leveraging residential proxies has become a strategic move for players seeking an edge. These proxies, acting as a shield between your gaming setup and game servers, offer enhanced privacy and security and the potential for improved performance.
With the ability to choose proxy locations strategically, gamers can minimize latency and response times, gaining a competitive advantage.
Beyond performance, proxies break down geo-restrictions, granting access to games and services unavailable in certain regions. Whether enhancing security, optimizing ping, or overcoming geographic barriers, choosing the suitable proxy – residential, datacenter, or mobile – becomes crucial in creating the perfect gaming environment. So, dive into the world of proxies, optimize your gaming experience, and emerge victorious in the virtual battlegrounds.
