Are you wondering whether to use a VPN for your gaming sessions? You’re not alone. For many gamers, a VPN is a critical part of their strategy to win, boosting their gaming experience significantly. Like all tools, there are 2 sides. We want to discuss VPN pros and cons for gamers.
Why Should You Use VPN for Gaming?
1 Gaming Security
When you dive into the world of online gaming today, you’re entering a realm that often operates on a subscription model. This means you’ll have to create an online account, become part of an online community, or go through some form of online verification. No matter which path you take, it’s likely you’ll end up sharing sensitive information, including your credit card details, to get in the game.
Unfortunately, your online gaming account is a target for cyber criminals. It’s a treasure trove of financial and personal information and, frankly, not too tough for them to crack open. Add an unsecured WiFi connection into the mix, and it’s akin to leaving your digital front door wide open, practically inviting them in.
This is where using a VPN can be a game-changer for you. It encrypts your data and routes it through a private server, making it significantly more difficult for hackers to make their move. Plus, it offers protection against DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks, ensuring your gaming experience remains uninterrupted and secure.
2 Access to Games
You’re eagerly anticipating the release of the latest blockbuster Triple-A game, ready to dive in the moment it hits the shelves. But then you find out it’s available earlier in another country. It’s a common scenario, right? Waiting while gamers in other regions are already deep into the gameplay you’re itching to experience. It feels like you’re on the outside looking in, almost literal gamer torture.
Here’s where a VPN becomes your secret weapon. By using a VPN, you can bypass those pesky regional restrictions that keep you from accessing games released earlier in other territories. You can also use VPN for Warzone and unblock servers that are not accessible by default. The same systems as Warzone are now in most games. Moreover, VeePN has as many as 2500+ VPN servers, so you can unblock almost any game and server. This means that gaming with VPN is becoming a modern necessity if you want to play foreign games or on foreign servers.
3 Protect Your Identity
You might have numerous reasons why you’d prefer to stay under the radar while gaming. If you’re a parent, safeguarding your kids’ privacy is likely a top priority, and achieving that anonymity isn’t always straightforward.
Games, networks, and consoles pose risks of being hacked, potentially exposing your IP address. And if your IP address doesn’t change, it could lead right back to your home, compromising your family’s privacy. By using a VPN, your real IP address is concealed, as it directs all your internet traffic through a VPN server. This means if someone tries to track “your” IP address, they’re actually finding a dead end, maintaining your anonymity securely.
4 Gaming Performance
A sluggish connection isn’t just a source of endless annoyance during your gaming sessions; it could very well be what stands between you and your triumphant mission completion.
You might recall a time when online gamers would steer clear of VPNs, fearing their notorious knack for hammering performance. But times have changed – and so has VPN technology. We have already mentioned VeePN, so we can use it as an example. It has modern VPN protocols for fast connections, Smart DNS technology, uses AI to determine the server with the best performance for your region, etc. Nowadays, VPNs have evolved dramatically, with many offering features meticulously crafted to boost the speed and efficiency of your connection.
Incorporating a VPN into your gaming arsenal could be a game-changer. By opting for a server geographically nearer to your game’s primary server, you’re shortening the distance data needs to travel. This reduction in data transfer time significantly curbs lag and other related speed bumps, allowing for smoother, more responsive gameplay.
5 Avoid Unreasonable Bans
Epic Games clearly outlines in their terms of service that you’re not allowed to use their services, including Fortnite, for anything illegal or outside what they’ve determined the service is meant for. They don’t spell out every action that might lead to a ban, but many players have found themselves locked out for employing cheats like AutoHotKey, confronted with a message stating: “You were removed from the match due to your IP, VPN, machine, or cheating. We recommend not utilizing VPN or proxy services while attempting to play Fortnite.”
Unlike some games that deploy cheat-detection software, Fortnite often opts to simply ban players suspected of cheating. The silver lining? You can find a way back in. By using a VPN to mask your real IP address, you can set up a new account and sidestep the ban on your original IP. Plus, to enjoy Fortnite to its fullest, you’ll need a really strong, fast connection and no limits on your data use — the top-tier VPNs can help ensure you get just that.
Conclusion or the Other Side of the Coin
The benefits of VPN far outweigh the potential drawbacks. Among the disadvantages are a potential slowdown in speed and a possible ban. The first disadvantage depends on the provider; good service providers provide decent network speed. A ban for using a VPN is rare. The advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
