VPN

rumple9

Keep seeing people. Mentioning the use of VPN. How do you use a VPN for gaming ?

MrGarlic

For many of us in the southern hemisphere, the use of a VPN can allow better ping times by giving us some control over the routing our data travels.

Some ISPs use cheap data backhaul which can route traffic in a less than direct path. Using a VPN, you can change to some extent, where the data leaves. (Or appears to originate.)

For example, you might live in Perth, Western Autralia and your ISP may route traffic through congested South-East Asia where data traffic is cheaper. You could use your VPN to force it to appear in Auckland, New Zealand and then use more efficient backhaul across the pacific. Potentially this could reduce your ping by 50-100ms or so.

Not all ISPs are equal. The use of a VPN can improve your gaming experience. (Or make it worse.) Your experience may differ.

Cpt_Teemo

Also bear in mind that some places around the world its against the law to VPN.

The countries that ban VPN usage, with potential prison time for offenders, include:

Belarus
China
Iraq
Oman
Turkey
United Arab Emirates

Additionally, the following countries restrict VPNs as part of overall internet censorship, and limit their availability to a short list of approved VPN services:

Iran
North Korea
Russia
Turkmenistan