Spending hundreds of hours grinding is acceptable when playing online games, most especially when it is your favourite one. However, making the most out of your gaming adventures is more than just about grinding. You need a tool that allows you to maintain both privacy and security. Heck, you even need one that allows you to break through artificial barriers installed by content producers. This is where a VPN can help you. Once it runs in the background, you can do each of these and so much more. If you doubt its prowess, here are some reasons why you need to consider using it.

#1. Protects You From ISP Bandwidth Throttling

VPNs for playing Call of Duty multiplayer, Overwatch, and other MOBA games are designed to protect you and your gaming experience. When your bandwidth is throttled, you will notice that your online connection speeds seem to take a hit. Sooner or later, you find out that you are unable to play the game anymore. So, what exactly happened? It is simple: Your ISP (internet service provider) has throttled your bandwidth. Keep in mind that ISPs have the ability to monitor everything you do online. But what is even worse is that they have the power to cap your bandwidth, which is something they do when they think you are doing “too much” – like playing online video games with your friends.

A VPN can help you conquer this feat, as it can encrypt your online traffic. By doing so, your ISP will have no control over what you do, let alone have the ability to see what you are doing online. As a result, they will have no reason to cap your bandwidth.

#2. Shields Yourself From DDoS Attacks

There are many things that scare online gamers the most and DDoS attack is one of them. Getting hit by it results in an ugly gaming experience. DDoS attacks work by overwhelming your connection through the use of small packets of information. They also block data from ever reaching the server and, thus, end up in you getting kicked out of the game. The attacks are largely based on your IP address; hence users can target you directly with ease. And mind you, this can happen without your knowledge.

It holds true that most, if not all, ISPs are equipped with rudimentary DDoS protection features. However, they pale in comparison to what a VPN can give. This technology shuts down all possibilities of DDoS attacks before they can even start. Rapid fire packets are immediately detected and removed before they can even ruin your game.

#3. Allows Playing Banned Games

Believe it or not, not online games are accessible in every country. That is because some of them are banned for a lot of reasons. Take for example Australia, a country which is known to have a long list of banned games. Of course, no matter the reasons, it is downright unacceptable. But once again, you can always count on using a VPN, especially since it can replace your IP address with a totally different one. So, as a result, you can just bypass the censorship and proceed to playing the game.

#4. Gives Access To Early Release Titles

This is actually a nice yet often overlooked benefit of using VPN for gaming. Basically, it gives you the ability to download certain games (including content updates) before they are even released in your area or country. Keep in mind that it is normal for publishers to stagger releases in varying regions, as they usually love to push out titles in Japan and North America first. It is then followed by Australia, Europe, and the rest of the world. If you are not okay with the idea of waiting in line, then a VPN can help you bypass this restriction and ultimately allow you to download the game.

#5. Reduces Ping Times And Lag

No matter how fast your upload and download speeds are, they become futile if your ping is too high. Ping refers to the time needed for data to be sent and received between your device and the server. This problem often occurs when the server is quite far from a player’s geographical location. For example, you live in Poland and you are connected to a gaming server located in the United States. There is always a chance that your ping will go high, resulting in what is infamously called “lag.” With a VPN, however, this problem can be solved easily. It gives you the ability to connect a VPN server in the country where your game’s server is located. This is where high ping times are eradicated, disallowing them to ruin your online game experience. That being said, you shouldn’t overlook the importance of choosing your own gaming server as well. Rust servers and Ark servers, for instance, make a world of a difference in terms of lag-free gameplay.

A gaming VPN is not necessarily a golden ticket, but it surely is a nice tool to have if you are fond of playing online games. While this technology still needs to be improved, its premise is already effective enough for gamers like you to benefit from.