Being a gamer is more of a lifestyle than a hobby. Sure, you play a lot of games, but you also mingle in these online spaces, organize your life around massive events and releases, and identify with some of these communities.
This is why it’s so hard to separate the real world from the digital world sometimes. It’s also why a gaming obstacle seems like a massive obstacle (far bigger than it actually is). Fortunately, some of these obstacles can be bypassed with the use of a VPN.
Here’s how this can be done and why using a VPN makes perfect sense to a video gamer (in general).
- It allows you to play geo-blocked games
Some games are only allowed to people in certain regions. This means that if you’re outside of the region, you may not be able to play, even if you are willing to legally purchase the game.
In fact, there are some consoles (primarily Switch) that create this sort of problem. For instance, the Nintendo store is not available in some countries, which means that, in order to get the game, you would have to buy a physical copy. This is a huge problem, mostly because you have to order a copy from a local supplier (and hope they have it). You also need to wait for it to arrive instead of just downloading it and playing it right away.
Now, while VPN cannot help you with the Nintendo store, this is a recurring problem with many different games and stores. So, what you can do is get a VPN and solve it yourself. According to Techopedia, a paid VPN is best, as, with free VPNs, the main drawback is the very low number of servers and geos covered. Aleksandar Stevanovic continues with the fact that this may be a showstopper if you need to access resources from specific geos or a wide range of locations around the world, which is certainly the case when gaming.
- Keeping you safe from swatting
It’s important to understand one thing – swatting is a serious threat, and some communities are notoriously toxic.
Let’s say you’re a 4X strategy gamer. Most of the time, you play a single-player game, hunting for achievements. The most scramble you’ll get into is an occasional subreddit argument about the best starting strategy for your faction of choice.
Most of the time, you’re just trying to get better, and even if you do play multiplayer, the audience is, on average, more mature. These are usually people working their 9-to-5, looking to unwind a bit after the office.
FPS games, on the other hand, are something entirely different. Not only are you at threat of doxing but you might also get swatted just for headshotting someone three times in a row. This is a serious threat, and you need to take it seriously. Needless to say, a VPN can help keep you safe.
- Avoiding bandwidth throttling
ISPs (internet service providers) are known to throttle during specific times of the day. This way, they reduce the overall pressure on their network and ensure that the average user has a better internet browsing experience.
Now, there are a few problems with this. First, there are a lot of games with high data use. These are mostly online games like MMOs and competitive multiplayer games. Now, if the ISP decides to throttle while you’re playing, you’re in for a world of lag. Even if it doesn’t outright ruin your chances of performing at the best of your abilities, it will reduce your overall enjoyment of the game.
Once again, the amount of data you’re using (and the amount of data you need) depends on the game you’re playing.
By encrypting your data, a VPN will help you avoid data throttling. In other words, the ISP won’t know if you’re playing the game or not. They’ll assume that you’re just using the internet. All in all, It’ll be a lot harder for ISPs to throttle your data.
- Bypassing IP ban
Is bypassing a ban ethical? Well, it depends on the point of view. Sure, the developer has the right to choose who can use their game, but if it’s a free game, a case can be made that it’s free for everyone (or it’s not free). If it’s a paid game, how ethical can it be to ban you from something you’ve paid money for?
All in all, not all bans are justified. Sometimes, you are a bit toxic, but for a good reason. Sometimes, a person much more toxic taunts you, and they don’t get a ban (you do).
As you can see, there are plenty of ways bypassing the IP ban can be morally justified, but how do you do it?
Well, starting a new account is the most obvious way, but a lot of game developers and support teams are aware of that. So, what they do instead is ban the IP. fortunately, changing your IP is not that hard when you use a VPN. You’ll be back in the game in no time, and they’ll be none the wiser.
- Early availability of some new releases
Sure, some releases have the same global time. This means that you get to see the release and the time zone. Most likely, if you’re using a great platform, you’ll even see the time when the game will be released in your region.
However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, for whatever marketing reasons, the game is set to release at a set time and date, regardless of the time zone. A game may launch at 22:22 or 11:11. The thing is that, if that’s the case, you might be able to access it sooner by using a VPN.
By tricking the system into thinking you’re at a different location, you’ll have earlier access than some of your friends.
Now, this is not just important for those who are impatient (although, sometimes, even a few hours means a lot). For a reviewer, a chance to release an early video can make a massive difference in views and engagement.
All of this is for just using a VPN.
- Safer way to play via public WiFI
Gamers don’t always play from home. This is especially the case if they’re using mobile games, tablet games, or just have a gaming laptop.
Now, the very point of gaming from a portable device is the idea of playing on the go. A sleepover at a friend’s house is never problematic. What about playing from a park, a coffee shop, or a hotel that you’re staying at?
Sure, these can be completely safe and innocent, but is this really the risk that you’re willing to take?
Now, the best form of protection is definitely to be cautious when using public WiFi or to avoid using it altogether. Alas, since the latter is never really an option, it’s important that you start using a VPN.
This will give you that extra layer of encryption that may be just enough to avert a massive disaster.
For a gamer, a competitive edge is all that matters
Regardless of whether it’s allowing you to play a video game, you wouldn’t otherwise be able to, keeping you safe online, or allowing you to bypass a ban, there’s no doubt about the usefulness of a VPN. Nowhere is this as important (or as appreciated) as in this field. In other words, a VPN is something that every gamer should have installed on their device of choice.
