What Internet Speed Do You Need for a Good Online Gaming Experience?

In the interconnected world we now live in, online gaming has become the main source of entertainment for millions of people worldwide.

21:30 17 September 2024

In the interconnected world we now live in, online gaming has become the main source of entertainment for millions of people worldwide. However, there’s one thing that tends to dictate how fun this gaming experience will be, whether players are engaging in competitive multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) or immersive role-playing games (RPGs), their internet speed. 

That’s because a fast and reliable connection can ensure smooth gameplay. Faster connections can reduce the chances of experiencing lagging and high latency, which can ruin even the playing experience of some of the best games.

While advanced gamers will have long since discovered the kind of internet speeds that work best from their gaming habits, newcomers to this esoteric world may be wondering what kind of internet connections they should be aiming for. Read on as we address this question and explain some of the technical aspects of how it all works.

The Basics: Understanding Internet Speed

Certain technologies, like blockchain networks, are already being used to help lessen online gaming bandwidth requirements for some types of games. We’ve seen blockchain technology’s uses becoming more prevalent in the iGaming sector, where platforms use them to facilitate faster transactions. 

For example, an online casino with instant withdrawal may need to handle a large volume of transactions while hosting vast game libraries. To achieve this in a cost-efficient way without compromising user experience, technologies like blockchain are now being leveraged more throughout the gaming industry. 

However, for traditional gamers and more conventional graphic-intensive online gaming, internet speed makes a big difference. However, before we get into the specifics of how fast players’ internet speeds should be, let’s first discuss what the term internet speed means. 

This term refers to the speed at which data is transmitted to and from devices. These speeds are measured in megabits per second (Mbps) and normally consist of two main components The first component is download speed, which refers to the speed at which data is transferred from servers to a device. In online gaming, this means how quickly game files, patches, and updates are downloaded.

The second component is upload speed, which is the speed at which data is transferred from devices to servers. This component is crucial in multiplayer gaming as it can determine how quickly player actions, such as movements or when weapons get fired, are sent to the game server.

Equally as important is latency or ping, which even though is not directly related to internet speeds, plays an important role in online gaming. Latency, which is measured in milliseconds (ms), is a measurement of the time it takes for player devices to communicate with game servers. Lower latency translates into quicker response times, something that is crucial in competitive gaming.

Recommended Internet Speed for Different Types of Games

Now that we know what internet speeds entail, let’s take a look at how fast they need to be, starting with casual games. Games in this category, like “Clash of Clans”, “Candy Crush”, and “Words With Friends”, generally don’t require heavy data transmission. 

This is because their gameplay doesn’t require real-time reactions, making latency less of an issue. It also means that they generally require internet speeds of around 1-3 Mbps for both uploads and downloads.

Real-time strategy (RTS) and MOBA games, like “League of Legends” and “Starcraft II”, need faster data transmission though, as they involve real-time gameplay with many players participating simultaneously.

This is why the recommended speeds for these games range between 5-10 Mbps for downloads and 1-2 Mbps for uploads. Ideal ping times for RTS and MOBA games are also always below 50ms.

Lastly, for first-person shooter (FPS) and other action games like “Apex Legends” and “Call of Duty”, minimal latency is required for a great gaming experience. That’s because even a slight delay caused by lag can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.

Since these games require near-instant reactions their recommended speeds are 10-20 Mbps for downloads and 3-5 Mbps for uploads. For optimal playing experiences, ping times must be under 30ms.

Factors that Affect Internet Speed in Gaming

Choosing the right speed package from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) alone cannot guarantee a seamless gaming experience. That’s because other factors can influence how well internet connections perform during gameplay, such as network congestion.

This means if there are several devices in a player's household that are downloading, streaming, or browsing the internet simultaneously, their gaming performance will be affected. That is why gamers must ensure they have enough bandwidth allocated specifically to their gaming devices.

Another factor that can play a role is the type of connections players use, as wired Ethernet connections are generally more stable than wireless ones. That’s because even though modern Wi-Fi routers are powerful, they tend to have more latency compared to wired connections.

Lastly, where game servers are located will affect gameplay quality as the physical distance between a player’s device and the game’s server will impact latency. That’s why players must choose to play on servers that are closer to where they’re located so the game’s data will travel faster.

Blockchain and Gaming: Reducing Bandwidth Requirements

Even though upgrading internet speeds and lowering latency have been traditionally viewed as the best way to improve online gaming experiences, as mentioned, many game developers are now experimenting with blockchain technology for this purpose. What has motivated their decision is that this technology can reduce bandwidth consumption.

Blockchain technology does this with peer-to-peer communication that, instead of sending gameplay data to a central server, allows players to send it directly to each other. This reduces the amount of bandwidth needed to transfer data to and from a remote server.

Secondly, blockchain networks have a tamper-proof ledger that ensures the authenticity of gameplay data and in-game transactions and gameplay data. This reduces the need for constant high-bandwidth communication between game servers and players.

Lastly, some blockchain gaming platforms execute certain parts of games’ logic on the blockchain itself, which reduces the need for continuous server-client communication. With most of the game’s validations and calculations handled in a decentralised manner, the overall bandwidth required by the game can be reduced by a huge margin.

Conclusion

As we conclude, we hope that you now have a clearer idea of the proper download and upload speeds as well as the levels of latency required for optimal online gaming experiences. However, what you must keep in mind is that the exact requirements will vary depending on the type of game you want to play, so it’s important to research what your preferred genre will need