Suppose you are in the middle of a very intense game – let us say, a battle, wherein you are slashing your sword or shooting or maybe in a sports match. Now, regardless of what it may be, how would you feel if you are just a few points from winning, you just took the winning shot, and at this moment, your game freezes momentarily.
Because of this lag, the shot happens a few seconds later and not instantly. Then, you notice that your competitor took the shot before you, and you have lost your game, and all of it because of a stupid lag.
Game lag is when there is a small delay between the player’s action and the server’s reaction, says Chandler, who works with TFTH and is a serial gamer. In addition to your losing internet connection, it is the other most frustrating thing that you may experience in-between the game. It is more depressing because even if you were the one who pressed the button before, it does not matter. If there is a game lag, your server will take time to respond, and in this while, if your opponent is faster, he holds a better chance at winning.
Fortunately for you, there are a few ways to minimize the game lags and enjoy a seamless gaming experience. Let us take a look at them one by one.
Check the bandwidth and internet speed
Of course, you do not need the internet with a business-speed to play your game seamlessly, but you still need a minimum of 15-20 Mbps of speed if you want to enjoy a game. However, it would be best if you also considered the bandwidth.
If you and the other people in your house are simultaneously engaging in activities that use the internet (such as browsing the web, video chatting, or streaming a movie) while you are gaming, it will hamper the bandwidth, says Noah, who offers online java homework help, and enjoys gaming. Activities such as downloading a file and streaming a video will mainly affect the bandwidth because they need a lot of data, way more than gaming. This will naturally slow down the internet, and your game will lag if there is not enough bandwidth for you to play.
Opt for low network latency
You can understand network latency as the time it takes for the data to transmit between the source and the destination. So, the lower the latency, the better it is. If you are gaming using a high latency network when you tell your gaming character to move forward, they will not walk only after a few seconds, says Jacob, a gaming freak who works with TrumpLearning. This can lead to a lag.
So, the ideal combination you need for gaming is low latency and a high internet speed. When the ping rate is lesser than 150 milliseconds, it is a good latency. However, the latency of 20 milliseconds is excellent.
Close all background programs and websites
Websites, such as YouTube or Netflix, are high bandwidth websites. Moreover, downloading a lot can also affect the latency and ping rate. If any of this is going on in the background, you should shut it immediately as they hamper the gaming performance.
Thus, you need to reduce the number of devices that are connected to Wi-Fi. The more devices that are connected using the WI-FI, the more bandwidth will be required. One of the best things you can do here is to put your device on Airplane mode while gaming.
Move closer to the router
Blockages, such as floor, walls, furniture, or any other physical object, can disrupt or slow down your Wi-Fi signal. You can boost the signal strength and improve connectivity by moving closer to the computer or shifting your gaming console closer to your router.
Even after changing your position or the router’s position, nothing happens; you can change your gaming position. For instance, you can alter the angle of your gaming console. One of the most significant ways to reduce gaming lags is by lowering the signal interface, points out Scott, a calculus online tutor. Well, we agree with Scott’s suggestions, but how do you do it? It can be done by curtailing home appliances’ interference, such as microwaves, wireless speakers, and mobile chargers. It will help you ensure that the signal travels to your device directly.
Connect the device to the router with an Ethernet cable
For people who live in a home with a shared Wi-Fi connection, where there are too many family members or housemates using it, it will be difficult for you to ask them to stop using it while gaming. In this case, you can squeeze the game whenever they are not around, or you can connect your device to the router with an Ethernet cable. If the router is not the problem, this will dramatically reduce the lag.