How to Improve Your Gaming Experience on Console

Love to game online on the PS5, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox Series X? Many others do too. In 2022, there were 40 million online gamers in the UK. And casting the net globally, that total rises to a staggering 3.1 billion.

That’s a lot of competition to get a leg up over. So, what can you do to improve your setup to increase your win-loss ratios while gaming online? What steps should you take to boost your experience and leave billions in your wake? Here’s everything you need to know.

Review your internet speed

Reviewing your internet speed is the first step to getting an edge over your competition. Check your upload and download connections on an online speed-testing website. The site should also tell you how these relate to other users. It will give you an idea of whether your internet service provider needs an upgrade.

If you are playing away from your router, consider using a speed booster or connecting an ethernet cable directly to your console to lower the ping. Sometimes you will need to adjust your DNS settings. Usually, you can find them in the Network settings of your console.

Get a VPN

Using a virtual private network (VPN) comes with many potential benefits. The major one is increased privacy. While the online gaming scene might not be the wild west that it was decades ago, bad actors are still out there. They might take your trouncing of them as a serious insult. These hackers might try to find your personal information, IP address, or other data and use it against you.

Using a VPN could help protect you. VPNs for PS4 consoles mask your internet connection when you’re online, preventing others from accessing it. It does this by routing your connection via a VPN server, often abroad. As such, it can also make you appear like you are gaming from a different country. It can be helpful if you want to test your skills against gamers worldwide.

Changing your country can also give you access to games that are banned or with limited access. Some countries block games for various reasons, and getting a VPN can help you get access to these games should you wish to do so.

Moreover, a reliable VPN service can help you stay safe on public Wi-Fi networks. Public Wi-Fi networks are not protected, and third parties can access the data transmitted between the device and the Internet. A potential hacker could spy on you and see your activity online. A quality VPN will protect your online activities with high level of encryption, giving you peace of mind when on public Wi-Fi.

Enhanced performance is another major benefit of using a VPN. Since a quality VPN prevents bandwidth throttling during peak internet times, it can reduce lag and ping times.

Play games with early access

If you want to be the absolute best at a particular game, then it pays to start playing first. The best way to do this is to get into the game while it’s in early access. That’s when developers bring out half-finished versions of their games for less money than a full release costs.

Game developers can then prepare the game for mass release while you gain valuable experience and become a pro before everyone else.

Back your saves up

If something happens with your console, it’s always a good idea to have an online backup for your saved games.

You need PS Plus service for PlayStation backups, while Nintendo players need the Nintendo Switch Online. The internet connection is the only requirement for Xbox users – the saves will be synchronized on the Xbox servers automatically.

Usually, the settings are turned on automatically, but double-checking would also teach you to access those saves when you need to restore them.

What do you think about our tips above? Think they’ll give you the edge online? Let us know your opinions in the comments section below.