2022 is an incredible year for games! Elden Ring, Saints Row, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six and Warhammer 40,000… We’re not even mad Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 has been pushed back to next year. Well, okay maybe a little.

Whether you’re partial to a bit of MMORPG or are hell-bent on a good hack and slash, you know how important a good broadband connection is. According to a survey by uSwitch in 2019, nearly four out of five households say their broadband isn’t fit for purpose when it comes to online gaming.

The need for (online) speed

With online gaming, the faster your broadband, the happier the experience. Most video game manufacturers recommend at least 3Mbps, or megabits per second.

However, unless you’re the only person at home, you’ll need a faster connection than that. If someone is watching Netflix, listening to Spotify or checking out YouTube at the same time, you need to ensure your broadband is keeping everyone happy.

The power of latency

It’s not just speed you need to be aware of when gaming – latency is essential too.

Latency is the amount of time it takes for data to travel from one place to another, in this case, from the corresponding server to your device.

High latency means lots of lag, leading to frustration, bad language and potentially broken keyboards. When online gaming, it could be the difference between winning the level and getting a game over.

Latency is measured in milliseconds (Ms). Generally, anything below 40Ms is good, but the closer you can get to 0Ms, the better.

The most reliable broadband connection

As well as something fast, you want something consistent. After all, there’s nothing worse when you’re gaming with your friends and your internet keeps stopping and starting.

A dependable broadband connection means fewer connection issues. Typically, full fibre broadband is more reliable than the ‘old school’ copper broadband.

This is because full fibre is more resistant to interference and changes in temperature, meaning it’s less likely to give out when you need it the most.

How to check your broadband connection

If you think your broadband is not up to spec when it comes to broadband speed, the first thing to do is carry out a speed test.

A speed test will tell you how fast your broadband connection is. That way, you can see if the problem lies with your equipment or whether you need to consider changing broadband providers.

Check out our guide to carrying out a speed test, or better yet, give the Fibre Heroes internet speed test checker a try.

Other ways you can speed up your gaming experience

So, you’ve done a speed test and found that your broadband speed is okay. Alternatively, you’ve found that you’re locked into your current broadband contract for a bit and need to make do until you can swap to a new (and better) provider.

Here are some of our top tips for making the most of your online gaming experience.

• Check to make sure the issue isn’t with your computer. An out of date driver or old graphics card can also cause your game to run slowly
• Turn off devices you’re not using. If you have lots of different tech on the go, turning them off means you can focus on your gaming experience
• Move your computer closer to your router. Even changing the angle of your device can help
• Play on a local server. The closer a service is to where you live, the faster the gaming. This means if you’re playing in the UK, avoid servers in the US or China
• Connect your device directly to your router. Many avid gamers prefer to avoid using WiFi, instead connecting their computer directly to the router with an ethernet cable
• Play-off peak. If many people are playing a game online at any one time, this can affect your speed. Avoid playing straight after work and before teatime if you can

Full Fibre – the broadband of gaming champions

 If you’re serious about gaming, then full fibre broadband is ideal for your home.

At Fibre Heroes, we install reliable broadband with speeds of 1,000Mbps, meaning you can play any game, on any device, at any time.

Whether you’re gathering a team of elite warriors for an online quest or just punching trees, we’re the perfect partner for any mission!

Carry out a free speed test today and see how fast your future broadband connection could be.