When it comes to online gaming, many people assume that cutting-edge video games require lightning-fast internet speeds to deliver an optimal experience.
However, the reality is quite different. Games and game systems often don’t give specific recommendations, as the actual speed requirements are surprisingly low.
In fact, the communication between games like Halo Infinite and Fortnite and their remote servers is minimal. This is because most of the heavy lifting is done by the player’s own computer or console.
When watching a Netflix movie in 4K resolution, for example, Netflix has to send a constant stream of high-resolution images from its servers to your screen.
On the other hand, when playing Overwatch, your console only needs to pass a few numbers back and forth between your home and Blizzard’s servers, while your console’s processor handles the input, physics calculations, and display.
During an online gaming session, the key information exchanged between the player and the remote server includes:
- Keyboard input
- Mouse input
- Controller input
- Player location (you and everyone else)
- The current world state
- Player communication
- Server notifications (like in-game announcements)
Out of these, the player location can introduce slowdowns, especially in massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, where there are more real on-screen players than the typical online gaming scenario, potentially causing frame rate drops and “teleporting” players.
Despite the interactive nature of online gaming, the minimum speed requirements across most gaming platforms are surprisingly low:
- Nintendo Switch: 3Mbps download, 1Mbps upload
- Xbox: 3Mbps download, 0.5Mbps upload, 150ms latency
- PlayStation: 2Mbps download, 2Mbps upload
- Steam: 1Mbps download, 1Mbps upload
To ensure a consistent online gaming experience, however, we recommend the following:
- Download speed: 5Mbps or more
- Upload speed: 3Mbps or more
- Latency: 100ms or lower
Latency, or the time it takes for data to travel between your device and the game server, is an important factor in online gaming.
High latency can lead to issues like lag, delayed responses, and a frustrating gaming experience.
While the minimum internet speed requirements for online gaming may seem low, a slightly better connection can provide a more consistent and enjoyable experience.
You can ensure your internet connection is up to the task, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the world of online gaming.
