Proxies and online gaming haven’t gotten along historically. Gamers have avoided proxies like the virtual plague, often regarding them as lag-inducers or, worse, cheating tools.
That mindset is shifting, however, as network infrastructure and proxies have advanced considerably, offering new services and opening doors.
Below, we’ll look at five ways proxies benefit online games and why proxies are now a gamer’s best friend.
Getting Your Proxy Game On
Internet delay, or “lag,” is the Achilles heel of online gamers worldwide. Players have gone to extreme lengths to squeeze every bit of performance from their networks and devices to decrease latency.
Proxies have gotten a bad rap— often seen as the cause of additional delay or as a cheating device. First-person shooters are routinely troubled by auto-aim bots and other hacks that typically use proxies. But proxies are not merely tools of underhanded cheaters; they can be an invaluable instrument.
Check out this list to see how proxies are changing online gaming and helping players and admins stamp out lag for good.
#1: A Bolstered Bandwidth
You might not expect this, but proxies can increase bandwidth and throughput in particular scenarios. Some first-person shooters and open-world games frequently download or stream assets in the background during gameplay. This dynamic loading can cause stutters or hitching during play and strain the server during peak play times.
Proxies can help lighten the load by utilizing smart caching. A robust caching proxy can store game assets such as textures, sounds, and other media that doesn’t change often. The caching proxy can send that data to players, easing the server’s burden.
Because the caching proxy handles dynamic downloads and background streaming, there’s no reduction in server speed, and game scenery can typically load significantly faster.
#2: Cheat Detection
While it’s true that some cheating software utilizes proxy technology, proxies can also detect cheaters. Using proxies in anti-cheat solutions is not new; several modifications (mods) for Quake 2, Quake 3, and Half-Life initially forced clients to connect to a proxy, analyzing packets for suspicious behavior.
These early techniques proved successful and could block many cheats as part of a comprehensive package. Modern games utilize similar methods based on packet analysis, memory fingerprinting, and neural networks.
#3: Cultivating Diverse Communities
Regional differences can be a challenging barrier to overcome when it comes to online games, primarily due to lag, as mentioned earlier. Some servers also impose restrictions on players by location, called geo-blocking.
Proxies can get around these barriers, allowing players from all locales to come together on a server. Due to the inherent ability of proxies to anonymize a client’s location, players can join any server with the simple click of a button.
While some network latency from far-away players is unavoidable, opening the doors to new gamers is always good. Whether you’re a UK resident joining a US server, or vice-versa, you won’t be stopped any longer.
#4: More Games for More Players
Along with growing the player base, proxies can also bring games to players. Geo-blocking doesn’t only affect game servers but games themselves. Many great games never see worldwide releases, limited only to their home regions.
In the past, ardent gamers would need to physically import these games, paying high taxes and fees for the privilege of playing these rare gems. Chasing import games was often disappointing as shipments would be lost, damaged, or unavailable.
With the advent of the internet, access to foreign games has become easier, but proxies have released the floodgates. By using the proxy’s location, you can download region-restricted games freely.
#5: Providing a Backup Server
Corporations understand the importance of service continuity, but it’s just as vital for game servers. At the pro levels, having a reliable server is critical to success, and a server with a bad reputation will fade into obscurity.
Proxies can resolve these issues for games as they do for other services such as file hosting or standard websites. The proxy can either act as a redirect, routing traffic to an alternative site, or be a proper stand-in when the endpoint is down.
In either scenario, the proxy can maintain services without interruption, ensuring play continues during outages.
A Next-Level Gaming Experience Awaits
Multiplayer online games are more popular today than ever. Up your game with the best of the residential proxies for any region. Whether a player or administrator, having a robust proxy in your back pocket might give you the needed edge.
