How Server Regions Affect Matchmaking and Gameplay Quality
Modern games have come a long way since the release of the original Nintendo or Atari. The advent of technology and the development of high-end equipment have taken the gameplay to new heights. However, there are still some technical issues that, at times, affect the gameplay. Server region is one such issue. How server regions affect matchmaking and gameplay quality? Let us dive in to know more about it.
Server regions, the geographic data centers hosting game servers, which govern the matchmaking efficiency and gameplay fluidity in competitive titles, slash accuracy, and hand advantages to the low-ping foes. Matchmaking prioritizes low-ping pools for fairness, but low-pop regions force compromises, spiking queues or ping.
How Server Regions Affect Gameplay Quality?
The server region has a lot to do with the gameplay quality. It plays a huge role in a seamless and smooth gaming experience. Here is how server regions affect gameplay quality:
Increased Latency
Latency is the more technical term for lag. It is also called “ping”. The further you are from the server, the more time it takes for data to travel back and forth, thereby resulting in higher ping. Higher pings lead to a delay in actions. It makes the entire gameplay sluggish and unresponsive.
Desynchronization and Lag
High latency causes desync. When this happens, you see different versions of the game world. It gives rise to issues like enemies teleporting or the action not reporting correctly. This led to inconsistency in the gameplay and an unfair gaming experience.
Competitive Disadvantage
In latency-sensitive, fast-paced games, low ping is extremely crucial for reaction times. It gives players on the local server a significant advantage over those connecting from different regions. This is a pure competitive disadvantage as both players are not playing on equal footing. Here, the server is the spoiler.
How Server Regions Affect Matchmaking?
Now, the question remains, how server regions affect the matchmaking? There are several ways in which it affects. It affects the matchmaking speed and the criteria used to find the game. Here is how it affects:
Wait Time and Player Pool Size
Server regions limit matchmaking to a small geographical area. It reduced the available player pool, which leads to longer wait times. The players who want to join during off-peak hours or those who join from less populated regions face this problem more.
Causes Delay and High Ping
The last thing you want in online gaming is being connected in different regions. This is never considered ideal for the reason that it causes delay and high ping. Being connected from two different locations means that the data travels a large distance, which obviously takes time.
How to Improve Multiplayer’s Latency?
If you are experiencing latency that has been affecting your gameplay, you need to fix this issue. There are several necessary steps that you can resort to. Here is how to improve multiplayer’s latency by following the steps given below:
Play on Local Server
Pick a local server. Choose the server that is very close; avoid opting for far-off servers. This will ensure fast communication between your computer and the server. This is a great way to improve the latency. Remember that choosing a server from a different region causes a delay since a lot of time is spent traveling, which affects the matchmaking.
Use VPN
Using a VPN is a variable option that you can resort to. VPN is quite helpful in doing away with geographical restrictions. A VPN protects your privacy and secures your data on public Wi Fi. A VPN works fine for gaming.
It helps in improving the latency by rerouting the traffic around ISP congestion or providing a more direct path to the server. It does away with the issue of latency due to added encryption and distance.
There are several VPNs available. CyberGhost VPN free trial is recommended for the features it supports. CyberGhost VPN offers different free trials. It includes a 24-hour free trial for Windows and OS users, a 3-day free trial for Android users, and a 7-day free trial for iOS users. All the trials provide free premium access, including unlimited servers and features.
Stay Close to the Router
Make sure you stay close to the router while playing the game. If you are using a wireless connection to play the game and are straying away from the router, you might experience slow gameplay. It is therefore recommended to stay closer to improve the strength of the connection. The two important factors that contribute to the improved latency are Internet connection speed and technology.
Conclusion
So it has come to the fore that, in competitive gaming, server regions are the invisible gatekeepers of victory. Server regions dictate pings, ensure matchmaking fairness and precision. It is important to choose the right server while playing the game. How server regions affect matchmaking and gameplay quality? How to improve multiplayer’s latency? These are some of the questions I have answered in detail in this article. You can go through the article to know more about it.
