What is Multiplayer Ping in Online Games?
If you are a fan of multiplayer games, then you are aware of ping and its importance for very competitive matches. The BandurArt team decided to explore what factors impact the multiplayer ping in online games and how you can optimize it. Read up to the end and bookmark our website if you like this post about ping in different multiplayer titles.
Just imagine that you have set everything up for the game night with friends – bought snacks, took a day off, made sure your relatives won’t bother you for a few hours, and even set silence notifications on iPhone. A dream coming true… Except for one thing – you can’t play after all because the multiplayer ping is too high. A bummer, but you can fix it.
Basically, ping in online video games is your Internet connection to the server. Its latency is the time that data takes to get from your device to the server in the game, usually expressed in milliseconds (ms). The smaller the number, the faster the connection. Players feel it as the reduced buffering time between hitting a button and watching what’s happening in the game. That delay can make a huge difference between winning and losing in a dynamic multiplayer experience.
Several factors influence ping. The best Internet connection is big, but so is the distance from the game server. A European gamer playing against a North American server will have a higher ping than a North American player. Network congestion, on your local network or the internet at large, also impacts on the ping speed.
The multiplayer ping speed should be under 50 ms, the lower end of 20 ms is ideal. Meanwhile, a ping greater than 100 ms means lagging. Shots in competitive FPS games can feel slowed down or players can lag across the screen. It’s frustrating and can totally blow the match.
Low ping improves responsiveness and accuracy. Even if you’re just casually playing or trying to win an online match only sometimes, you have to know how to optimize multiplayer ping.
How Does Multiplayer Ping Affect Gameplay?
High ping can completely devastate your experience, causing frustrating bugs such as being unable to move, rubber-banding (when your character swoops back to a previous location), and missing a shot during intense online gaming sessions. It also affects how quickly you respond to your opponent’s actions. Every move feels like it comes one second too late. Watch this video to understand better what we mean.
When it comes to online games, every millisecond counts. Consider the FPS shooter and finding an enemy. Shoot, but because of the high multiplayer ping, your shot leaves the server too late. And what about the result? You shoot, it doesn’t hit, or worse, your opponent hits you back.
For example, why CoD MW2 multiplayer ping matters so much:
- Response Time. Low ping means instant responses. In a fast-playing game, this means that your actions match the game world. High ping is lag-inducing and leaves your character running slowly and out of step;
- Server Sync. Online games depend on perfect synchronization between your device and the server. Low ping puts you right in line with the game, so the world you perceive is identical to everyone else’s;
- Game Genre Sensitivity. Some games react better to high ping than others. MMOs, for example, might take longer but you still play them. FPS, MOBA, or Battle Royale games, by contrast, require small, split-second actions. When ping is too high in such games, they’re nearly impossible to play;
If you want to learn more about the importance of multiplayer ping in video games, check this Quora thread with the answers from real people.
Benefits of Low Multiplayer Ping in Online Gaming
- Improved Reaction Times. Low ping guarantees your actions are received within seconds and allows for fine-tuned decision-making and execution;
- Smoother Gameplay Experience. See smooth animations, less stuttering, and a full immersion without a frustrating lag;
- Competitive Advantage. Be quick to react, make complicated moves, and play more accurately so you are in a position to dominate the competition;
- Enhanced Multiplayer Interactions. Coordination and consistent communication with others can make team games more fun and effective;
Causes of High Ping
High multiplayer ping can interrupt gameplay, and knowing the root of this issue can lead to smoother experiences online.
Internet Connection Quality
What creates low ping begins with your connection. The answer depends on the amount of bandwidth you have, whether it is fiber, cable or DSL, and what the infrastructure is from your ISP.
Network Congestion
In a situation where multiple devices use the same Wi-Fi connection for resources, latency increases. This congestion may be the reason for your home network’s issues, or on your ISP’s side, or non-sufficient Internet infrastructure.
Distance from Server
The further you are away from the game server, the slower the data will travel. The server might be in a foreign country, so the multiplayer ping will be higher because your data packets will have to take longer to reach there.
Hardware and Software Issues
Slow routers, faulty configurations, or outdated software slow the Internet connection’s speed too. Low ping can be maintained by network equipment and system upgrades.
Game Server Quality
Not all problems lie with you. High ping even with a good connection can be a result of overloaded or inefficient game servers.
It is also worth checking out this Reddit thread where people share their experiences with high multiplayer ping in different online and how this impacts their gameplay.
What is Considered a Good Multiplayer Ping for Gaming?
Well, let’s take a look at all possible scenarios to understand what ping is considered good or bad:
- 0–20ms (Exceptional). This is the fantasy for competitive gamers, especially in action-packed games such as FPS and MOBA. Actions are fast-paced with little or no time delay between you and the game’s reaction;
- 20–50ms (Good). Ideal for most gamers. The gameplay is still fluid and this line is ideal for casual and competitive play;
- 50–100ms (Acceptable). Playable, although you might see a slight lag in reactions-heavy games. This range is normally adequate for the casual gamer but may be restrictive for a pro player;
- 100–150ms (Tolerable). The time lag becomes clear, particularly in real-time games. There are fast-paced games that get boring, but there are also slow ones, such as strategy games;
- 150ms and more (Poor). Extreme lag and rubber-banding are an irritation to play. Real-time games become practically unplayable at this scale;
It also depends on what kind of game you are playing. FPS players can even suffer from 60ms pings in a match, while MMO players can manage over 100ms. Pings under 30ms are essential for professional eSports players who want to be ahead of their competitors.
10 Multiplayer Games Where High Ping Doesn’t Matter
As we have already mentioned, in some games high multiplayer ping doesn’t matter that much. So, if you have problems with your Internet connection and still want to play online, you may choose among the games that work great even under such conditions.
Don’t Starve Together
It’s a cool friend survival game. Build bases, craft gear, or enter treacherous territories in a team. Because of the games’ slow frame rate, high ping is barely noticeable, so you can play even when someone’s connection doesn’t look good.
Sea of Thieves
Put your piratical flag up and sail on adventure in this beautiful game with hand-drawn artwork! No matter if you’re robbing skeleton crews, looting the treasure, or defending your allies, with tactical play, the game’s design will keep high ping out of your swashbuckling pleasures. Synergy and cooperation are on the front burner.
Teamfight Tactics
This LoL’s spin-off is turn-based and does not rely on reaction time. Prepare your heroes, prepare your strategy, and get to battle. Ping is non-problematic, so it’s perfect for strategy players with iffy connections.
Guild Wars 2
It is a PvE, wide-open MMO where ping is nothing. Wander, plunder, and hunt with no delays. PvP can bring in lag, but the majority of play remains uninfluenced.
Monster Hunter: World
‘It’s great to hunt giant animals with your buddies. Missions are cooperative, high ping-friendly, and less about split-second moves and more about teamwork and strategy.
Tabletop Simulator
Gameboards made interactive! Chess, poker, Dungeons & Dragons, etc. The vast majority of games do not suffer from ping and are perfect for a few hours of entertainment with your friends from anywhere in the world.
Stardew Valley
Create your farm, mine, or fish with your friends in this best-selling farming sim. Its ping is okay for multiplayer, so you can take turns to make some playtime in its little sweet world.
Terraria
Build, bury, and struggle in this sandbox game. Terraria multiplayer ping is not a problem for the majority of the game, though one must be cautious of the powerful boss fights.
Civilization VI
Change the course of history in this turn-based strategy classic franchise. No matter if you’re trading or fighting, the game system makes the online experience smooth even with the high CIV multiplayer ping.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
This lore-rich RPG is a team-friendly blast. Due to the turn-based combat system and world, low ping does not ruin the gameplay and lets players get on with their strategy and story decisions.
How to Do a Multiplayer Ping Test?
To find out about your current multiplayer ping and Internet connection’s speed, you may run a special test. There are a few ways of how you can do this.
- In-game Ping Tools in Some Popular Online Games
- Fortnite. Select “Net Debug Stats” in the HUD settings to monitor your ping in battle;
- League of Legends. Use Ctrl + F to see your ping and FPS on the screen;
- Call of Duty Warzone. Enable “Server Latency” on the Accounts tab;
- Third-Party Websites
You can also use third-party tools to compare the multiplayer ping speed across different game servers. Go to the picked site, select your game or server, and see your current ping speed. This method is great for experimenting with new games or servers.
- Command Prompt for Manual Testing on Your PC (For Advanced Users)
- Click Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (Mac);
- Enter ping [server IP/domain] and press Enter;
- The output displays your ping in milliseconds;
Tips for the Optimization of Multiplayer Ping
To make sure your online gaming experience won’t be disturbed by the high multiplayer ping, you may want to know how to optimize your Internet connection:
- Use a wired connection – switch to Ethernet for a secure and faster Internet connection instead of relying on Wi-Fi;
- Close background applications. Delete non-essential applications and processes, particularly those that use bandwidth like streaming or file-sharing apps;
- Update network drivers. Check that your network adapter drivers are installed for the best performance and the lowest latency;
- Optimize router settings. Set your router’s QoS to give gaming traffic priority over all others;
- Change DNS servers. Speed up your DNS servers with faster DNS providers such as Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) or Google (8.8.8.8) for faster resolution of domain names;
- Upgrade your router or modem. Gaming routers today with QoS and upgraded hardware improve connection quality and performance dramatically;
- Reduce network congestion. Play with fewer computers on your network. Play in the season and save on traffic within the local area;
- Select closer game servers. Make sure you always pick gaming servers closer to your area to decrease data traveling distance and latency;
- Monitor for packet loss. Check for packet loss that could be a problem on the network using tools. Speak to your ISP about these if you have them;
- Contact your ISP. If the ping is still high after optimization, ask your ISP about upgrading your plan or fixing network issues;
Frequently Asked Questions
How does ping affect online games?
Ping changes the speed at which you are moving or doing things in the game. Lower ping means fluid, fast playback, while high ping means lags, delays, and synchronization problems. This is especially true when you play games with real-time multiplayer modes, where the gap between winning and losing is only milliseconds.
Why should I care about a multiplayer ping test?
Ping tests show the connection’s speed and latency. These tests are used by players to detect a problem connection before starting to play. With their ping information, players can pick the right servers, adjust networks, or resolve problems with their ISP. The constant ping checks maintain the connection with minimum disturbances and improve performance when using competitive or cooperative web applications.
Are some games better off without a high ping?
Yes, slow games such as turn-based strategies (Civilization VI) or sandbox titles (Minecraft) don’t tend to mind high multiplayer ping as much. They’re not instant-response games, so minor latency is less of a deal compared to CoD multiplayer ping in real time.
Why Factorio multiplayer ping can’t reach to the lowest point?
The Factorio multiplayer ping can be challenging to reach because the game relies on a packet-loss protocol (UDP) and the network infrastructure of the game. Even slight packet loss will delay the game while it waits to synchronize. Latency concealment and a manual latency slider are handy, but there are still geographic distance and connection differences you should consider. Local network issues, such as ISP throttle or Wi-Fi downtime, can also be the reason for high ping in Factorio.
Conclusion
We hope that you liked our guide to the world of multiplayer ping in online games. As always, the BandurArt team gives a detailed review of the things and topics that matter for gamers and deme developers. If you want to offer new topics for the content and collaborate with our team of animators or developers on the gaming project, then contact us.
