Competitive video games require fast and steady Internet connections. Actions can be delayed due to high ping and inconsistent movements and combat can lead to instability in latency. Even if players have plenty of downloads and upload bandwidth available, these problems can impact their gameplay.
Not all causes are necessarily the player’s connection. Limited connectivity between the hosting provider and the players’ Internet service provider (ISP) and congestion can also contribute to high latency. Sub-optimal network connections, congestion and limited connectivity between the hosting provider and the player’s Internet service provider (ISP) can all increase latency.
The first step in minimizing ping for both game hosts and server owners is selecting appropriate server placement, assessing network speeds and collaborating with a provider that has a reliable routing and peering network. This guide outlines the methods for assessing the above, and outlining some changes that will help competitive players.
Why Server Routing Matters for Gaming
Packets are sent over routers and networks to get to a player’s destination game server. These packets will follow different paths which will impact connection performance.
Delay per network hop; however, there is no guarantee of how much delay per hop. The result is affected by the physical distance, the capacity of the link, the processing of the routers, and congestion. A short path doesn’t necessarily mean it will be fast.
For instance, the ping from two servers in the same country to the same player could vary due to different connections between the two countries and the player’s ISP.
Well-managed routing can help provide:
- Lower round-trip latency
- More consistent response times
- Less packet loss caused by congestion
- Better performance during peak gaming hours
The goal is to achieve low latency alongside a stable connection.
How BGP Routing Affects Gaming Latency
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol): Used for networks to communicate with each other on which networks they can communicate with. This information, along with routing policies of the hosting providers and transit providers and ISPs, are used to choose routes for traffic.
BGP is not always the one to select the route with the lowest ping. Route and/or service decisions are based on network policies, available paths and business relationships as well as gaming performance.
Therefore, it is possible that the player could have an indirect path to the closest available server via another ISP. If a provider can provide you with a suitable peering and transit path, then they may be able to provide you with a better path.
The majority of game server customers are not able to directly alter BGP policies of their game server host. What they have at their disposal is to do a comparison of providers, test out various locations, and then report on the continuous routing issues and include supporting metrics.
Check the Current Route Before Making Changes
Identify the time and players involved in the issue before moving to another site and/or hearing requests for routing changes.
Check reachability and round-trip delay using ping. Use traceroute or MTR (linux) or tracert or pathping (windows) to check network hops. Some tools might require installation prior to use.
For example, on Linux:
traceroute SERVER_IP
For a report based on repeated measurements:
mtr –report –report-cycles 100 SERVER_IP
On Windows:
tracert SERVER_IP
Use the actual IP address of your game server instead of SERVER_IP and then run the tests with the same connection as a game server user who is affected. If possible repeat each test at different times and record latency, packet loss and route changes.
Pay attention to problems that persist across a number of jumps and make it to the destination, because an intermediate router might not seem particularly responsive or quick because it filters diagnostic replies, or prioritizes its own traffic above that of diagnostic probes.
A single odd hop don’t consider a sign of network problems. Compare test results of ping, rubber-banding, disconnects and packet loss indicators in-game.
Choose Server Locations Based on Your Players
One of the most crucial factors of decreasing gaming ping is the location of the server. Geographic proximity in and of itself does not affect performance, although it does help to make travel time short.
Hosting network connectivity to players’ ISPs is important as well. A server nearby with an indirect or congested path to the server might not be as good as a server slightly further away with a better path to the server.
When evaluating locations, consider:
- Where most players are located
- Which ISPs they use
- Measured latency, jitter, and packet loss
- Performance during peak hours
- The provider’s peering and transit connections
- Available bandwidth and network capacity
Before entering into a location, request test IP addresses or looking glass from providers. Only use representative player connections to compare with results, not a single test.
Players that are spread out may find it easier to use regional servers than a single one.
Use Direct Peering Where It Helps
Peering is a way for networks to pass each other traffic. In the context of games, a beneficial peering relationship could be between the hosting provider’s network and a popular Internet service provider among players.
The internet exchange point or private peering via a dedicated interconnection could be used for establishing public peering.
Peering can help decrease transit dependency, and may offer a more cost-effective route. Direct peering does not necessarily mean lower ping, however. Location, capacity and utilization of the connection remain important.
When evaluating providers, see how they work with the players you have. Having a long list of peers is not as beneficial as being able to connect to your players’ networks.
Reduce Game Server Ping with a Structured Testing Process
If there is a regular testing process, it will be easier to recognise useful changes and will prevent any conclusions being drawn from individual results.
1. Establish a Baseline
Take latency, jitter, packet loss and in-game performance measurements before making changes. Record the location of the server, the player ISP and the time of each test.
2. Test from Multiple Networks
Join in data collection from the primary ISPs and from areas in which you have a player base. High speed and performance on one network does not necessarily mean the same on another.
3. Compare Candidate Data Centers
Compare the results of the different sites with the same measurements and the same testing time. Don’t choose the location that has the lowest single ping though.
4. Check During Peak Hours
Repeat tests when the majority of the players are online. Congestion might not be seen in an off peak test and only be visible during busy times.
5. Change One Factor at a Time
If feasible, vary one element (e.g. server location, hosting provider) when taking measurements again. This allows more easily to see wot worked better or worse.
6. Escalate Persistent Problems
If there is evidence of a network problem, provide the hosting provider with the IP of the affected server, ISP, time stamps (with time zones), and diagnostic information. Use examples of good and bad times, if available.
Understand Jitter Alongside Ping
Ping is, in general, used to measure the latency of round-trip. Jitter is the amount of time that latency can change.
The connection can have a low average ping but have a high ping spike frequency. Those variations may lead to irregularity of response and movement.
Analyze average latency along with jitter, packet loss and rate of spikes. Short disruption may be missed by players in the game when compared to averages.
When comparing servers, make sure they have low latency, and it isn’t influenced by load or busy periods.
Avoid Overloading the Server and Its Network
Routing is just one aspect of gaming performance. Low network capacity and/or a game server that has become overloaded can also impact responsiveness.
Monitor:
- Bandwidth utilization
- Packet loss and network errors
- Connection drops
- CPU utilization
- Memory pressure
- Server tick timing and missed tick deadlines
Understand and differentiate between network latency and server processing times. They can be both said to be “lag” and need different solutions.
For instance, if the server can’t keep up the desired tick rate, it can be unresponsive even if there are no network ping issues. Likewise, although a powerful server may be able to overcome a jammed line between the player and the data center.
Both server capacity and network performance need attention. When evaluating dedicated server hosting for gaming, assess the available resources alongside connectivity to your players’ ISPs.
Build Redundant Network Paths
If one connection fails or one connection is congested, a hosting network can have multiple upstream providers that can provide them with alternatives. This can help increase availability and provide network operators with additional solutions to routing issues.
But it doesn’t necessarily mean that other providers will provide faster latencies. The routes should meet performance requirements for the target group of players and failover procedures should be designed and tested.
When checking a hosting provider, inquire about upstream diversity, network redundancy, routing incidents and their treatment. Note that a path change could still occur while playing a game.
Pay attention to the measure of performance and trustworthy recovery, rather than just the number of connections. You can continuously monitor routing performance using OAM.You can use OAM to monitor routing performance continuously.
Monitor Routing Performance Continuously
Internet routes and network conditions change over time. A location that performs well today may develop problems after a routing change, increased demand, or congestion on a shared connection.
Track:
- Average and median ping
- High-percentile latency, such as the 95th percentile
- Jitter
- Packet loss
- Network availability
- Route changes associated with performance issues
Use measurements from representative player regions and ISPs. Configure alerts around sustained degradation so that isolated diagnostic anomalies do not generate unnecessary notifications.
Keep historical results to help distinguish a new routing issue from an existing pattern. Investigate route changes alongside performance data, since a changed path is not necessarily a worse path.
Choose Hosting with Strong Network Connectivity
CPU, RAM, and storage specifications matter, but they do not reveal how well players can reach a game server.
When comparing hosting providers, review:
- Data center locations
- Connectivity to relevant player ISPs
- Peering and upstream providers
- Bandwidth capacity and traffic limits
- DDoS protection and its potential effect on traffic paths
- Network monitoring and support responsiveness
- Test IPs, looking-glass tools, or trial options
For budget-conscious deployments, compare best cheap dedicated server hosting options using measured network performance as well as hardware specifications.
A lower-priced server may be suitable if its capacity and connectivity meet your requirements. Validate those requirements with realistic player loads and tests from the networks that matter most.
FAQs About Lower Gaming Ping
Q: How does server routing affect gaming ping?
Routing is a path that a player would take between a game server and a player. Indirect paths and congestion may result in higher latency, but improved connectivity might lead to lower latency and increased stability. The round-trip ping effect is also impacted by the return path.
Q: Can BGP peering reduce gaming latency?
Absolutely, appropriate peering relationships and routing policies can be implemented to allow traffic to take more efficient routes. BGP, however, doesn’t pick the fastest route, and it’s only beneficial if the networks are and locations are different.
Q: What is the best server location for low-latency gaming?
The best place will depend on the player’s location and hosting network’s connection with their ISPs. Compare latency, jitter and loss from key player connections (including peak hours).
Q: How can I check my game server’s network route?
From a player’s connection trace, the path of the data towards the server on Linux with traceroute or MTR, or on Windows with tracert. Check reachability and round-trip latencies with ping alone.
Q: Does direct peering always guarantee lower ping?
No; although direct peering can help the path, other factors such as distance, congestion, capacity and routing policies will still impact performance. Test from your players’ ISPs to find out if it aids.
Q: Can I change BGP routing from my game server?
Typically, the hosting company or network administrator will handle BGP routing. If you don’t have the network infrastructure you are dealing with, concentrate on selecting appropriate locations and providers, and providing evidence when problems occur.
Wrapping Up
To minimize the gaming ping, one should consider the server’s location, network connectivity, and the actual gaming experience. Although geographic is a component of distance it is not the only one, routing, peering, congestion and server load all have an impact on performance.
The first step to taking measurements from your players’ networks. If the evidence suggests it may be a routing problem, compare locations and investigate patterns of problems, and then work with the hosting provider.
Monitor following changes. When optimized, you’ll achieve faster latency and steady performance in all regions and ISPs that your competitive players use.
