Of course, faster internet is nice, but you don’t want to overpay for speeds you don’t need. So how do you know what’s truly recommended and what internet speed will actually make gaming easier? We’ll share real advice from the Federal Communications Commission. If you want to know more about why you may need a faster internet speed for gaming, along with how to check your internet speed, keep reading. While 3 to 4 Mbps isn’t that much internet speed, keep in mind that this recommendation is for only one person. It also doesn’t account for other devices and activities that may be using your bandwidth at the same time. You’ll also want better speeds for downloading new games or updates. If it’s just you or one other person using your internet, or if you don’t have a lot of devices sharing your bandwidth, we recommend getting a plan with 25 to 50 Mbps for gaming. This should cover your gaming needs and your other online activities. Overall, most internet service providers (ISPs) provide the speed needed for a good gaming experience. If you’re playing games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Diablo IV, or Doom Eternal, you’ll want to pay attention to the file size. There are ISPs out there known to be great for gaming that you can easily check out. Cyberpunk 2077 has a file size of 70 GB, while Doom Eternal is roughly 40 GB. Your internet speed plays a big part in how fast your computer will download these files. Here’s a small chart to help you see how this works for Cyberpunk 2077: Even if you’re using a gaming console like the PS5 Digital Edition, you’ll still need to download files. This video game console doesn’t have a disk drive. This means games will need to be downloaded. It’s important to keep in mind that downloading games and updating games takes up a significant amount of data. Updates on the PS5 can be as big as 500 MB. Both downloading games, updating games, and multiplayer games will impact your data use. Whenever you reach your data cap, your ISP should be informing you via text message or email so you don’t go over your limit without knowing about it. If you keep reaching your data cap each month, it might be time to upgrade to a better data plan or new ISP. If you’re looking for an in-depth look at how to speed up your internet, check out our guide. In the meantime, here are some gamer-specific tips to try:
Connect your PC or console directly to your router with an Ethernet cord. If you stream, record playthroughs offline and upload later. If you livestream, you’ll likely need more Mbps. Disconnect other devices so they don’t hog your bandwidth. Ask your housemates to avoid streaming music or video while you play. Download new games and large updates at night so you don’t have to wait on them. Reset your router and gaming devices.
If your internet plan just isn’t up to the challenge, you’ll need to upgrade your plan or switch providers. If you drop your zip below, we’ll show you the plans that are available in your area.
