VPN While playing games? Yes or No?

[Shin'iri]

So I know that a lot of people like to use a VPN when they surf the web but I have never heard anything about the ups or downs to playing Games with a VPN active.

[Boblin the Goblin]

The worst it can really do is slowdown your connection and create lag.

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by Shin'iri:

So I know that a lot of people like to use a VPN when they surf the web but I have never heard anything about the ups or downs to playing Games with a VPN active.

Through Steam it's not going to do anything, you won't get to access out of region games unless the game is (a) available in your region through Steam but (b) IP blocked on the game server's end to prevent your region from playing. An occurrence that has, to my knowledge, only happened once on Steam and Valve pulled the game from sale in that region as soon as they were informed.

Keep in mind that use of a VPN to access certain games can be detected and publishers can and do ban accounts that use them if it's against their Tos.

So the question is, why would you even want to play a game with a VPN active?

[Dr. Heavy Pootis-Man]

Originally posted by Chika Ogiue:

Originally posted by Shin'iri:

So I know that a lot of people like to use a VPN when they surf the web but I have never heard anything about the ups or downs to playing Games with a VPN active.

Through Steam it's not going to do anything, you won't get to access out of region games unless the game is (a) available in your region through Steam but (b) IP blocked on the game server's end to prevent your region from playing. An occurrence that has, to my knowledge, only happened once on Steam and Valve pulled the game from sale in that region as soon as they were informed.

Keep in mind that use of a VPN to access certain games can be detected and publishers can and do ban accounts that use them if it's against their Tos.

So the question is, why would you even want to play a game with a VPN active?

So you don't get DDOSed, L4D2 and CSGO had and still probably have those vulnerabilities.

[Shin'iri]

Originally posted by Chika Ogiue:

Originally posted by Shin'iri:

So I know that a lot of people like to use a VPN when they surf the web but I have never heard anything about the ups or downs to playing Games with a VPN active.

Through Steam it's not going to do anything, you won't get to access out of region games unless the game is (a) available in your region through Steam but (b) IP blocked on the game server's end to prevent your region from playing. An occurrence that has, to my knowledge, only happened once on Steam and Valve pulled the game from sale in that region as soon as they were informed.

Keep in mind that use of a VPN to access certain games can be detected and publishers can and do ban accounts that use them if it's against their Tos.

So the question is, why would you even want to play a game with a VPN active?

I have never heard of anything about VPN and Gaming so I was curious and didn't want to read through a grueling and lengthy technical article.

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by Dr. Heavy Pootis-Man:

So you don't get DDOSed, L4D2 and CSGO had and still probably have those vulnerabilities.

That's going to help as much as a router with built in DDoS protection. If you consider yourself to be a serious target for DDoS attacks aimed specifically at you, you might want to talk to your ISP and see what they offer in terms of protection. Keep in mind that Valve has a no VPN use stance as stated in the SSA and they could decide that includes such reasoning as this.

You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to order or purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, Valve may terminate your access to your Account.

Now, would Valve do that? It's unlikely, but if you chose to use a VPN with Steam, you do so at your own risk with the knowledge that it *could* cause you to lose your Steam account*.

* Which in most cases these days means keeping your current game but being banned from everything else including purchasing, market place, community, activating keys, and so on.

Originally posted by Shin'iri:

I have never heard of anything about VPN and Gaming so I was curious and didn't want to read through a grueling and lengthy technical article.

Probably because most people will never need a VPN for gaming. If you did go searching for information, you're more likely to find sites trying to recommend it to you with the sole purpose of selling you a VPN subscription you don't need as such sites make commissions on any sales they generate.

There are, however, a few edge cases where a VPN could help. In my case, when VPNs still affected Steam store region, I was advised by someone at Valve to use a VPN to access a legally purchased in-region game (as in, a game sold in my region) due to incorrect geogating that prevented the game from unlocking and launching. But these issues are lot rarer on Steam, and I personally haven't come across one in 14 odd years. That said, VPNs no longer affect Steam store region, and so Valve will no longer advise VPN usage for such reasons.

But as I say, depending on the specific game, the developers/publisher of that game may will have their own rules for VPN use. It has been known for certain F2P games, for example, to mass ban any accounts they detect as using a VPN -- generally because they don't want people from outside their licensed region accessing the game.