Millions of players across the globe are engaged in online games. They have become a part of the entertainment industry. Yet, the perfect gaming experience does not just depend on having a PC. Your Internet connection and its bandwidth influence the smoothness of your game. Fast-paced competitive games need high bandwidth for appropriate results; it can be the only difference between victory and frustration. 

Let’s break down the bandwidth requirements for popular online games!

What is Bandwidth and Why Does It Matter?

Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transmitted over your internet connection over a given time. It is measured in megabytes per second. For online gaming, the required bandwidth depends on the data that your game sends and receives from the game servers. It includes everything  – the payer movements, the map updates, and the server communication. 

A poor value of bandwidth would result in lag. It will make your character appear sluggish or, even worse, cause it to lose the connection to the server entirely. A common myth is that multiplayer games require high bandwidth – but fortunately, that is not true. It doesn’t require as much bandwidth as a streaming 4K video. Instead, latency and stability are more important. 

How Much Bandwidth Do Online Games Require?

Let’s take a closer look at the specific bandwidth requirements for some of the popular online games like Apex Legends, Valorant, Rocket League, and Rainbow Six Siege. 

Apex Legends

• Average Bandwidth Requirement: 0.5 Mbps to 1 Mbps
• Data Consumption Per Hour: 150 MB to 300 MB
• Recommended Speed: 5 Mbps (download) / 1 Mbps (upload)

Apex Legends is a high-intensity battle royale where quick-reaction items are all that matter. In this quick-moving game, real-time updates are a requirement. Still, it doesn’t consume a massive amount of data. Players can expect to use between 150 MB and 300 MB per hour. If multiple players are involved and the match length is longer, the requirements can slightly increase. Yet, a stable internet connection of at least 5 Mbps download speed is required for accurate players’ movements. 

Valorant

• Average Bandwidth Requirement: 0.25 Mbps to 0.75 Mbps
• Data Consumption Per Hour: 90 MB to 150 MB
• Recommended Speed: 3 Mbps (download) / 1 Mbps (upload)

Valorant is a tactical shooter from Riot Games that’s popular owing to its strategic elements. This game’s bandwidth is quite low; it is between 0.25 Mbps and 0.75 Mbps. It translates to around 90 to 150 MB of data consumption per hour. The bandwidth needs are minimal – you must have a low ping that’s less than 50ms for optimal responsiveness. Even if your connection speed is moderate, you can keep up with the action without any delays. 

Rocket League

• Average Bandwidth Requirement: 0.5 Mbps to 1 Mbps
• Data Consumption Per Hour: 60 MB to 120 MB
• Recommended Speed: 5 Mbps (download) / 1 Mbps (upload)

Rocket League is a car-based soccer game that has gained enough popularity among online gamers. It has a smaller player base in every match( usually 2-8 players), so the bandwidth requirements are quite low. It usually uses between 60 Mb and 120 Mb per hour of gameplay. If your internet connection causes trouble, it’s one of the safest options to try. It is lighter in terms of data consumption. You should aim for a 5 Mbps download speed so that all inputs are registered in real time. 

Rainbow Six Siege

• Average Bandwidth Requirement: 0.5 Mbps to 1.5 Mbps
• Data Consumption Per Hour: 70 MB to 150 MB
• Recommended Speed: 5 Mbps (download) / 1.5 Mbps (upload)

In Rainbow Six Siege, careful coordination is the paramount aspect. It is a tactical shooting game that needs fast reactions. It has huge maps and strategies environments that need higher bandwidth. It needs 70 MB to 150 MB. Though a 5 Mbps download speed is enough for most players, a larger (1,5 Mbps) speed is recommended for intense matches; it helps with voice communication. This way, you can make sure that your teammates can hear your commands. 

How to Fix Server Errors Easily for Online Gaming?

Often, a higher bandwidth is available, but it fails to function properly, and you end up being frustrated in the game. To avoid this issue, you must follow these tips:

• Double-check that no other devices are using up your bandwidth. You must temporarily pause other applications running on your mobile, such as streaming videos or downloading large files. 
• Use a wired ethernet connection that gives a more stable and secure connection than WiFi. It will reduce the latency loss. 
• To increase the bandwidth, you can decrease some network-intensive features like dynamic lighting and detailed textures. It will improve your performance if your internet connection struggles during high-action scenes. This can be done through the game’s settings.
• Modern routers have a QoS feature that allows you to prioritize game traffic. It guarantees that your games receive more bandwidth than other connected devices. 

Recommended Internet Speeds

• Casual Gaming: 3 Mbps download / 1 Mbps upload
• Competitive Gaming: 10 Mbps download / 2 Mbps upload
• Streaming + Gaming Simultaneously: 15-20 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload

Wrap Up!

The bandwidth required for online games like Apex, Rocket League, and Rainbow Six Siege isn’t quite high. You can easily enjoy the dynamics of the game with speeds of 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. However, better latency and a stable internet connection matter more than the bandwidth. It is worth checking your internet plan and router settings to make sure that it’s optimized for online gaming. You can buy carry services from immortal boost to guarantee a smooth gameplay.