You’ve felt it before: you press a button, and the game responds a split second too late. Experienced gamers understand all too well that even a delay of 50 milliseconds can change the outcome of a game.
However, some games deliver a smooth experience even on a basic internet connection, while others struggle to run smoothly on a higher-quality connection. Why is that?
What is Latency?
Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from your device to the game server and back again. It’s often measured in milliseconds, and the lower the number, the faster the response.
Some people confuse latency with lag, but in reality, lag is the effect you feel when latency gets too high. However, it’s important to know that no matter how good your setup is, latency can never be zero. Data transfers across servers take time, but noticeable latency issues depend on how well a game is designed.
Choices That Usually Reduce Latency
Gamers don’t usually know this, but there are a few reasons beyond internet connection and game design that could affect how you experience latency. In the end, a good game isn’t created in a day, and it involves many architectural and design-specific stages. Let’s introduce a couple of the main ones.
Client-Side Prediction
One network programming technique is client-side prediction, which means that instead of waiting for the server to confirm every action, your game can predict what will happen next.
Because first-person shooter genre games are most affected by latency issues, they rely on this technique to keep controls snappy and responsive.
Lag Compensation
Lag compensation is another powerful tool. To do this, the server accounts for latency when processing actions such as shooting or hitting an enemy.
The server “rewinds” events slightly to judge the action fairly. This helps ensure that players with higher latency aren’t automatically at a disadvantage. However, this is controversial in competitive gaming, as opponents may sometimes feel they were hit unfairly, such as being shot after already moving behind cover from their perspective.
Servers Do Matter
Games using dedicated servers usually handle latency better than peer-to-peer (P2P) setups. This is mainly because:
- Dedicated servers ensure consistent timing and fairness.
- P2P games rely on a player hosting the session, which can introduce massive delays if their connection is weak.
The physical distance between you and the server matters. Games with globally distributed servers can connect you to the nearest data centre, reducing data travel time. When a game lacks regional servers, you may feel persistent latency no matter how good your internet connection is.
How About Netcode Quality?
You rarely hear about netcode, but it can totally change your experience. Well-optimised netcode sends only essential information, reducing bandwidth usage and minimizing delays.
This basically means that instead of constantly updating, the game prioritises what actually affects gameplay. On the contrary, poor netcode overwhelms the connection with data, which inevitably increases latency.
In some competitive games, such as fighting games, rollback netcode is already standard. Instead of delaying inputs to keep everyone in sync, the game instantly responds and corrects errors afterward.
Your Setup Still Matters as a Player
A stable connection is often more important than high download speeds. To ensure a smooth gaming experience, players set up:
- Wired internet connection instead of Wi-Fi, which reduces potential interference and lag spikes.
- Wired external peripherals like the mouse, keyboard, and headset.
- Using a modern router that allows you to configure your traffic bandwidth.
- Some players use tools like a VPN to optimise routing paths and improve connection stability when their ISPs offer poor routing. Additionally, these tools can be especially useful when playing on distant servers.
For a fully optimized experience, explore system latency optimization guides depending on your graphics card brand.
Final Thoughts
Latency depends on more aspects than just your internet connection. You might not notice, but latency is about design, infrastructure, and smart engineering choices. As a player, understanding these design and technical issues can help you set realistic expectations. Make sure to choose games that suit your setup, and troubleshoot issues more effectively. The next time one game feels unplayable, you’ll be able to figure out why.