Today, gaming is not just about fragging your opponents and blustering about it afterward. Rather, this sport has advanced into something with recreational, competitive, social, and commercial elements. So, if you are a real gamer, you’ll need some incredible tools to back up your remarkable skill and unwavering passion.
From fun communication software to must-have utilities, gaming apps are now more necessary than ever. Let’s look at some of the must-have gaming tools that every gamer should have.
Discord
Finding a reliable, user-friendly, and free voice chat tool for online gamers used to be an uphill task. Most programs required subscriptions, usernames, and an understanding of the technology. That was until Discord was introduced. This free app is available as a standalone desktop app, through browsers, and as a mobile app. Discord comes with an interactive VoIP feature that allows gamers to easily connect with each other and discuss some of the latest occurrences in the gaming world.
This is one of the most-loved tools for online gamers because of its user-friendly interface, free channel hosting, and the ability to invite users through an invite link. This 2-in-1 text and chat app is not only secure and free but also works perfectly on both desktop and phone.
VPN – How VPN Helps Gaming?
Since most of the online games require you to be connected to the internet, then you’ll definitely need a VPN. Increased security, anonymity, and privacy are some of the reasons why you might want to use a VPN for gaming. Here are more reasons:
- Protect Against Swatting: Though it doesn’t happen so often, there have been instances especially in multiplayer games, where players become so angry that they resort to stalking other gamers. If an aggrieved player discovers your IP address, they may track you down online and even stalk you offline. In more extreme but rare cases, the player may use a technique known as swatting. This form of harassment involves someone sending emergency services to another individual’s residence by calling in a hoax bomb threat, hostage situation, or any other emergency situation. This can sometimes turn out ugly.
- Protect Against Bandwidth Throttling: Most internet service providers (ISPs) slow down or throttle the bandwidth to ease congestion on their network. Sometimes they slow down if they notice particular traffic on their network, especially file sharing, streaming, and gaming.A VPN helps you to circumvent data throttling by hiding your data, making it impossible for your ISP to know whether you are gaming or just surfing the internet. Many advanced VPNs can also change the ports you use, and this makes it even difficult for your ISP to slow down your data.
- Reduces Ping and Lag: There is nothing as frustrating as going into war with a dungeon chief only to realize that your powers are not working optimally. Long ping times (reaction time—the time between data being transmitted and data being received) are among the things that can cause lag, and lag can wreck your game session.By connecting to a server closer to the gaming server using a VPN, you can considerably reduce ping and lag times.
- Play from any Region: Many online gaming platforms have servers in several regions and often employ the geoblocking technology to ensure users connect to the server in their region. So, if you are in Europe, you connect to a server in Europe. This happens when games are very popular that they need servers in several locations to handle all their connections, when the game is not yet released worldwide, or when the games are classified by language.Now, this may be a problem if you are in one region and prefer to team up with gaming partners in another region. Advanced VPNs have servers in several locations, which make it easy to connect to a server that’s outside of your normal region.Since a VPN conceals your actual IP address and allocates you a new one in the region you want to game in, you will feel comfortable playing in any region.
- Enjoy New Releases Earlier: Games are never released at the same time worldwide. So, instead of being all psyched up for the new game only to realize that it’s not available in your region at the moment, you can simply connect to a VPN and play the latest games the very day that they come out, regardless of whether it’s available in your region or not.
- Evade IP Bans: Many game producers utilize IP bans to keep those players who violate the rules and other terms of service from playing the game. There have been instances where users have had their IP’s banned for no reason. This is not to encourage you to violate any rules but if you get banned for no reason, you can connect through a VPN and get a new IP address that will enable you to bypass the ban. While many games ban VPN use, advanced VPNs have enough servers; so if you get banned for using a VPN, then you can try connecting to another server.
- Play Banned Games: There are video games that have been banned in certain countries because of their content or game type. For instance, Germany forbids games that promote Nazism, Brazil forbids any game with extreme violence, while the UK bans particular games that carry realistic scenes of unwarranted violence or sexual conduct.If certain games have been banned, censored, or geo-restricted in your country, you can use a VPN to log into a server in a region where the game has not been banned and enjoy watching.
Steam
Steam is the most go-to tool for gaming—whether it’s the players or the game creators. This platform has numerous games where individuals can link up and play end-on without realizing any server down-time. Also, this platform features a social hub where gamers can interconnect for a chit chat.
In-home streaming is also another feature that comes with this app. It allows gamers to play Window-based games on Linux and Max as well.
Also Read: India’s Online Gaming Industry To Grow at 22% : Report
F.lux
Those who play triple-A title games often find themselves struggling with regulating the screen brightness or light. The lighting effect in your room may be too bright to modify the game lighting effects, making it difficult for you to play especially when you walk around the dark corners of the game.
Now, f.lux helps to automatically modify your screen light and brighten it to match the color in your room. This app is also recommended by doctors as it promotes healthy eyesight. What’s more, it’s utterly free to use this app. It comes with an interactive, clean, and intuitive UI with easy configurations.
KeyTweak
There are gamers who prefer changing the input arrangement on their keyboards, but certain games don’t allow them to do that. If you are facing such a situation where you can’t change the input methods to your desired settings, KeyTweak is the software that will help you do that. The remapping system of the app allows you to change the values of the keyboard buttons and generate short combinations that can boost your productivity.
Also Read: Taking Cue From China, India Pushes Contact Tracing App As Privacy Debate Rages
OBS Studio
This is a free, open-source, and cross-platform HD streaming and recording app that helps you capture footage. OBS Studio is exceptionally known for its real-time audio/video capturing and mixing. You can use it to capture your best scenes, modify and recreate them to perfection. You can also integrate this app with YouTube for fast streaming.
Most interesting is the fact that with this app, you can recreate scenes taken from several sources which may include clear texts, interesting images, window captures, capture cards, browser windows, and webcam snaps among other sources.
TeamSpeak
Gaming can be an excellent way to de-stress, but a few things can compare to teaming up with friends for a good chat. TeamSpeak is a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) app that lets you connect with friends with ease. Its impressive features enable you to employ echo reduction, use encryption, and tune sound levels.
Razer Cortex
As a gamer, it’s good to upgrade your hardware from time to time to ensure you are getting the most out of your games; but budgetary constraints may make this impossible. The good news is that there is game-boosting software that can help you push your hardware further and enjoy a good gaming experience.
Razer Cortex helps you do this in various ways. With its game booster feature, this app helps free up system RAM and resources so that more space can be allocated to your game. On the other hand, its system booster optimizes your system to help improve programs and processes. The features launch automatically whenever you start a game, and your PC settings go back to normal when you exit the game. This automation is what makes this app so convenient and easy to use.
The programs discussed above will not only boost your overall gaming experience but will also ensure that your PC is running efficiently and smoothly. Meanwhile, every gamer who desires to have a wonderful gaming experience without interference from ISPs, hackers, and governments should definitely get a VPN for gaming.
