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The video game industry remains scorching hot, and not just because people turned to a virtual distraction during the pandemic. Certainly, they did. However, the trajectory of the gaming industry continues a yearslong trend of increased popularity.

Nielsen, a company tracking how various audiences use media, provided some insight in 2021 into video game usage.

At one point during the pandemic, 55% of U.S. consumers reported playing video games. In fact, people were buying games at a fast clip, with sales rising about 14% during 2020.

There’s a twist in modern gaming, too. People use it to connect with each other. The game Fortnite became famous for in-game live events, and more and more people began using services like Twitch to watch others play games, according to Nielsen.

Simply, gaming goes beyond, well, just a game. It’s an experience, one made possible by fast, reliable internet.

But are you maximizing your connection for how you experience gaming?

THE CONNECTION

Your internet provider connects your home to the online world, a physical connection where the final stop is the router. Think of this as the gateway between your home and the internet. Most modern routers allow two types of connections: Wi-Fi and Ethernet.

BENEFITS OF WI-FI

Wi-Fi uses radio waves to connect the router to your devices, eliminating the clutter of cables. Devices ranging from televisions to refrigerators can use this technology to connect online.

Gaming-related benefits of Wi-Fi include:

– Convenient for mobile games on phones and iPads.
– The ability to connect multiple devices without cables.
– Most devices, including computers, set-top boxes and more, have Wi-Fi connectivity. The same can’t be said for wired Ethernet connections. Even some laptops lack the option for an Ethernet connection.
– For watching streaming content such as Twitch, Wi-Fi wirelessly takes devices ranging from TVs to tablets online.

BENEFITS OF ETHERNET — WHEN GAMING GETS SERIOUS

An Ethernet connection is a physical link between your device and router. WIth modern online gaming, success can depend upon how fast the twitch of a finger on a controller can be translated into actions in an online world living on a faraway computer server.

When speed matters, an Ethernet is often the right option.

– Consistency: Unlike Wi-Fi signals, which can be affected by walls or even signals from other devices, the wired connection’s speed should remain consistent with that provided by your internet service.
– Lower latency, which is the time it takes a bit of data to leave your device, reach its online destination and then complete the round trip. With gaming, lower latency is critical, and Ethernet is a difference-maker.
– Simple and secure: Connect an Ethernet cable to your device and to your router and get playing. It’s that simple. Unlike with Wi-Fi routers, you typically do not need to enter a password to connect.
– The downside is that cable clutter is real. Serious gamers in particular, though, will benefit from devices connected via Ethernet.