Today, a VPN has become an essential need for all online users, especially for gamers who want maximum gaming performance and the fastest connection. In most cases, one can achieve that without using a virtual private network (VPN), but in some cases, gamers can encounter problems such as Piracy, the need to hide location ( Privacy), and even using secure servers. This is where the need to use VPNs while gaming becomes essential.
In this guide, we will walk you through installing a VPN on a gaming console, especially the PS5 or Xbox. We will also discuss the best VPN services dedicated to gamers and all that you need to know.
Reasons to Install a VPN on PS or Xbox
Below are the common reasons as to why it is necessary to use a VPN on PlayStation or Xbox:
- Security and privacy: By using a VPN, you can mask your original IP address, thus playing as an anonymous player. In case of a DDoS attack or active cyber threats on the game server, you can change the VPN server and play something else without compromising your gaming station.
- Access to exclusive servers: Many online multiplayer games offer exclusive servers for specific geographic areas. If the new server is only available to users in the United States, connect your VPN to a server in the United States to start playing right away, overcoming geographic restrictions.
- Early access to games: Some games are released first in the United States or Japan and are, therefore, not accessible from Kenya. With a VPN, you can download the game even from Kenyan soil, choosing a server in the country where the game is available.
- Buying Discounted License Keys: The prices of games sold in console stores vary based on a country’s purchasing power. Using a VPN can help you buy games at a lower price.
- Easier online matches: Choosing a distant server allows you to manage matches more easily, taking advantage of favourable matchmaking. With this trick, you can climb the rankings and improve your performance by playing against bots or players that are widely within your reach.
These are just a few reasons to install and use a VPN on your PlayStation, Xbox, or PC.
Best VPNs for Consoles and Gaming
In the following chapters, you can find the best VPNs for Playstation and Xbox. For each service, the average speeds, the results in terms of ping and jitter, and whether there are specific optimizations for gaming will be indicated without forgetting to specify the fastest protocol that can be activated.
NordVPN
NordVPN may be the perfect choice for console gamers looking for connection speeds, a wide selection of servers, and unsurpassed protection. It has over 6,000 servers worldwide, so you can choose the server closest to your location. The main strength is NordLynx, a protocol based on WireGuard that significantly increases server connection performance, with an average download speed of nearly 500 Mbps.
For gamers, it’s not just a matter of speed: NordVPN’s servers are optimized to provide low ping and jitter values, making the VPN service’s presence almost completely “transparent” during the most frenetic online games. The NordVPN app can be configured directly on game consoles using SmartDNS and installed directly on a router with a VPN client or on a PC with a Wi-Fi hotspot to guarantee VPN access on consoles.
SurfsharkVPN
Surfshark can be used as a gaming VPN by immediately taking advantage of its excellent selection of fast servers with up to 10 Gbps connections and its use of the WireGuard protocol, one of the best for connection speed and stability during the most intense gaming sessions.
By choosing the fastest or closest server, average speeds of around 400 Mbps are recorded, which is more than enough to play your favourite games online and obtain low ping values in line with the competition.
Again, you can install the VPN app on your PlayStation console or Xbox using the smart DNS service, but you can get even better protection by installing the Surfshark VPN app on your laptop, desktop PC tablet, and smartphone (iOS or Android) and then connecting via a Wi-Fi hotspot or direct connection.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has a reputation for having extremely fast servers, so using it for gaming has become almost automatic. This provider offers over 6,000 servers in 94 countries, ensuring that you will have access to the fastest server available at that precise moment, with an eye also on the ping and jitter that can be obtained for the connection.
ExpressVPN can also offer such fast connections thanks to the use of the Lightway protocol, a lightweight version of the WireGuard protocol. This protocol keeps the security features intact but makes the management of connection elements significantly lighter, “bringing” the chosen server closer.
Thanks to these features, download speeds settle around 500 Mbps, with a ping of only 8ms(selecting the closest server). This makes it ideal for playing cloud gaming services (Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, and others) and for connecting game consoles.
The app cannot be downloaded directly onto consoles, but the Smart DNS service is available for quick configuration.
CyberGhost
CyberGhost stands out from the competition for the huge server network it provides to its users: over 11,000 servers in 100 countries, making it one of the best services in terms of size in the global network.
This service also provides gaming-optimized servers: 90 servers distributed across four countries (USA, UK, Germany, and France). Compared to standard servers, these provide much lower pings and higher priority speeds, the best for those looking for the ultimate gaming performance.
CyberGhost can be installed on VPN routers and also provides custom DNS to quickly install it on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo consoles.
The prices are very competitive. You can take advantage of a completely free trial, and each plan has an active “Satisfaction or refund” formula valid for 45 days, thus leaving much more time to evaluate the quality of the service.
What Features to Look for in a Console VPN
A gaming VPN must have certain features that can be used without problems in this area. Before choosing a premium VPN, it is advisable to analyze the following parameters:
- Speed: the presence of an extensive server network, a good number of Italian servers and fast protocols guarantees very high speeds and low pings on any game server.
- Compatibility: for maximum compatibility with Xbox Series and PS5, the VPN service must provide custom DNS addresses (Smart DNS) or be configurable via a VPN router. Using the hotspot from PC is also a good alternative, but leaving it only as a last resort is advisable.
- Ease of use: The VPN must be easy to activate, choosing the fastest available server. The presence of custom DNS addresses also makes it very easy to configure the VPN on PlayStation or similar devices.
- Optimized servers: If the VPN offers dedicated servers for gaming, the advantage is considerable, as these servers usually offer higher speeds, much lower ping, and matchmaking suited to the game’s level of performance.
- Security: The security aspect is not to be underestimated when talking about premium VPNs. Virtually all services boast strict no-log policies, support the latest-generation protocols, and allow you to play while avoiding hacker threats and malware that often run on the most crowded gaming servers.
How to Install VPN on PlayStation
Now, the process is more straightforward when it comes to having a VPN active on your gaming console, be it a PlayStation or Xbox. For the first, you can achieve it using a custom DNS address and network sharing via Windows, but for the latter, the process might actually be different, as we have covered below in the article:
Custom DNS address
To insert a VPN on PlayStation via a custom DNS address, follow the process below:
- Turn on the console
- Go to Settings -> Network -> Settings -> Set up Internet connection
- Proceed to press on the connection in use at that precise moment.
- Next, fill in the DNS or custom DNS addresses in the primary and secondary DNS
Network Sharing on Windows
Using a Windows PC as a “bridge” involves having the actual VPN app on your computer. When this is achieved, you can go to Settings -> Network and Internet -> Network and Sharing Center. From here, Press on Change adapter settings and then navigate to Properties. Locate the sharing Tab, activate the option, and then allow other network users to connect to your computer when on the same internet connection
Finally, go back to your VPN App and choose OpenVPN TCP or OpenVPN UDP as the protocol, connect your PlayStation to your PC via an Ethernet cable, and start playing protected by the VPN.
Note
To install a VPN on Xbox, you should set it up on a router or share your Internet connection from a Windows PC. You can also choose to VPN on your home router instead of using the methods that we have discussed above.
Wrapping-Up
By choosing one of the best VPNs for gaming right away, you will get adequate protection for all network connections, and you will be able to choose the best gaming servers, even accessing servers that are normally not accessible from Italy or the simplest servers to manage in matchmaking.
While gaming VPNs are optimized for speed, they also offer security and privacy features, the use of the latest protocols, and features (such as Smart DNS) specifically designed for use on next-gen consoles
