Lag, high ping, and disconnects can spoil the fun of an online game. A US company is now testing an “Elite Gamer Service” that always seeks the fastest connection to provide the best possible gaming experience.
What is Cox Elite Gamer? In a fast online shooter, the internet connection plays a significant role. A poor ping, lags, and disconnects can lead to a loss of enjoyment in the game.
The special service “Cox Elite Gamer” aims to change that. A test of this service is currently taking place in the USA.
For an extra $15 a month – a 100 Mbps line from Cox is additionally required – game data packets will be routed through a special, intelligent network that always seeks the fastest path for the connection. This should result in significantly fewer lags and connection interruptions.
The provider Cox states that lag can be reduced by up to 34 percent and jitter by 45 percent, while the ping can be improved by about 55 percent.
A improvement in the connection – perhaps
What can’t Cox Elite Gamer do? The service only deals with game data packets. Regular internet browsing or video streaming do not benefit from it.
What can the service achieve at best? If the perfect connection is found, games benefit from less lag and better pings. This can create a noticeably better outcome, especially in fast-paced titles where quick reactions are important.
What are the issues? Aside from the fact that this system is currently only planned in the USA, there can be no guarantee of an improvement in the connection.
- If you already have a very good internet connection, Cox Elite Gamer is hardly beneficial.
- If the system has to make many “jumps” to find the best connection, it can increase lag and ping again.
- The service could become obsolete if the expansion of fast internet continues to progress.
Gamers are skeptical
What do players think? Gamers show some skepticism towards the service. Generally, they are open to anything that improves the gaming experience, and the price is not a major issue. However, there is a concern.
Will the internet provider Cox throttle the regular connection for gamers to encourage them to use the new service? However, Cox states that this will not happen.
Furthermore, some players believe that the service only makes sense if all traffic occurs within Cox’s network.
packetthriller writes on Reddit: “As a network engineer, I say the service is bullshit. Once the traffic leaves Cox’s network, it is treated just like any other traffic on the internet.”
The test of Cox Elite Gamer will show whether the service really provides any benefits.
