Xbox Live is is the service created by Microsoft that allows you to play games online. The paid version, Xbox Live Gold is needed to access online multiplayer. It also gives you free games every month. Microsoft uses geo-restrictions with the service to restrict content. Many games are also restricted to certain regions of the world. Microsoft Store gives special deals to people based on where they live. Many have experienced a problem with their DLC and game redemption codes being geo-locked. Microsoft determines your region based on the location of your IP address. A VPN can help you with these problems.
Xbox Live VPN Quickstart
Here is a quick guide to get you started using Xbox Live with a VPN.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Download the ExpressVPN app and connect to a server in the region you wish to play in.
- Launch the game and enjoy!
You can also use ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer service for a faster experience.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Log into Expressvpn.com and go to the “DNS Settings” tab.
- Click the button to register your IP address.
- You can also set dynamic DNS (more technical users)
- Click on the “Dashboard” tab
- Look for the “Set up on all your devices” section and click on the “see all devices” link.
- Click on the set up guide for your system.
- Make note of the IP address given in the set up box to the right of the screen.
- Set the DNS on your system to the IP given on the ExpressVPN site.
How to Switch Locations on Xbox Live
A good VPN will allow you to change your IP address to match the location of the server you connect to. If you choose a server location in the region where you want to play, your new IP will be assigned to you from the region you selected. A good VPN will help you by hiding your data, this means you will be protected when doing this. A good VPN can help gamers by reducing ping, improving lag, protecting from DDoS attacks, and getting around firewalls at school or work.
How to Receive up to 44% off the Microsoft Store
Here is a quick look at Microsoft Store prices for Fifa 20 in different regions:
- Brazil – R$ 239,00 which is $41.49 USD
- Canada – CND 79.99 which is $57.40 USD
- United States – $59.99
- Australia – AUS 99.95 which is $65.28 USD
- United Kingdom – GBP 59.99 which is $74.49 USD
As you can see, purchasing the game in Brazil will save you $30.00 which is 44% off the $74.49 price that Microsoft charges in the United Kingdom. Please note that either way you are buying the game directly from the Microsoft Store. They simply offer discounted pricing in Brazil. To save you will want to connect to a VPN server in Brazil and then visit the site. Brazil normally has better prices for games, while Australia tends to receive games earlier. A VPN will allow you to access restricted content around the world. Unblocking geo-restrictions will allow you to get early access, get exclusive discounts, and play on other servers using a VPN.
Here are the best VPNs to use with Xbox Live.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN for gaming. There are a number of reasons including the ability to quickly change you’re IP address to be located in any of 160 cities across 94 countries. This is especially useful for purchasing games in other regions and unblocking restrictions. If you plan to play games at school or work then we highly recommend connecting to ExpressVPN to unblock any firewall restrictions. You can download the ExpressVPN app for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Members can install the app on as many devices as you want. You can connect on up to 3 devices at a time. You will also have access to ExpressVPN MediaStreamer service which will let you switch DNS on a wide range of devices including game consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Switch), streaming media boxes, and smart TVs, and more.
We’re excited to share an exclusive discount on ExpressVPN for our readers. You can save up to 49% off a year of VPN and receive an extra 3 months of free VPN. This will grant you unlimited access to both their VPN network and MediaStreamer service. Save on your favorite games, reduce lag, protect against DDoS attacks, and unblock restrictions at school or work. ExpressVPN offers a 30 day money back guarantee so you will have a month to test their VPN and experience all the benefits of the service.
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is another excellent choice for gamers. While NordVPN did not perform as well as ExpressVPN in out tests, they still offer fast gaming at an affordable price. You will find that NodVPN has servers in over 70 cities across 59 countries. They have all the major gaming regions covered. Members can download the NordVPN apps for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android. The difference being that NordVPN doesn’t have a stand alone Smart DNS service like ExpressVPN MediaStreamer. That makes NordVPN harder to use on game consoles and other devices that do not natively support VPN. Those with some technical background can run NordVPN through your router to encrypt all the traffic on your network and get around any geo-restrictions. It helps to have DD-WRT or Tomato firmware on your router.
NordVPN is a very privacy-centric VPN service. They have additional settings that will help you use the VPN service in more restricted countries like China. You can also connect through multiple server locations for better privacy. However, you can expect much slower speeds when connecting through multiple servers. For gaming we would suggest connecting to a server in the best region to purchase the game. Then you should connect to the closest server to the region you want to play in. This will help fix lag issues, improve ping times, and unblock restrictions. NordVPN comes with a 30 day money back guarantee.
3. IPVanish
IPVanish is our final choice for gaming with a VPN. You will find that the VPN service has a strong reputation for privacy. The IPVanish support team is always accessible to answer any questions you may have along the way. This is quite helpful when you’re first getting started. Members can download the IPVanish VPN app for Windows and Mac. They also have a nice mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Since game consoles don’t natively support VPN you would need to run the service through your router This can be complicated for those without some technical background. IPVanish VPN is better suited for PC and Mac gamers.
Unlike the other VPNs in our list, IPVanish is headquartered in the United States. Some have reservations using a VPN service based in the US for privacy reasons, but we have found IPVanish to be one of the fastest VPNs in North America. This makes them a great choice for gaming in the United States and Canada. The IPVanish team manages their own servers in key locations. This gives them an advantage over most VPNs when it comes to performance. We recommend connecting to their VPN servers in Ashburn, VA and Los Angeles for gaming. IPVanish offers all new members a 7 day money back guarantee.
Why is Xbox Live Blocked at School or Work?
Most gamers have experienced the frustration of network restrictions. Whether it’s a firewall at school or work, you will find that popular game servers and social media sites are often blocked. A VPN will hide your traffic so that the network can not detect that you are playing a game or visiting your favorite sites like YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, etc. The VPN will encrypt your data which will stop it from being blocked by your network administrator.
Why is Xbox Live Restricted by Region?
You will find that many gaming services (and streaming sites like Netflix) have set restrictions based on the region of the world you are in. For example, Rainbow Six has servers in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Players are restricted to playing in their own region. What if you want to play with friends in another country? The solution is to use a VPN. Simply connect to a VPN server in the region you wish to play in. Preferably as close to the game server as possible for the best performance. You can also use a VPN to buy and play games that are not otherwise available in your region.
Not All VPNs Support Fast Online Gaming
It doesn’t help to have a VPN that won’t place you in the proper geographic region or isn’t fast enough for gaming. There are literally hundreds of VPN services that won’t cut it for online gaming. There are very few that support the speeds necessary to fix lag issues and provide the proper IP location. The key is using a leading VPN and making a connection close to the game server you wish to play on. The difference in routing can boost your speed. We recommend using ExpressVPN for the best performance.
