Xbox Live is a service that lets Xbox players from all over the world connect and to play together online. Whether on Xbox One, 360, Series X/S, or Windows you can play those Xbox games with friends who have different models. The service gives you greater access to everything you would want out of your console. Xbox Live Gold, the paid version of the service gives you the ability to play online titles and gives you discounts on games. A VPN will improve your experience when using Xbox Live. It can reduce lag, improve ping, protect against DDoS attacks, and help you get around firewalls at school or work. Please join me as I share the best VPNs for Xbox Live
Xbox Live VPN Quickstart
Want to fix lag spikes on Xbox Live? If so follow these instructions.
- 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 console. ExpressVPN MediaStreamer supports PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
- Make note of the IP address given in the set up box to the right of the screen.
- Set the DNS on your console to the IP given on the ExpressVPN site.
Xbox Live Gaming Info
Xbox Live Gold is Xbox’s premium online gaming service. With it you will be able to play games online with others. It also gives you access to 2 free titles every month. This would give you 24 games every year. Along with this the service provides great discounts on the Microsoft Store. Another way to get Xbox Live Gold is through Xbox Game Pass. This is another product from Microsoft that gives you a lot more value. Xbox Game Pass is a service that provides unlimited access to over 100 Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 games. This includes large releases like Halo Infinite. Those afraid of losing out on what Xbox Live gives you do not need to worry. Another perk of the service is that it comes with a Xbox Live Gold. Microsoft also occasionally gives deals on cheap upgrades to the new service. I hope you and your friends enjoy playing online games through Xbox Live.
Game Server Locations
because Xbox is owned by Microsoft. It can be assumed that they would use the companies own Webservices, Azure, to host the service. Based on this we recommend connecting to a VPN server in Washington DC or Los Angeles to play in the United States. Frankfurt, Paris, London, Toronto, Sydney, Hong Kong, or Tokyo are also good options for international gamers.
Here are the best VPNs to use with Xbox Live.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN for gaming. It allows you to take advantage of appearing in different locations. You will be able to buy games at lower prices. Developers sell their games at different points depending on the country and audience. You can get some of the best discounts and lowest prices on games by connecting to a VPN location in Brazil or India. ExpressVPN also allows you to take advantage of the time difference to receive early access to games. Countries like Japan and Australia are the furthest ahead time wise and many gaming companies launch at a set time. This means they could potentially get the game nearly a day early. Using ExpressVPN will let you take advantage of regional differences by connecting to server locations around the world.
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. Enjoy unlimited access to both their VPN network and MediaStreamer service. Save on your favorite games and 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 our second pick for VPNs to use while gaming online. NordVPN has servers in 59 countries around the world, which means you will be able to take advantage of playing in different regions. Australians normally gain access to games the earliest. By connecting to different regions you will not only get games early, but sometimes you will extend the amount of early access you get. NordVPN can also help you get a discount on new titles. Many countries like Brazil have lower prices on games. Those living in countries where games are blocked or regionally altered, can unlock the full version by connecting to a server location where it is not. NordVPN can help you get around geo-restrictions and take advantage of regional differences in the gaming market.
NordVPN is a reliable VPN service that values privacy. You can feel safe knowing that your data will be encrypted while connecting to one of their over 5000 servers located globally. Take advantage of regional game discounts and use the service across multiple devices at once. NordVPN also has 24/7 support if you ever need more help. This includes lice chat support for quick answers. They will also give you a 30 day back guarantee. I hope you enjoy using NordVPN when gaming.
3. Private Internet Access
PIA is a good choice for gamers. They will mask your IP address and replace it with a new one. This will help you stay safe online. Private Internet Access also blocks trackers, ads, and malware. Your privacy is at the forefront of PIA’s concerns. The company does not log and supports P2P. They will encrypt your data. This also protects against DDoS attacks and SWAT’ing. A good VPN allows you to get around firewalls. You will be able to play blocked games at school or work with a VPN. Private Internet Access is great for protecting yourself, while gaming online.
Unlike the other VPNs in our list, Private Internet Access is headquartered in the United States. Some have reservations using a VPN service based in the US for privacy reasons, but we have found PIA 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 PIA team manages thousands of 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 NYC and Los Angeles for gaming. PIA offers all new members a 30 day money back guarantee.
Why are Games 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 the Game Restricted by Region?
You will find that many games (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.
