Do online gaming sites really use a lot of bandwidth? Some people believe that they do, while others say that they don’t. It all comes down to how you measure the amount of data used by an online gaming site. Some people use the term “bandwidth hog” to describe a site that is using a lot of data for gaming purposes. This is because the site is using up a lot of bandwidth to process and display all of the information that it contains. A bandwidth hog can be a problem for any website, but it’s especially harmful to online gaming sites because they are used by many people at once. Some people also use the term “bandwidth king” to describe a site that is using very little data for gaming purposes but still managing to generate a high amount of traffic. This is because the site has managed to keep its traffic low and not rely on any other resources to generate revenue. A bandwidth king can be an advantage for any website, but it’s especially beneficial for online gaming sites because they are often used by large numbers of people at once.
Playing Online Games Uses Very Little Data
Online gaming is definitely bigger than ever. Steam is hitting its all-time high numbers of gamers, for example. But there’s nothing special about this. Many other online services are experiencing record-high usage.
So, is there really anything special about playing online games? Well, no. Not really.
How much data do online games use? The exact amount depends on the game. For example, Fortnite and Minecraft both reportedly use about 100MB of data per hour. That’s pretty typical—some games will be a bit higher and some will be a bit lower. Expect something between 40MB and 150MB.
In contrast, streaming Netflix in HD uses up to 3000MB (3GB) per hour. In other words, streaming from Netflix might use about thirty times the amount of data as online gaming. Netflix in 4K will use even more.
Or, if you’re having a virtual Zoom meeting, receiving a 1080p HD video stream consumes 1.8Mbps. That’s 810MB (0.81GB) per hour, and that number isn’t even counting the video stream you’re uploading.
In other words, online gaming is one of the least data-intensive things you can do online. No one’s calling for businesses to suspend Zoom meetings or for people to stop streaming Netflix on their couch. People shouldn’t single out gamers for playing online, either. Anyone who’s targeting online gaming doesn’t understand the numbers.
Some (But Not All) Game Downloads Are Massive
It is worth noting that many digital game downloads are huge in size. For example, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a 105 GB download. Modern games often include lots of high-resolution graphics and high-quality sound files.
However, not all games are that huge. Let’s take a quick look at a list of popular online games:
Fortnite: 35GB Dota 2: 15GB Overwatch: 30GB
These are just a few examples, but they prove our point. Not every game is a massive single-player 100GB experience packed with cinematics. Even the ones that are can often entertain you for many hours. A 100-hour game that takes 100GB of data to download will use less bandwidth in total than watching Netflix in HD for 100 hours.
Don’t Single Out Gamers
While downloading games does sometimes use a lot of data, it’s not the only thing that’s data-intensive. If downloading and playing games keeps you happy and entertained while you’re at home, play on. You’re doing the world a service by staying at home and playing games during the COVID-19 pandemic. People shouldn’t call for you to stop gaming.
That’s especially true if you’re just playing a game rather than downloading one. There’s a good chance you’re using less bandwidth than someone who’s just browsing the web.
RELATED: Why Do New Games Take Up So Much Hard Drive Space?
