FTP games or F2P games have become popular as small game developers try to gain a footing in the market. However, not everyone can access all the FTP titles out there, even with the best equipment and internet connection. There are all kinds of restrictions, such as ISP throttling and IP blocking in the FTP space.
What Does FTP Mean in Gaming?
The term FTP can be confusing to most new gamers, especially those used to paying a lot of money for games on their consoles and PCs. FTP or F2P is not a new concept. It refers to when game developers offer gamers free access. You could download or play an FTP game online for free if granted access.
FTP or F2P game developers generate income through other means. For instance, some use in-game purchases by selling loot boxes, gems, NFTS, and other virtual assets. The more users an FTP game has, the more money the game developer makes through these different income streams. However, gamers can still enjoy FTP games they have access to without paying or purchasing virtual in-game assets. Today, some of the most popular FTP or F2P games include War Thunder, RAID- Shadow legends, World of Warships, World of Tanks, Warframe, and many more. These games are either online or on popular gaming platforms like Steam. Users with no restrictions can download and enjoy these games without paying a penny.
How Restrictions Affect FTP Gamers
While FTP gaming is attractive, it doesn’t mean it’s an open-for-all model. Most game developers have strict limits on who can access their games and where they can access them from. For instance, you may find that a game you love is unavailable in your country or city because the developer or someone else has put geo-restrictions in place.
Some of the challenges you might face as an FTP gamer include:
Geo-Restriction
Some popular game titles are not accessible in specific countries based on the developer’s geo-restriction policy. Geo-restriction is a protocol meant to block users from a particular part of the world. It is usually implemented on the game servers and users are identified using IP addresses.
ISP Throttling
Your internet service provider could also decide to restrict your bandwidth when playing online FTP games. You may have different speeds depending on how you use your connection. They do this by reading the data you download and upload to the internet every session and cutting your bandwidth when they detect gaming activity. This can lead to low FPS and an overall poor gaming experience. ISPs worldwide use bandwidth throttling to manage bandwidth usage on their network.
IP Blocking
IP blocking is very common in the FTP gaming industry, especially with popular online gaming titles. It usually takes many forms and can be annoying, especially for players who want to compete with other players from across the globe. You will find that you cannot access particular gaming servers because your game server is blocked.
Ways to Improve FTP While Gaming
The methods gaming companies, ISPs, and other parties use to restrict your access to FTP games can be beaten easily. You don’t have to play game titles you don’t like just because others are unavailable in your location. With a bit of knowledge about how geo-restrictions work, It can be done by installing VPN for Windows or for any other device you use to access games. A VPN allows you to access FTP games from anywhere in the world without restrictions. Such freedom is crucial for avid online free-to-play gamers.
Some Advantages of Using A VPN for FTP gaming include:
VPNs Give You a New IP address
By using a VPN on Windows, you can easily change your IP address so that you can access games as if you are in another country. For example, suppose an FTP game title you are interested in is only available in Japan. In that case, you can use your VPN to change your IP. Your gaming device will appear to be accessing the internet from Japan.
They Encrypt Your Data
ISPs that read your data to throttle your internet speeds and reduce your gaming FPS cannot do so if you use a VPN while gaming. VPNs channel your gaming data through a private encrypted tunnel that your internet service provider cannot decode.
VPNs Protect You from Hackers
Free-to-play game servers can be targeted in hacking schemes. Using a VPN protects you when you are logged onto an open free-to-play game server and safeguards your data from hackers. This doesn’t necessarily improve your gaming experience, but it is an excellent addition.
They Improve FPS
When gaming on a PC, your device may be bogged down by online ad bots trying to read your data. A good VPN prevents this.
Overall, FTP gaming can be fun if there are no restrictions. Luckily, a simple solution exists that any gamer can use regardless of their skill level. Have fun gaming!
