[CES 2018] Apart from skill, one of the factors that can impact how one performs in a multiplayer/online game is latency. This is why there are accessories and hardware designed specifically for gamers, whether it be a fast and responsive mouse, a monitor with a fast refresh rate and quick response time, and also internet speeds that are as fast as possible (or as fast as one can afford).Recently the folks at Netgear unveiled the XR500 NightHawk, a router designed for gaming, but it looks like they aren’t alone in that front. Router maker Linksys has also recently announced their own gaming router in the form of the WRT32XB, except that in this case this particular router has been designed and optimized for Microsoft’s Xbox One console.
According to Linksys, this is done in partnership with Rivet Networks. “The WRT32XB router incorporates the Killer Prioritization Engine (KPE), which will auto-detect any Xbox One, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X, and prioritize gaming packets automatically to provide serious console gamers with the best online gaming experience. The Killer Prioritization Engine identifies, prioritizes and accelerates Xbox gaming network traffic from any Xbox One console above all other devices in the home to deliver lower ping times and optimize online gaming.”
The router has also been designed to protect gamers from extreme lag spikes at a router level (on an internet level there’s really not much one can do), and is said to reduce peak ping by up to 65%. Linksys is also offering customers who purchase the router a three-month membership to Xbox Game Pass. For those who are interested, the Linksys WRT32XB will be priced at $300 and will be available come February 2018.
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