In computing, "latency" describes some type of delay. It typically refers to delays in transmitting or processing data, which can be caused by a wide variety of reasons. Network latency is what causes interruptions in online games.

Ping refers to the network latency between a player's client and the game server. Ping is an average time in milliseconds (there are 1000 milliseconds in a second) it takes for data to travel from a player’s device and the game server. The lower a player’s ping is, the lower the latency is and the less lag the player will experience. High ping can cause a severe amount of lag; while any level of ping may cause lag, severe lag is usually caused by a ping of over 100 ms. In games where timing is key, such as first-person shooters and real-time strategy games, a low ping is always desirable, as a low ping means smoother gameplay by allowing faster updates of game data between the players' device and game server.

To put it in layman’s terms: Imagine you have a high ping, and you are thrown a ball to catch. Because of the high ping, it takes half a second after your brain tells your hands to move for them to react. Since you are not reacting in real time catching the ball is very difficult. That is what it is like to play a multiplayer game with high ping.

There are several factors that can impact your latency starting within your home.  It is recommended that you always use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to your router.  Another factor impacting your latency is your physical distance to the game server.  The closer you are to the game server the lower your latency will be.

Elite Gamer is designed to help reduce your latency, reduce disconnections, and reduce lag spikes by finding an efficient path to your game server across the internet and improve performance in multiplayer games.

Elite Gamer is designed to use an intelligent server network to route your game connections more efficiently. To put it simply, when you are not using Elite Gamer, your game connection is treated the same as all the other traffic on your network. This means that, generally, the easiest path for the data is used, not the most efficient. It would be like taking the highway during rush hour because it’s easier to get to, rather than taking back roads when they would get you where you are going faster. Elite Gamer focuses on creating the best connection for gaming. Choosing a more efficient route for your gaming data to lower your ping and keep your connection stable. If you care about your ping in online games and want the best connection to your game servers, then try Elite Gamer and see the results for yourself.

To be eligible for the Elite Gamer service, you will need to be a new or existing Cox High Speed Internet customer. Elite Gamer is included at no additional cost with a Panoramic Wifi Gateway rental. If you're using your own modem, Elite Gamer is available for purchase.

We work hard to support and improve the game connection for all popular online PC games. Check out our list above for all supported games.

Yes. Elite Gamer allows for multiple simultaneous logins on different PCs, up to the maximum number of concurrent gaming sessions included with your plan. You may purchase additional concurrent gaming sessions here.