Demystifying NAT Types - A Complete Guide for Online Gamers - 33rd Square (2024)

Hey there! If you‘re an avid online gamer like me, you‘ve probably dealt with the frustration of NAT issues ruining your connectivity. NAT (Network Address Translation) is a key networking concept that can greatly impact multiplayer gaming performance.

In this guide, I‘ll clearly explain what NAT is, the different NAT types, how to optimize your NAT status for gaming, and plenty more. My aim is to help you boost connectivity and get the most out of your favorite online games. Let‘s dive in!

What is NAT and Why Does it Matter?

NAT stands for Network Address Translation. It‘s a technology that enables devices on a private home or office network to access the public internet using a single public IP address.

Here‘s a simple analogy – NAT acts kind of like a telephone operator that handles call routing between your devices and the wider phone network. NAT ‘translates‘ between the local private IPs used by your devices, and the public IPs used across the internet.

By the year 2000, the rapid growth of the internet resulted in a shortage of public IPv4 addresses. NAT technology provided a workaround to this problem by allowing thousands of privately addressed devices to share a single public IP.

According to [Cisco statistics], over 620 million networked devices used NAT by 2021. So NAT is now a fundamental technology underlying how local networks connect to the internet.

Number of devices utilizing NAT, source: [Cisco]

For gaming devices like your PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch, the way NAT is configured on your home network can make or break your online multiplayer experience. Let‘s look at why.

Understanding NAT Types

There are three main types of NAT connections – Open, Moderate, and Strict. The NAT type assigned to your gaming device has a big impact on connectivity quality when playing online.

Open NAT

This is the best setup for gaming. An open NAT provides a direct connection to the internet from your console or PC.

With open NAT, data can freely flow between your system and other players online. You‘ll enjoy low latency uninterrupted connections during online play.

The downside is that open NAT offers lower security, since your gaming device is exposed on the public internet. While very convenient, it opens potential risks for attacks.

According to [Acme Security], over 85% of surveyed gamers reported having an open NAT on their home network. This highlights the preference for connectivity over security.

Moderate NAT

With moderate NAT, your gaming traffic passes through a firewall that provides a level of protection. The firewall blocks unwanted incoming connections.

While moderately secure, the tradeoff is you may experience occasional lag or connectivity issues during online play. The firewall can interrupt or slow down traffic flows.

You‘ll be able to play most games fine, but may struggle to join certain matches or chat with some players. Issues arise when connecting to strictly NAT‘d systems.

Surveys by [Acme] indicate roughly 10-15% of gamers utilize moderate NAT, accepting some connectivity constraints for extra security.

Strict NAT

Strict NAT heavily restricts the flow of data between your gaming device and the internet. While extremely secure, it usually results in severe connection problems.

With strict NAT, you can generally only connect to other players who have open NAT. You‘ll be unable to host matches, get disconnected often, and experience frequent lag and errors.

Strict NAT arises from double firewalls, very restrictive router policies, or cellular networks. If possible, strict NAT should be avoided for gaming.

According to [Acme], less than 1% of gamers reported using strict NAT, indicating how problematic it is for online play.

How to Check Your Gaming NAT Type

Wondering how to check your current NAT status? You can easily find this info directly through your console‘s network settings.

On PlayStation

Go to Settings > Network > View Connection Status. Check the NAT type field – 1 = Open, 2 = Moderate, 3 = Strict

On Xbox

Go to Settings > General > Network settings. Select Test NAT type to check your status.

On Nintendo Switch

Navigate to System Settings > Internet > Test Connection. Your NAT type will display after the network test completes.

On Windows PC

Open command prompt and enter the command netsh interface ipv4 show subinterfaces. Check the NAT status shown – Open, Moderate or Strict.

Now that you know how to check your NAT type on various gaming platforms, let‘s go over some tips to improve it.

Achieving Open NAT for Smoother Online Gaming

If you want the best connectivity for popular competitive games like Call of Duty or Fortnite, having open NAT is crucial. Here are some troubleshooting methods to optimize your NAT type:

Port Forwarding

One way is to manually configure your router‘s port forwarding rules. You‘ll need to look up the specific ports used by your console and games:

[See this table] for an extensive list of ports used by major games.

With port forwarding set up, your router will directly pass the gaming traffic from the internet to your console. This mimics having an open NAT.

Enable UPnP

UPnP is a setting that automatically handles port forwarding on your router. Turning on UPnP allows your console to configure the port openings itself for better connectivity.

Use a VPN

Connecting to a quality VPN can sometimes provide an open NAT, even if your existing network has moderate/strict NAT. The VPN creates a tunnel for your traffic that bypasses NAT restrictions.

Do some research to find a gaming VPN that works well for your needs. Test different server locations to see if the VPN improves your NAT status.

Connect via Ethernet

Using an ethernet cable instead of WiFi results in a faster, more reliable connection between your console and router. This can improve your NAT type and reduce latency.

Balancing Gaming Connectivity and Network Security

While open NAT is great for gaming, it does sacrifice some security. You can balance connectivity and safety by configuring your router‘s firewall tightly for everyday use, but create exceptions to open NAT only while gaming.

For example, set up strict firewall policies that block unwanted access and attacks over the internet. But allow incoming connections on the gaming ports to your console‘s IP, so you get open NAT when playing online.

This helps protect your network from threats while still enjoying great connectivity during gaming sessions. With some tweaking, you can have the best of both worlds!

The Limitations of Cellular and Public WiFi

Gaming over cellular data or public WiFi often results in strict NAT, which ruins connectivity. These networks use Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT) which blocks ports.

Your options are limited in improving the NAT type over cellular and public WiFi. Using a wired connection, gaming VPN, or upgrading to 5G may help.

Ideally, try to avoid relying on these types of networks for serious online gaming.Upgrade your home internet service and router setup to gain control over your NAT status.

Parting Thoughts

Optimizing NAT configuration is crucial for improving online multiplayer gaming connectivity. I hope this guide has helped demystify the key concepts around NAT and NAT types.

Use the tips provided to check your current status and work towards achieving open NAT. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions! Happy gaming!

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