When you log into Steam, the program will automatically connect you to the server closest to you and place you in the corresponding matchmaking queue. While changing servers was previously easy on CS: GO , it later became more complicated because high ping can cause competitive disadvantage..
While it is more difficult to play with high ping and spikes in lag, it can also become a nuisance for the opposing team. You'll heal yourself all around the map and take out enemies while they won't even see you onscreen. It's a double-edged sword, but there will be times when you have to change regions without asking questions.
Your online circle of friends may be in another region of the world, or you may encounter a language barrier while traveling. Either way, going back to your local server can give you a better gaming experience..
If your ping is above 120-130, we recommend that you do not enter ranked mode as the difference in ping will make it difficult to fight players of your level with normal ping.
Here's how to change your region on CS: GO , in order to play on a different server..
Download a VPN
The easiest way to change servers on CS: GO is to use a VPN. It changes your IP address to one of the region of your choice.
The VPN also creates another path to your connection through their servers for security reasons, which means that it may also slightly improve the ping when playing CS: GO , but the difference will be hard to notice depending on which servers You play.
Any VPN will work for the process, so we recommend downloading one that you have used in the past or are currently using.
- Once the VPN is installed, you will have to choose a country near you.
- If you want to play from Eastern Europe, you can choose Bulgaria, Turkey or Hungary. Hong Kong and China should work for Asian servers, while the US city should be chosen wisely since this will change the ping depending on whether it is near the West or East coast.
- Once logged in to a different region, Steam might prompt you for your password again since you've been traveling the world in seconds.
- If Steam does not ask for your password again, you will need to quit Steam and relaunch it to ensure that it has calibrated to your new region.
- It will be possible to launch CS: GO after entering your password or relaunching Steam, then entering the queue of any game mode.
- While it is possible to confirm that you have changed servers just by looking at your ping, it is also possible to do so via the console.
- Open the console and type "status" without the quotes.
- The console will display all the details of the server you are connected to, and its name will be up.
- For reference, the server names will look like this:
- CS: GO Asia Server
- CS: GO Northern Europe Server
- CS: GO Eastern Europe Server
Use a matchmaking server selector
Image via Counter-Strike blog Members of the CS: GO community who are good at coding have developed another solution to this problem that removes the need for a VPN. While this method contains different steps depending on the server selector you choose, most contain user interfaces that are easy to learn.
A quick search on Github reserves several options, and each server selector aims to allow players to choose the region they want to join a game.
The main advantage of the matchmaking server selector is that it doesn't use a VPN, which is replaced by an extra step to be completed between the router and the game servers. While the ping difference won't be that big of a deal, some players will still want to have the best possible connection to servers to make sure they're not at a disadvantage.
Server selectors generally share the same principle and block the IP addresses of servers you don't want to play on. They force CS: GO to integrate you into a match in the region of your choice, making sure you are not eligible for other servers.
Choose the server you want via the selector by following the given steps and launch the game to enter a queue. Make sure to verify the connected server by typing "status" without the quotes on the console.
Join community servers
If you want to take care of the problem yourself without using external programs, it is possible to join a community server depending on the region of your choice.
- Launch CS: GO and choose Play.
- Choose the Community Server Browser from the menu.
- Type region names or filter results by region or ping.
- Servers with a higher ping will be further away from the local region.
- Most servers show where they are based, which makes locating them easier.
Select Community Server Browser from the drop-down menu.
- Screengrab via Valve Type in region names or sort servers by ping / region. - Screengrab via Valve Screengrab via Valve Some servers may also include ping detectors that eject players who are pinged too high to protect the integrity of the gaming experience on their server. Keep looking for another server when this happens, since eventually you'll find one that will welcome all players with open arms.