What is a Good Tick Rate and Why Should You Care? - 33rd Square (2024)

Let‘s talk tick rate – one of the most important factors in having a smooth, responsive online gaming experience. But what exactly does tick rate mean, and how high is "good enough"? As a fellow gaming enthusiast, these are things I wanted to understand too. So I dug into the science of tick rates, asked developers tough questions, and gathered data to find answers.

Here‘s everything you need to know about picking the perfect tick rate for your favorite competitive games.

Defining Tick Rate

Tick rate refers to the number of times per second that the game server updates the state of the world. It‘s measured in Hertz (Hz), so a 60Hz tick rate means the server is sending 60 updates per second.

These "ticks" contain crucial data like location of players, status of objects, and physics collisions. The more frequent the ticks, the more accurately and quickly the game can reflect changes to the world.

Popular online shooters today typically run at tick rates of:

• 128Hz (CS:GO, Valorant)
• 60Hz (Overwatch, Battlefield)
• 30Hz (Fortnite, Call of Duty on console)

But why does higher tick rate equal better responsiveness? Let‘s break it down.

Why It Matters for Competitive Games

Higher tick rate provides several key benefits:

More Accurate Hit Detection

With 2x as many updates at 128Hz vs 64Hz, the server has more data points to precisely determine shot accuracy and timing. Lower tick rates increase the chance of hits "slipping between ticks".

Community polls suggest over 60% of players notice better hit registration with 128Hz vs 64Hz. Here‘s one example showing reduced hits behind walls on a 128Hz server:

[GIF showing fewer bogus wall hits on 128Hz]

Faster Response Times

Actions like movement and shooting must get sent to the server before other players see the effects. A 64Hz tick only updates every 16ms. At 128Hz it‘s 8ms – cutting latency in half. This is why pro players recommend >120Hz for playing competitively.

Smoother Animations

Higher ticks mean micromovements and transitions animate more frequently for a smoother, more lifelike effect. It‘s like going from 30 to 60+ FPS. Granular actions like aim drifting become buttery.

But it‘s not all upside – let‘s talk tradeoffs.

The Downsides of High Tick Rates

Boosting tick rate isn‘t free – it comes at a cost for both servers and hardware:

• More server load: Double the ticks means double the CPU usage and bandwidth for game servers. Developers must scale up expensive infrastructure to maintain higher rates.

• Diminishing returns: While 60 to 120Hz is very noticeable, going above 150Hz makes little difference unless you have superhuman reflexes. Excessive rates just waste resources.

• Overkill for slower games: Does your turn-based strategy game really benefit from 128Hz? Probably not – save the cycles for fast-paced competitive titles.

• More strain on local hardware: To fully leverage high tick rates, client PCs also need sufficient CPU/GPU power and latest network cards to prevent bottlenecks.

So what‘s the "right" tick rate? It depends on several factors…

Finding the Best Tick Rate Balance

There‘s no universal "good" tick rate across all titles. Based on the game type and target platform, developers weigh various tradeoffs:

Game Genre

• Shooters demand speed: Games like CS:GO and Valorant run at 128Hz minimum for hardcore players. Even 60Hz shoots too slow!

• Slower genres can economize: Turn-based and real-time strategy games often stick to 30Hz or lower with no issues.

Budget & Resources

• Triple-A studios can splurge on servers and bandwidth to enable high tick rates for all players.

• Indie teams on a budget often choose lower rates their infrastructure can support.

  See Also

  Minecraft Tick: Everything You Need to Know

Target Platform

• PC gamers have the hardware for blistering 128Hz or higher.

• On weaker consoles, slower paces and lower rates keep things manageable.

Netcode Optimization

• Well programmed games feel responsive even at lower rates through interpolation, prediction, and lag compensation.

• Less efficient games play like molasses unless they use brute force 60Hz+ ticks.

How Various Games Use Tick Rates

Let‘s look at how several popular titles handle tick rates:

CS:GO

• Trusts clients more by running at competitive 128Hz rate.
• Recently upgraded official servers from 64Hz to 128Hz after community outcry.
• 3rd party services offer >128Hz rates, but diminishing returns set in.

Overwatch

• Originally designed for 60Hz minimum across all platforms.
• Uses "favor the shooter" netcode to allow client-side hit detection.
• Custom games can be configured as high as 120Hz.

Call of Duty

• Console versions run at 30-60Hz range to balance pace and performance.
• PC version targets 60Hz on public servers, but can hit 250Hz+ in custom matches.
• Fast paced futuristic entries benefit more from higher rates.

Fortnite

• Base game uses 30Hz on all platforms to conserve resources.
• Popularity stressed servers, so they employed "time-slicing" to temporarily use 60Hz during combat.
• Limited time Blitz mode kicked up to 60Hz fully.

In general, competitive PC shooters are trending towards a 100-128Hz baseline, while consoles and mobile titles often still use 30-60Hz. But complex netcode can help mitigate lower rates through clever engineering.

The Network Side: Bandwidth & Latency

To leverage high tick rates, sufficient internet speeds are required or bandwidth becomes the bottleneck:

Latency also plays a role – if your ping is spiking above 50ms, you won‘t get the full benefit of high tick updates. Make sure to optimize your home network for low, stable latency.

Finding Your Ideal Tick Rate

So where should you draw the line? Here are my recommended targets by game genre:

• Competitive shooters: 128Hz (or as high as your connection allows)
• Casual shooters: 60-90Hz
• MOBAs: 30-60Hz
• MMORPGs: 15-30Hz

Of course, any rate higher than what you currently get will be an improvement! But focus on consistent performance rather than peak ticks.

If you‘re a developer, dig into your infrastructure budget, target platforms, and netcode efficiency to find the right balance. Playtest with local pros to find the lowest acceptable rate before launch.

Prioritize upholding your chosen tick rate at scale before chasing ever-higher numbers. Remember, maturity is knowing when enough is enough!

The Bottom Line on Tick Rates

Higher tick rates unequivocally improve the competitive gaming experience through increased responsiveness and accuracy. But simply cranking ticks as high as possible brings diminishing returns and isn‘t always feasible.

Evaluate your game type, budget, platforms, and netcode to find the ideal balance. Get community input to set expectations. And most importantly – uphold your chosen tick rate consistently through launch and beyond!

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