Gaming isn’t just something that teenagers do in their basements anymore. It’s become a global phenomenon, with a lot of money being invested in it. Several years ago, the gaming industry actually exceeded the size of the movie industry, even though you don’t hear an awful lot about it.
In this post, we are going to look at some tips if you’re somebody engaged in international gaming travel. You are going to learn about everything you need to know to make the best of this experience.
Optimise your hardware
The first place you want to start is with optimising the hardware. The biggest mistake that many people make is overpacking the items that they need.
For example, you might need to take an Asus ROG Ally with you or a Nintendo Switch. These tend to be the gold standard for travel. If you can tap into the cloud and still play AAA titles, that’s also a good idea. Using GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud gaming for phone or tablet are great options if you’re trying to stick to minimal baggage.
Obviously, taking a full desktop computer with you is usually impossible unless you’re using a mini PC. In many cases, these can pack a lot of graphics-related hardware into a small volume, so you can put them in your trunk or your suitcase. If not, then you might want to take a laptop in your backpack.
Ensure you have the right power and charging strategy
Next, check that you have all of your power and charging strategies optimised. Don’t pack power banks or devices with lithium-ion batteries in your checked luggage. Airlines will usually try to restrict these because of the risk of fires from damaged lithium-ion batteries.
If you can get a high-wattage GaN charger, that’s also a great idea. Gallium nitride wall chargers come with multiple USB ports and can support varying wattages depending on the country you’re in. They’re powerful and robust enough to charge multiple devices at the same time, so you’re never stuck with no options.
Make sure you check the watt-hour limits on portable power banks that most airlines allow. The average limit is around 100 Wh or roughly 27,000 mAh without prior approval. If you need prior approval, try to obtain it from the airline before booking your tickets, not afterwards.
Check storage at your destination
We also regularly advise people investing in international gaming travel to check the storage options at their destinations. You can’t always step off the plane and into a hotel, and sometimes you don’t want to.
For example, bag storage in Berlin city center is super convenient if you’re going to the city for a LAN party and then moving on elsewhere. Instead of worrying about checking in your baggage and taking extra chips, you can just leave it in a storage locker at the transit hub and then go from there to your gaming event.
You could also look at the specialist security options available for people taking high-value electronics equipment around the world. Sometimes you’ll be able to find bespoke and concierge options, especially in developed Western cities. These provide you with even more protection and reduce the risk of theft.
Ensure connectivity
Connectivity is another significant issue when people travel. While the internet is now ubiquitous, it can be challenging to tap into Wi-Fi networks and 5G on mobile. Before you leave your home, set all of your launchers (like Steam, Epic, Nintendo e-shop, and so on) to offline mode. This means that you can still access many of your games that are downloaded onto your device. Some games require a one-time digital handshake before you’re allowed to play them offline. To set this up, follow these steps:
- Before you leave your home, set all of your launchers (like Steam, Epic, Nintendo e-shop, and so on) to offline mode.
- When you’re travelling, invest in an international e-SIM. These can switch between multiple networks quickly, providing you with connectivity no matter where you are.
- e-SIMs are generally cheap these days, and there are plenty of services out there that allow you to obtain all of the data you need for gaming traffic.
- A travel VPN is also a good idea, especially if you’re playing multiplayer games or logging onto public Wi-Fi in cafes. These give you all sorts of protections while minimizing additional latency (something a lot of gamers worry about).
Protect your gear
Finally, you’ll need to look for ways to protect your gear. Baggage handlers are often the most gentle, and many of them don’t know what’s inside your suitcases, so they may not protect them. Be particularly careful with your screens, joysticks, and zippers. These are prone to damage during travel, and airlines can sometimes be brutal
The best advice is to use rigid cases. Soft sleeves won’t protect electronics from being crushed or abused, especially if you’re carrying around a cramped backpack. You should also use tech organisers when they’re available. For example, keeping all your cables, adapters, and SD cards in a dedicated tech pouch can be helpful.
If you have a laptop, take it in a case with corner armour protection. Cases can be a little bit expensive, but they’re a great way to reduce the damage that might be done to your gear. For example, they can help reduce impacts when security is digging through the bottom of your backpack at a checkpoint. You can also get backpacks with corner protection and rigid sections that offer additional protection to your cables and other accessories that you might want to bring with you.
Ultimately, travelling for gaming is a risky business but also extremely rewarding. Taking a few precautions is all you really need to do to protect yourself, whether you’re going to Berlin, New York, London, Tokyo, Shanghai, or another popular destination around the world.
If you’re not sure about a specific issue, it’s always worth asking on Reddit or other forums. Experienced travelling gamers can provide advice and tell you how to proceed.