A tech startup in Canada has developed technology intended to help gamers improve their pings. It’s called WTFast, and it’s a “Gamer Private Network” (GPN) subscription service that analyses network traffic from a long list of popular games, and then optimises the route those specific packets travel.

This technique lowers ping time, and the software works behind the scenes to prevent lag spikes and counter the route optimisation of your internet service provider, which may not be in the best interests of online game performance. This, in turn, delivers a smoother in-game experience for the online gamer.

The gamer’s responses to opposition players’ actions can then happen even faster, theoretically providing an edge over competitors whose connections aren’t as quick. Outcomes still depend heavily on the individual gamer’s skill at the game, but having a lower ping definitely helps too.

WTFast doesn’t specify exactly how much better pings will be using the service, however, as each gamer’s connection, internet service provider, geographic location and other unknowable factors can affect it, but it’s reasonable to expect anything up to a 15% improvement on average.

WTFast is available as a subscription service through the WTFast website, and it currently supports over 800 of the most popular online games. Pricing starts at $5.99 per month for the basic WTFast service, which includes automatic and manual network connections, game traffic prioritisation, email-based customer support and custom game support.

Going for the Advanced offer that goes for $9.99 a month gets gamers those features, as well as multi-server chain connections, the ability to set custom server ports, and lets the app remember game settings.

WTFast has also partnered up with a big-name manufacturer of gaming routers, ASUS, and bundled its WTFast service with two of ASUS’s routers – the RT-AC88U and the RT-AC5300. The free WTFast client works together with the routers’ inner workings to optimise gaming traffic to a gaming PC or console connected to the router, but if additional gaming devices are required, they will each need their own subscription.

Signing up for WTFast access from more than one computer lowers the per-PC cost of the service, and the company offers a free 14-day trial for gamers to use to decide whether or not they want to pay for it.