Game desync or what is it?

qakoss · May 31, 2025, 9:34pm

Hello,
I'm experiencing a persistent networking issue that severely affects my gaming experience. I've recorded a new video clearly showing the problem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tst_VXBlpEU
https://youtu.be/Zq6p6WQmmVc

In the video, you can clearly see abnormal behavior — it feels like hit registration and responsiveness are completely off, even though my connection appears stable. I've already tried many things: router configuration, port forwarding, traffic prioritization, and even testing with different ISPs and setups.

I'd really appreciate it if someone with more experience could take a look and give me advice or ideas on what might be going wrong. Any suggestions or insights are welcome.

Thank you in advance for your help!

psherman · May 31, 2025, 9:38pm

Sometimes this can be out of your control (if the problem is related to upstream latencies), but we should review your configuration first.

What is your internet connection type (cable, dsl, fiber, cellular, satellite)? What is the speed tier you are promised from your isp (upload and download speeds).

Please connect to your OpenWrt device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button:

Remember to redact passwords, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have:

ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/network
cat /etc/config/wireless
cat /etc/config/dhcp
cat /etc/config/firewall

qakoss · May 31, 2025, 9:43pm

Hi, thanks a lot for your response!

My connection type is fiber.
The plan from my ISP is 500 Mbps download / 100 Mbps upload.

I'm using OpenWrt on an ASUS TUF-AX4200 router.
I have SQM (Smart Queue Management) enabled, and I don’t have any bufferbloat issues.

psherman · May 31, 2025, 9:43pm

Please post your configs for review.

qakoss · May 31, 2025, 9:50pm

[quote="psherman, post:2, topic:233453"]

ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/network
cat /etc/config/wireless
cat /etc/config/dhcp
cat /etc/config/firewall

[/quote] ubus call system board

json

CopyEdit

{
        "kernel": "5.15.167",
        "hostname": "OpenWrt",
        "system": "ARMv8 Processor rev 4",
        "model": "ASUS TUF-AX4200",
        "board_name": "asus,tuf-ax4200",
        "rootfs_type": "squashfs",
        "release": {
                "distribution": "OpenWrt",
                "version": "23.05.5",
                "revision": "r24106-10cc5fcd00",
                "target": "mediatek/filogic",
                "description": "23.05.5 241021"
        }
}

2. cat /etc/config/network

plaintext

CopyEdit

config interface 'loopback'
        option device 'lo'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
        option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config globals 'globals'
        option ula_prefix 'fd2b:b01c:d3c4::/48'

config device
        option name 'br-lan'
        option type 'bridge'
        list ports 'lan1'
        list ports 'lan2'
        list ports 'lan3'
        list ports 'lan4'

config device
        option name 'lan1'
        option macaddr 'XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:01'

config device
        option name 'lan2'
        option macaddr 'XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:02'

config device
        option name 'lan3'
        option macaddr 'XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:03'

config device
        option name 'lan4'
        option macaddr 'XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:04'

config interface 'lan'
        option device 'br-lan'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '192.168.1.1'
        option netmask '255.255.255.0'
        option ip6assign '60'

config device
        option name 'eth1'
        option macaddr 'XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:05'

config interface 'wan'
        option device 'eth1'
        option proto 'dhcp'

config interface 'wan6'
        option device 'eth1'
        option proto 'dhcpv6'

3. cat /etc/config/wireless

plaintext

CopyEdit

config wifi-device 'radio0'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option path 'platform/soc/18000000.wifi'
        option channel '1'
        option band '2g'
        option htmode 'HE20'
        option disabled '0'
        option country 'US'
        option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
        option device 'radio0'
        option network 'lan'
        option mode 'ap'
        option ssid 'mroco'
        option encryption 'psk2'
        option key '**********'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
        option type 'mac80211'
        option path 'platform/soc/18000000.wifi+1'
        option channel '36'
        option band '5g'
        option htmode 'HE80'
        option disabled '1'
        option country 'US'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
        option device 'radio1'
        option network 'lan'
        option mode 'ap'
        option ssid 'tuf-ax4200-5g-1'
        option encryption 'psk2'
        option key '**********'
        option disabled '1'

4. cat /etc/config/dhcp

plaintext

CopyEdit

config dnsmasq
        option domainneeded '1'
        option boguspriv '1'
        option filterwin2k '0'
        option localise_queries '1'
        option rebind_protection '1'
        option rebind_localhost '1'
        option local '/lan/'
        option domain 'lan'
        option expandhosts '1'
        option nonegcache '0'
        option cachesize '1000'
        option authoritative '1'
        option readethers '1'
        option leasefile '/tmp/dhcp.leases'
        option resolvfile '/tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto'
        option nonwildcard '1'
        option localservice '1'
        option ednspacket_max '1232'
        option filter_aaaa '0'
        option filter_a '0'
        option confdir '/tmp/dnsmasq.d'

config dhcp 'lan'
        option interface 'lan'
        option start '100'
        option limit '150'
        option leasetime '12h'
        option dhcpv4 'server'
        option dhcpv6 'server'
        option ra 'server'
        option ra_slaac '1'
        list ra_flags 'managed-config'
        list ra_flags 'other-config'

config dhcp 'wan'
        option interface 'wan'
        option ignore '1'

config odhcpd 'odhcpd'
        option maindhcp '0'
        option leasefile '/tmp/hosts/odhcpd'
        option leasetrigger '/usr/sbin/odhcpd-update'
        option loglevel '4'

lleachii · May 31, 2025, 9:50pm

Is your game console wired or wireless?
Have you tried without router (or a different one)?

I saw you and an opponent shooting at each other...you got tagged.

Very short clip.

qakoss · May 31, 2025, 9:53pm

Hi, wired

I understand that my aim may not be pixel perfect, but please take a look at the measurements shown in the video. Despite that, the enemy still kills me, which makes me believe there is an issue with hit registration or latency.

I’d appreciate if you could review this aspect carefully.

Thank you!

qakoss · May 31, 2025, 9:55pm

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/firewall

config defaults
option syn_flood '1'
option input 'REJECT'
option output 'ACCEPT'
option forward 'REJECT'

config zone
option name 'lan'
option input 'ACCEPT'
option output 'ACCEPT'
option forward 'ACCEPT'
list network 'lan'

config zone
option name 'wan'
option input 'REJECT'
option output 'ACCEPT'
option forward 'REJECT'
option masq '1'
option mtu_fix '1'
list network 'wan'
list network 'wan6'

config forwarding
option src 'lan'
option dest 'wan'

config rule
option name 'Allow-DHCP-Renew'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'udp'
option dest_port '68'
option target 'ACCEPT'
option family 'ipv4'

config rule
option name 'Allow-Ping'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'icmp'
option icmp_type 'echo-request'
option family 'ipv4'
option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
option name 'Allow-IGMP'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'igmp'
option family 'ipv4'
option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
option name 'Allow-DHCPv6'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'udp'
option dest_port '546'
option family 'ipv6'
option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
option name 'Allow-MLD'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'icmp'
option src_ip 'fe80::/10'
list icmp_type '130/0'
list icmp_type '131/0'
list icmp_type '132/0'
list icmp_type '143/0'
option family 'ipv6'
option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Input'
option src 'wan'
option proto 'icmp'
list icmp_type 'echo-request'
list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
list icmp_type 'bad-header'
list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
list icmp_type 'router-solicitation'
list icmp_type 'neighbour-solicitation'
list icmp_type 'router-advertisement'
list icmp_type 'neighbour-advertisement'
option limit '1000/sec'
option family 'ipv6'
option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Forward'
option src 'wan'
option dest '*'
option proto 'icmp'
list icmp_type 'echo-request'
list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
list icmp_type 'bad-header'
list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
option limit '1000/sec'
option family 'ipv6'
option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
option name 'Allow-IPSec-ESP'
option src 'wan'
option dest 'lan'
option proto 'esp'
option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
option name 'Allow-ISAKMP'
option src 'wan'
option dest 'lan'
option dest_port '500'
option proto 'udp'
option target 'ACCEPT'

qakoss · May 31, 2025, 11:24pm

psherman · June 1, 2025, 1:57am

Posting videos of a video game doesn't communicate the 'feeling' because we're not able to experience the practical latency of your key press-to-action.

There's nothing in your config that looks unusual or out of sorts. You said that you've already got SQM enabled and that you're not seeing any bufferbloat... how did you tune and verify that?

Assuming that your computer isn't part of the problem, there isn't all that much else inside your network environment that can be done beyond using Ethernet and SQM, as the latency is often determined by factors outside your control. Two of the biggest considerations will be the performance of your ISP and the distance to + performance of the remote server (and its ISP). Assuming no major issues/congestion between your connection > ISP + internet > server, the distance will be the biggest factor... so a player who is very near to the server will often have an advantage over those who are more distant.

You didn't answer this -- pretty important question:

Beyond that, have you tried other servers (specifically, those that are very close to you)?

brada4 · June 1, 2025, 4:54am

Enable 5ghz? Better go wired.
Upgrade to 24.10.1 , i did on exact device with luci-app-attendedsysupgrade without a problem.

Please show the link to your network conditions tested:
https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat

qakoss · June 1, 2025, 10:52am

I don’t have the option to go without a router.

qakoss · June 1, 2025, 10:54am

frollic · June 1, 2025, 11:01am

You could try Geomate - Geographic Game Server Filter for OpenWrt.

lleachii · June 1, 2025, 11:02am

It's starting to seem like your pixel imperfect aim might be the cause.

What did you use before - when your game experience was normal?

brada4 · June 1, 2025, 5:41pm

Your router works perfectly, you need to figure out game server with best network path.