Linksys introduces the first router that prioritizes Xbox One gaming
It’s called the WRT32XB and it uses a 'Killer Prioritization Engine.' (Yes, really.)
This week at CES, Linksys is debuting a new gaming router, the WRT32XB, which is the first (and only) device that's specifically optimized for the demands of the Xbox One. It's basically an Xbox One-specific model of the WRT32X Gaming Router, and it sells for a similar price: $300. It will be available in February.
The WRT32VB is designed to auto-detect any Xbox One model on its network in order to prioritize and accelerate traffic to and from the console. This means that users will have an optimal online gaming experience, as the bandwidth needs of the console will be placed above any other traffic on the network thanks to the Killer Prioritization Engine (KPE). The KPE will also reduce peak ping by over 65 percent and extreme lag spikes that originate from the router. Both the firmware and router interface have been designed specifically with gaming in mind.
The router features a 1.8 GHz dual-Ccore ARM CPU, 802.11ac Wave 2 dual-band 3 x 3 wireless radio, 256MB flash and 512MB of DDR3 memory and a5-port SOHO-grade Gigabit Ethernet switch with TCAM. It's built on AC3200 MU-MIMO Wi-Fi technology, with AC3200 speeds. It features one USB 3.0 connection and one combo eSATA/USB 2.0 port.
This prioritization isn't just limited to the WRT32XB either. Linksys is collaborating with Rivet Networks to expand the KPE to cover more devices across gaming platforms (PC, consoles and mobile), and applying updates to all of its WRT gaming routers. It's unclear how well this prioritization tech works, but if you're a big gamer and in the market for a new router, it's worth a look.
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