Call of Duty: Vanguard is an evolution of some of the hottest technologies in the gaming industry. Of course, since it's such a sprawling beast, we shouldn't be surprised to see some bugs in the mix. One of the most annoying problems with online multiplayer is the packet burst. This nasty little error message likes to make you die with a touch of lag and a pinch of elastic. So what causes packet burst and what can you do to fix it?
What is Packet Burst in Call of Duty: Vanguard?
The packet burst in Call of Duty: Vanguard is the result of a network connection problem. It is typically caused by a faulty home network, particularly with some brands and models of WiFi routers. Unfortunately, packet loss is difficult to fix simply because the solution depends entirely on your network hardware. It may not be something you can fix at all.
Thankfully, packet burst is at least easy to diagnose. Call of Duty: Vanguard, Warzone, Modern Warfare, and Black Ops Cold War all have a specific icon to highlight the packet burst on other network issues, showing three overlapping orange squares. When it appears, you are likely to experience a lag spike, or a brief freeze or stutter, and possibly some rubber band. A quick flash of the latency variation error may also appear on the screen.
As for the causes, it's a bit more complicated. Packet burst occurs when a group of packets gets out of rhythm with the rest. Put simply, they should arrive smoothly and consistently. However, when a burst occurs, the system is forced to retrieve a lot of new information in a relatively short period. Worse still, a new, steady-paced pack may be required before the game registers your current position. The final result is the classic elastic.
The difference between packet loss and burst is worth mentioning. Loss occurs when packets simply disappear and the game has to retrieve a new packet from the server. With bursts, all the information has come to your network; it is simply sent to the PC or console improperly.
Is there any way to fix the packet burst?
This is where the bad news comes in: There is no simple solution to packet bursting. It is only difficult to diagnose, as it could be caused by any number of modem or router settings. Your best bet, if it works, is to simply switch to a wired Ethernet connection. A wired connection should ignore any faulty port settings or WiFi packet management protocols.
Then again, it may not. Routers and modems vary widely, and there is no general solution that applies to all. Also, looking at the volume of community bug reports, it appears that packet burst is an almost unique Call of Duty issue in the game space. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that it is not your network to blame, but rather the interaction between your network hardware and the game's servers. This is because the packet burst appears in all of the latest Call of Duty games, including Warzone and Black Ops Cold War.
It's best to face the facts: if your home network works flawlessly for everything but Call of Duty, then your network isn't really to blame for the packet burst in Call of Duty. Game servers are. And in the end, all you can do is wait and hope for the best.
Switching to a wired Ethernet connection is the best potential solution, assuming it is possible. Otherwise, the real solution to packet burst could be anything. It could be a faulty option buried under a wave of NAT-like settings, forwarded ports, or other WiFi options that aren't even guaranteed to work. Like so many other Call of Duty errors, this is likely one that the developers will have to fix on their own. However, it couldn't hurt to stop at Activision Support and explain what's going on.
