Cloud gaming has been a hot topic of discussion for decades and has only grown in the last couple of years. All the major companies in the video gaming industry, such as Sony and Microsoft, have already been trying their hands at it, but it hasn’t been easy. There have been several hardships that cloud gaming technology has faced, including difficulty competing with PC and console gaming.
However, it seems to be changing as the service has seen a major boost in growth with the expanded player base and availability in more regions, and this is mainly because of technological advancements, faster internet speeds, and more service providers, among other things. The reception to cloud gaming seemingly hints that it is the imminent future of gaming, and that might be a good thing.
What Is Cloud Gaming, and Why Is It a Good Thing?
Cloud gaming is basically playing games with the help of the internet without the need for a high-end rig or an expensive console. It is also known as game streaming or on-demand gaming, as you stream games on your device from a data server. It uses cloud computing technology, allowing players to play any game, no matter how demanding they are, on any device, whether it is a mobile phone, PC, laptop, or television. This is exactly like Netflix or Prime Video, but for video games.
There are several cloud streaming service providers on the market now, such as Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia’s GeForce Now, Sony’s PlayStation Now, and Google Stadia, which could have been mentioned here as well, but the service went defunct earlier last year. The service providers allow players to visit their sites using browsers or provide users with apps to play the games. PlayStation also has Remote Play, allowing players to stream games on any device.
The games support controllers, a mouse, and a keyboard, so players can play as they would on a PC or console. Some games are also touch-supported to make playing on mobile devices easy. To play the games, all you need to do is sign up, subscribe as per your wishes, ensure a fast internet connection, and crack on. That’s how simple and easy it is. You don’t even need to worry about the space on your device, as you never need to download the games.
The cloud computing gaming services are pretty cheap as well, so there is no need to shell out hundreds of dollars for GPUs or consoles; just a few mere dollars for monthly or yearly subscriptions, and you’re good to go. Nvidia GeForce Now was launched back in 2015 and currently has over 20 million players and over 1500 games with connections to digital PC game stores.
PlayStation Now from Sony allows players to play any games from the PS2 era on any device and currently has over 108 million active monthly users. Xbox Cloud Gaming comes with its Game Pass subscription service and has over 25 million players. There are several other cloud gaming service providers, such as Amazon Luna, Shadow, and more.
The player counts for the service make it evident that cloud gaming is growing rapidly. The expansion of high-speed internet technology allows players to easily stream and play games without waiting for hours to load and download them. One other major feature behind the service boom is that players can pay for the game across several devices, not just the one they initially started playing.
More and more players have started to opt for cloud gaming, and major publishers have acknowledged that it will grow. Xbox recently brought its cloud gaming services to Meta Quest VR headsets, allowing players to access the Game Pass library and play the available games by subscribing to the Game Pass Ultimate subscription plan.
While it is all very appealing, cloud gaming is not without its challenges that pose a threat to its growth and whether it can ever reach the full potential that the service providers are aiming for.
What Are the Limitations of Cloud Gaming, and Is It the Future of Video Gaming?
Cloud gaming has indeed grown exponentially, but there are several challenges in the way of the best experience that is intended. One of the major issues that players face with game streaming is the internet connection, as it requires a fast and stable connection and not all are equipped with it.
Major game streaming services such as Nvidia GeForce Now and xCloud require a minimum bandwidth of 15 megabits per second to stream games at 720p resolution. Players require a stable connection bandwidth of 50 megabits per second to be able to stream the games at their best quality.
If the players do not have a fast connection, it results in latency issues that cause lags, delayed responses, and compressed video quality. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi congestion in the area is also a major issue. Although this issue will be sorted out in the next few years, there is still time.
Moreover, the games that players can access and play are now owned by them but just subscribed to monthly, so players looking for control and ownership of titles are often left disappointed. Players often want to finish the games they start if they are worth the while, and there are chances of games being removed due to the end of licensing deals.
Modding is also not possible, and it might not be a big deal for casual gamers, but many look at it as a con. Cloud gaming technology also doesn’t support all the games right now. It is also subscription-based, so not every player can afford it, even if it’s cheaper than getting a console or high-end PC. Now, is cloud gaming the future of video gaming? It is a complex question.
Cloud gaming as a service sounds great even though it comes with more negatives than positives, but as a replacement, it might not be the time yet. Although it is said that the service might replace traditional gaming with PCs and consoles, it is not necessary because many like to own a video game disk or console and even prefer it over digital downloads. We have seen how console sales have broken records, and it tells a lot about console gaming and ownership.
Lastly, it is possible that cloud gaming will thrive well alongside PC and console gaming in the coming future. It is a personal choice for players if they want to play games on the cloud or continue on PC and console. Casual gamers with low-end PCs and not wanting to spend more might choose cloud gaming, but regular players might stick with their usual playstyle. The service is surely growing, but there is plenty of time before it overtakes traditional gaming.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
