Cloud gaming is not a new concept but was something that was never really taken seriously by many in the gaming industry because the technology just wasn’t quite there. All that seems to be changing now though with technology giants Microsoft and Google among those who have publicly announced that they are investing in cloud gaming.
But what is cloud gaming? Cloud gaming is the move away from the classic disc and hard drive setup and towards a sort of steaming approach, in a shift that is similar to the way that Netflix made Blockbuster obsolete. This is a move towards an entirely digital system that will be able to connect players to their favorite games with just the click of a button.
It is a similar concept to the recent explosion of interest in online bingo, slots, roulette, and . Gone are the days when you had to visit a town hall or casino in order to play your favorite games – the future is here and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.
Betting isn’t something that has to be done at your local bookmakers, it can be done at home now too. Soccer, along with football and horse racing, is a really popular sport to bet on and the move towards digital betting and gambling has made it so much more accessible.
Who is Leading The Way?
Google’s new cloud gaming service, Stadia, seems to be the biggest player in this new, rapidly growing industry right now and has arguably stolen the lead from Microsoft and Sony. This is no doubt partly because Google has much of the existing infrastructure needed as well as a huge amount of knowledge regarding cloud storage and data transfer.
What is Stadia?
Google’s Stadia is essentially a games console that can be accessed from any device – similarly to how Netflix is in all but name a digital DVD player. Upon launch, Stadia was available on all PC and laptop devices with Chrome installed, on Google’s own brand of mobile devices, and on televisions with a Google Chromecast HDMI dongle inserted.
How Much Does it Cost?
Google’s Stadia is accessible using and doesn’t fully move away from the traditional way of gaming – yet. Users can pay a monthly subscription of $9.99 for Stadia Pro and then be able to access the Stadia library. Users can also pay for games at full price from the Stadia store and then play without a subscription.
Who Else is There?
Microsoft’s project is a similar option for console gamers and allows Microsoft subscribers to access their favorite games on a variety of devices. This year the company is currently testing the software so that it can eventually be played via a web browser. It is not quite there yet, but they are not too far off where they want to be.
Why is Cloud Gaming So Exciting?
The move towards cloud-based gaming will make the industry much more accessible for so many people. Essentially, in order to get online and gaming, you will eventually need a subscription for your preferred gaming provider, and (likely) a controller that is compatible with the said provider – DualShock for Sony, etc.
This move towards the cloud will also improve the online experience for the gamer as it will (again likely) allow for better cross-platform gaming and remove the need for a gamer to buy a specific console so that they can access the exclusive titles.
As great as exclusives can be for the manufacturers, it can be a big turn-off for gamers who aren’t willing to buy another console when they already have a working console. This move towards a cloud-based subscription model will remove this issue for most.
What Are The Drawbacks?
One of the most notable drawbacks when it comes to cloud gaming is the lack of high-speed internet infrastructure in much of the United States. NDP reported in 2020 that approximately 30% of households in the United States do not have any kind of broadband access while many more do not have 5G or 5G equivalent access.
Another notable drawback is the data privacy issues that come up fairly frequently. If you are an old-school gamer, you might remember how common it was for hackers to gain access to your account and cause havoc on the game you were playing.
Now just imagine what could happen if all your games were stored on that one system and didn’t need to have the disc inserted for it to be accessed. It must be said that huge progress has been made in recent years with regards to data privacy but it is still a concern for many.
Final Thoughts
There is a case to be made that this move is just a continuation of what has been happening over the past few years with subscriptions becoming the norm if you wish to play online while Xbox users can pay an additional few dollars a month for the Ultimate Pass, giving subscribers access to a huge library of downloadable content.
This could also work out cheaper with the need to buy expensive pieces of hardware seemingly becoming a thing of the past. All you would need is a compatible console, mobile device, computer, or dongle and a subscription if you wanted to play. While newer consoles would seemingly be needed for some high spec games, it would not be entirely necessary.
Bandwidth could and likely initially will be an issue though, with some online games using 3GB per hour being an obstacle for gamers who have limited broadband or mobile bandwidth plans. This could be overcome by continuing to use consoles but with most gamers likely to want to try this new way of gaming, there will surely be teething problems.
What do you think of cloud gaming? Will you stick with the ol’ reliable console way of playing or are you excited to embrace the future of online gaming?