Cloud gaming: the untapped future of the video game industry?

In November 2019, Google launched Stadia. Its streaming-based gaming platform was supposed to be an innovative solution that would revolutionize the video game industry.

In January 2023, barely three years later, the Google Stadia project came to an end. Yet, theoretically, the concept had everything going for it. And above all, it was supposed to be a remedy to the skyrocketing prices of gaming equipment that gamers face today!

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Google Stadia: End of servers 😥 #googlestadia #stadia #cloudgaming #gamingindustry

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Video game streaming: understanding the principle

Cloud gaming is a technology that allows you to play video games streamed over the internet on any screen, without needing to download the game or own a powerful machine. The game runs on remote servers located in data centers, and the images are transmitted in real time to the user's screen.

Cloud gaming thus offers several advantages compared to traditional gaming methods:

• It allows you to play recent and high-performance games on inexpensive and compact devices, such as smartphones, tablets or connected TVs.
• It makes games more accessible and easier to use, since there is no need to wait for games to download, install, or update.
• It promotes player mobility and flexibility, allowing them to access their favorite games from anywhere and at any time, provided they have a stable and sufficient internet connection.

Numerous cloud gaming services still operate despite Stadia's demise. Some are tied to existing video game products and services, while others take a more innovative approach or have more modest ambitions than Google and its Stadia project.

Who are the current players in cloud gaming?

Cloud gaming is a rapidly growing market, attracting numerous players from various sectors. Three types of players can be distinguished:

• Video game giants offer cloud gaming services linked to their own platforms and game catalogs. This is the case with Sony with PlayStation Now , Microsoft with Xbox Game Pass and xCloud , and Electronic Arts with Origin Access .
• Web giants are seeking to position themselves in the cloud gaming market by leveraging their expertise in cloud computing and streaming. Examples include Amazon with Luna and Nvidia with GeForce Now .
• Innovative startups are developing original cloud gaming solutions tailored to gamers' needs. This is the case with Shadow , a French company that offers a customizable cloud gaming service compatible with all PC games.

What are the advantages of cloud gaming?

This technology offers numerous advantages. First and foremost, it significantly reduces the performance requirements for playing games, even the latest titles known for their resource-intensive nature. In other words, any computer capable of basic streaming can play video games via streaming without much difficulty.

Another advantage relates to the size of video game libraries. By streaming games, you no longer need to download games that weigh tens of gigabytes. You can simply connect to virtual machine instances where these games are already available to start a gaming session.

It might seem like a technology too good to be true, or a recent revolution whose contours we haven't yet fully grasped. Yet, in various industries, it's already the norm. This is the case for online casinos and their software developers, who have been operating this way for quite some time. This website, which focuses on online casinos, can help you learn more about the subject.

The limitations of video game streaming

Cloud gaming is not without its flaws. It also has some drawbacks that can hinder its adoption by gamers. Among them are:

• Internet connection dependency : Cloud gaming requires a stable and fast internet connection to guarantee good image quality and low latency. However, not all players have such a connection, particularly in rural areas or developing countries.
• Loss of control : The player doesn't actually own the games they stream. They depend on the proper functioning and reliability of the cloud gaming services. They also risk losing their saved data or personalized settings in the event of a technical problem or a change in service.
• Limited functionality : Cloud gaming doesn't always allow access to all game features, such as local multiplayer, modding, or virtual reality. It can also cause compatibility issues with certain devices or software.
• Unfair competition : Cloud gaming can create an imbalance between players using this technology and those playing on their own hardware. Indeed, the former may benefit from a graphical or technical advantage that gives them an edge over the latter.

Clearly, video game streaming technology isn't without its drawbacks. Otherwise, platforms like Stadia wouldn't have gone under in just a few years. One of the major obstacles Google cited to explain the project's abandonment was the lack of user adoption.

Indeed, in an industry dominated by giants like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo, it's virtually impossible to introduce a new concept that could gain traction. This is especially true given that the lack of a physical console and the subscription model were already significant barriers. It's worth noting that the used game market is a thriving niche industry that would have disappeared with the widespread adoption of game streaming.

What are the future projects for cloud gaming?

Cloud gaming is still a developing sector, promising numerous innovations and advancements in the coming years. Future cloud gaming projects include:

• Improving the quality of service through the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence , machine learning , or 5G .
• The broadening of the target audience, thanks to the diversification of offers and content provided by cloud gaming players.
• The creation of new forms of games and interactive entertainment, which could only exist using cloud streaming.

Conclusion

 In short, cloud gaming, or video game streaming, is a promising technology. Admittedly, it will never be the norm as long as internet connection quality remains so variable from one region to another. However, there's no doubt that the concept is viable and can influence the future of the video game industry. We can simply conclude that Stadia was a good project that suffered from clumsy execution.