The rise in internet usage around the world is driving the gaming industry to provide better quality games and content to the consumer in the form of cloud gaming. Cloud gaming works like an online streaming platform that allows customers or gamers to connect and play with other local devices connected to through cloud services with reliable internet connectivity.
The cloud gaming sector is the next generation of the gaming industry which brings cloud computing and gaming experience together. Advancements in network infrastructure will allow uninterrupted augmented reality and virtual reality transmission. This is very beneficial for the global cloud gaming industry which is expected to reach USD 41.11 Billion by 2030.
What Is Cloud Gaming?
Cloud gaming is playing video games without actually downloading and installing games on a user PC or console. It uses the remote servers available in the data centers for online gaming, but gamers can see and interact with everything locally on your device. It works just like any other streaming platform except that cloud gaming servers can pick and react to user inputs.
Cloud gaming has reduced the need for extra hardware like gaming consoles or the need of buying new devices for upgraded gaming versions. It only requires a reliable, high-speed internet connection. This way it benefits gamers and game developers, as it reduces the cost of buying and maintaining hardware. It also enables consumers to access their data and games through devices using cloud computing.
The essential goal of cloud gaming is to make the high-end gaming experiences cheaper and simpler to access.
How Does Cloud Gaming Work?
Cloud gaming is a kind of streaming service that provides high-quality online games at the cost of internet bandwidth and server capacity. Such services are generally operated on a subscription basis, where the user pays for access to advanced hardware to stream content. User’s subscription gives them access to a remote high-performance gaming computer that is capable of playing any PC game.
These services often provide dedicated or web-based apps to stream games and are usually compatible with the latest controllers via Bluetooth, along with the traditional mouse and keyboard setup. On devices with touch screens such as phones and tablets, users can play games with the on-screen controls option. On the cloud side, each service handles its servers a little differently.
This way the user is typically borrowing a small amount of computing horsepower from what is essentially a supercomputer. Here servers handle the game rendering while sending you a video stream of the end result. The game updates on the basis of user or player inputs. Cloud gaming services need a two-way data street which means user inputs travel to the server, and the server sends back a video stream.
There are different types of subscription services available for cloud gaming. Some cloud service providers limit the games you can play using their platform based on their subscription plans and what you opt to pay for. While other platforms or service providers may charge you on the basis of hours or minutes to access their remote hardware.
Difference Between Game Subscription Service and Game-Streaming Service?
While game-streaming services and game subscription services seem to be the same thing, there are a few distinct features that classify them as two different cloud gaming modules.
- Game streaming is similar to other types of streaming platforms such as Netflix, except instead of streaming shows and movies, you’re streaming games. Users do not need to install updates or worry about file sizes or expensive hardware requirements.
- In game subscriptions, users pay for access to a vault of games you download and play locally on your device. Game subscriptions themselves don’t utilize streaming. Here users have full access to all games that fall under its chosen subscription plan.
Future Scope of Cloud Gaming
Adaptation of 5G technology will put forward better opportunities for developments in cloud technology which will surely have an impact on the cloud gaming industry. Already existing gaming companies are focusing more research and development to provide the best gaming experience to be in the lead. Advancements in mobile phone technology will also help the cloud gaming industry to reach more users globally.
