As gaming consoles and PCs get increasingly expensive, AAA titles swell in filesize as expandable storage is at a premium, and GPUs struggle to keep up with game graphics, the temptation to abandon the status quo and just…play is huge. No downloads, no updates, no expensive plastic box required: that’s the promise of cloud gaming. But can it deliver? Let’s find out!
Cloud gaming claims to confer the ability to play anything, anywhere, as long as you have a screen and a solid internet connection.
What is cloud gaming?
It’s a simple concept: your local PC or console isn’t doing the grunt work of processing the game: it’s running on a massive, super-powered server in a data center miles away. Every time you input a command, it shoots over the internet, is processed by the server, and then streamed back to your device. Like Netflix, if you were the one directing the action.
Who’s working on this? NVIDIA GeForce NOW lets you stream the PC games you already own. Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming has a massive rotating library of titles through Game Pass Ultimate. Sony’s PlayStation Plus Premium lets you stream everything, from modern hits to PS2 classics. You can rent your entire gaming experience instead of buying, and with games getting more expensive, will this become the primary way people play?
The good, the bad, and the lag
Perks of cloud gaming: instant play, no storage issues, completely platform-agnostic. Casual gamers rejoice! However, there’s a significant Achilles’ heel—the internet connection. Spotty Wi-Fi or a shared service can turn your game into a blurry, stuttering mess.
Then of course, there’s the issue of “input lag”. Less of an issue in casual, story-driven or turn-based games, but those playing hardcore, competitive FPS may find their pixel-perfect headshot impossible to achieve with the delay between their button press and the action on screen.
Other issues include the compression of the visuals. In terms of visual fidelity, cloud gaming simply won’t compare to running a game off local hardware. The matter of ownership is also a problem: cloud streaming means owning zero of your games, means being at the mercy of subscription libraries and changing licenses. Your ability to play your favorite series can vanish overnight.
Some people will find cloud gaming their best way to play: accessible pricing and expansive game libraries are appealing if your internet is up to the task. However, it hasn’t taken off like many thought it might. Some would say that serious gamers still find the drawbacks too pronounced. Those seeking a more premium gaming experience (full visual fidelity, responsive input, offline play, owning your own media).
While the cloud isn’t conquering the gaming world today, it’s still giving us new options for play. Are you a yes or a no or cloud gaming? Let us know below!
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0:00 Intro
0:39 What is cloud gaming?
1:36 The good, the bad, and the laggy
3:25 Outro
