The Future of Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming is no longer just an abstract idea; services like Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now already stream games that rival high-end console and PC hardware for an affordable subscription fee.
Gaming online can reduce the costs for those who would otherwise struggle to afford it, opening it up to those who may otherwise not be able to. But this can bring with it new challenges as well.
How Games Are Played
Cloud-based services such as Stadia and Amazon Luna offer an alternative to traditional console and PC gaming that doesn't rely on dedicated hardware to work, by streaming games directly onto devices via high-speed Internet connections instead. They allow gamers to avoid buying costly local hardware by streamlining games to any screen or device they own at anytime and from any location.
Gaming becomes much more accessible to people who may not be able to afford the latest hardware, or who prefer mobile or portable devices for playing. Furthermore, gamers no longer need to upgrade their equipment every few years like with consoles or PCs.
Cloud gaming enables developers to craft unique games that would otherwise be impossible on local hardware, including branching plots and personalized gameplay options that require customized solutions. This paves the way for new business models that widen gamer audiences beyond a core group of hardware enthusiasts.
How Games Are Distributed
Game streaming (or gaming as a service) enables gamers to access online video games via remote servers located in data centers without the need for expensive PCs and consoles. Compatible devices (PC, smart TV, mobile phone or tablets), an active subscription with the provider of service provider as well as fast internet are required for gameplay.
Services such as Google Stadia and Xbox Cloud Gaming provide gaming from high-end GPUs directly to compatible devices at higher frame rates than traditional hardware would allow. Users can access these services on computers, smart TVs and smartphones using appropriate software or apps.
With the right hosting solution in place, cloud gaming can enrich player experiences to the next level. DigitalOcean provides game developers with flexible Droplets to managed Kubernetes platforms - start your server today on DigitalOcean and experience cloud gaming firsthand!
How Game Developers Develop
Cloud gaming enables gamers to experience top-quality games on less powerful devices by moving some processing tasks off to servers and onto them directly.
As soon as a user interacts with the game (pressing a button or moving their mouse), their inputs are immediately sent back to the server and encoded into video frames, providing for a responsive gaming experience.
Google Stadia was the world's initial major attempt at mainstream cloud gaming, but due to a poor launch product and sales model it failed spectacularly. Heavyweights like Microsoft and Sony then picked up where Google left off with leading cloud gaming services like PlayStation Now and Xbox Game Pass offering popular titles with no hardware commitment required - as well as some unique gaming features like Edge integration for Xbox integration, Clarity Boost for crisp graphics and Efficiency mode for faster gameplay.
How Game Publishers Develop
Cloud gaming requires a steady exchange of input data between servers and players. Once received, this data must be processed quickly by the server in order to update game state quickly, before sending back video frames directly back out to players - all without incurring latency issues.
Streaming games use large quantities of data to simulate realistic environments. Microsoft Flight Simulator broadcasts high-fidelity, real world terrain and weather information in order to provide an authentic flying experience.
Computing power is helping to lower the cost of streaming games, leading to lower subscription services that combine traditional console and PC gaming with streaming technology in order to lower consumer costs.
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