The Future of Cloud Gaming and Game Streaming

Learn more about the latest advancements in online gaming technology, with a focus on the future of cloud gaming and game streaming services.

12:17 04 August 2021

Breaking Down the Future of Cloud Gaming

 

The way technology changes means that people can find it difficult to keep up with the latest advancements in the gaming industry. There was a time when playing high-definition games on a console changed the dynamic for gamers. Remember?

 

Online gaming and mobile gaming have gone through similar transformations, with people able to play any game under the sun on their iPad or smartphone. And now, the latest changes to gaming are coming in the form of game streaming services. Below is a rundown of the future of cloud gaming and how it may impact various sectors of the industry.

 

Playing Games Online

 

The idea of enjoying video games online is not new. Whether we are talking about arcade games, online poker, first-person shooter games, or casual card games, these options have existed for many years. Even though the idea of online gaming may have seemed odd to people who grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s, Generation Z gamers only know a world where they can play nearly every game online.

 

The reason online gaming is such a sea change for the industry is because of how companies can market their products.Rather than selling a single game to a person, which they might play for one year or several years, companies can sell microtransactions. That means if a person wants a specific item in-game, or to play a particular game mode, they may have to pay more money. That is on top of buying the game itself.

 

Such strategies have been growing over the past few years, but they could go to an entirely different level in the coming decade.

 

Streaming Video Games: What Does It Mean?

 

When we think about streaming, our minds go to services such as Netflix and Hulu. The concept of streaming may revolve around movies, television shows and YouTube, but streaming can also apply to games.

 

Imagine a situation where a person does not have the latest gaming console, laptop or desktop. They cannot access the latest games at their best settings, as the hardware is outdated. A game streaming service could change the dynamic for people who are in such a position. Rather than needing to spend roughly $500 on a console or even more money on a new computer, they could subscribe to a games streaming service.

 

The advantage of such a service is that you pay a set fee per month, which includes unlimited hours of game streaming. Some games are included in the package, while others you may have to buy separately to use with the service.

Services such as Xbox All Access and Geforce Now from Nvidia show that companies want to focus on subscription services and game streaming above all other methods of attracting customers. Nearly every company is trying their hand at streaming video games, including Google. Their Stadia service is not a resounding success as yet, but there are many promising signs that show Google is serious about establishing itself in the gaming sector.

 

How Gaming Companies Benefit from Streaming

 

There are several reasons why game streaming services present an exciting opportunity for the gaming industry. The first reason is that it allows them to reach an even wider audience than before.

 

Someone who is into casual gaming may choose online games on Facebook or mobile games. They might enjoy gaming, but are not sure that investing in a console or gaming computer is the right move.

 

Being able to use a game streaming service would give such a person access to state-of-the-art video games for a low monthly cost. They would also have next to no hardware costs, aside from having any modern computer, phone, or console.

 

Game streaming services also tie in users into a single platform, as all their games would be present in the library of the service they use most often. Those players would likely remain loyal to the service, rather than buying games from whichever streaming service offers the lowest price.

 

Does Streaming Impact Online Gambling?

 

The online betting industry does notice an impact when there are changes within the gaming sector. Even though games such as poker, blackjack, and roulette are casino games, they are also played by millions of people on their computers and smartphones.

 

Present versions of these games do not require a lot of graphics power to run. If you open up the best online poker game on an iPhone or a quality online casino application on a Windows computer, the program would run perfectly fine on nearly any modern device.

 

Game streaming does present opportunities for online casinos. By leveraging streaming, they could make it even easier for people to enjoy these games online. Everything would be hosted on servers, while people log into their accounts on the online casino website to access different games. Next to no graphics power would be required from the players’ computers, as the server handles everything.

 

Stream Your Favorite Games Today

 

Even though game streaming services are in their infancy, they already include many exciting features.

 

People who live in areas with good internet connection, and have the ability to connect to the internet with an Ethernet cable, can enjoy very good experiences while streaming games.

 

If you rely on Wi-Fi to connect to the internet, or the ISPs in your area are not the best, you may have to wait a few years before you can make the most of game streaming. Otherwise, you can enjoy all your favorite services today.