Gaming industry news flash: Google’s Stadia and Microsoft’s xCloud are about to transform video gaming with new cloud streaming technologies. These brand-new products will let users instantly access a variety of high-end games and play them across different devices.
The gaming market involves over 2.3 billion consumers half of which are used to playing games on mobile phones. Consoles and PCs, in contrast, account for only 22% and 24% of the global games market correspondingly. Though the video game industry continues to grow, further overshadowing music and TV, people still give preference to mobile phones because they do not require extra investment and always remain on hand.
The upcoming release of both stream gaming platforms will enable any person to enjoy PC and console games on their phones and tablets without the need to buy gaming equipment and pay for a specific game in addition. This new gaming technology will lead to major changes in the video game industry that will become more flexible and completely accessible worldwide.
Let’s delve into the changes we are going to experience soon.
1. Democratized gaming
The main trouble with PCs and consoles is the lack of mobility. You basically cannot carry them around to play each time you happen to have an extra hour. Cloud-based gaming will mark a new epoch in the history of video games by allowing any player to get involved in adventures that were impossible before. Just imagine that you will be able to play your wished-for video games wherever you go. There will be no more troubles with extension cables and ports because all players will have instant access to their own virtual gaming library that works on any device that has a screen and Wi-Fi.
2. Low-cost pricing
Have you ever found yourself baffled by what to buy next with a budget of $200, a new graphic card or console? Yes, console and PC gaming is costly and requires regular investment that lets you keep up with updates and enjoy the latest additions. Microsoft’s and Google’s projects, however, are about to revolutionize pricing models that are currently applied on the gaming market. They will most probably charge one single fee for full access to a series of high-end video games gathered there. As a result, game streaming services will be a lot more attractive option and engage the masses of consumers who are willing to benefit from AAA games but cannot afford to pay for them right now.
3. Digital distribution
The rise of virtual game streaming will entail substantial changes in how video games are distributed. More consumers will forget about storage media they purchase in stores now and then. The sales of physical PC and video games have drastically declined in the last year. Improved access to video game development eventually will make it extinct. Giant video-game publishers will just give up spending tons of money on manufacturing and shipping of video games that will be easily accessible on cloud-streaming platforms and besides at a lower price. Consumers won’t have to stand in line to buy their favorite games first because it will be one click away. This simple virtual interaction between customers and video game companies will boost a considerable increase in sales and further growth of the video game industry globally.
4. New requirements
However, the major difficulty with this technology lies in latency that may occur when users do not have relevant equipment that can deliver a good Internet speed and high-quality image resolution. This is why both Stadia and xCloud will require gamers to have essential rig that could prevent game lag problems. Since people involved with cloud streaming gaming can be thousands of miles away from each other, there will always be a delay in a fraction of a second between players. Poor equipment can increase this delay in data transition which may have a huge effect on the game’s outcome. A cloud streaming gamer should have at least the 25mbps Internet connection and full HD screen resolution to excel at video gaming.
5. Fiercer rivalry
Microsoft and Google are not concerned with a video game player’s needs alone. Another aspiration of each giant is to become a mighty video game service provider controlling all populations, including those that are now deprived of effective infrastructure. The market involving over 30% of the global population will allure even more players, which might spark a stronger competition between existing and new video game actors. For example, after the 2019 E3 conference, Walmart has decided to take Google’s lead and now is thinking over developing its own video game streaming service.
6. Regulations
The mobile game streaming is only beginning to take off, but it has already become a major threat to the PC and console market share. With regard to changes that are going to affect the global games market, some governments are concerned over the authority that cloud gaming service providers are going to gain by engaging more and more players in their platforms. The most urgent issues are connected to user’s data safety and confidentiality as well as anti-competitive measures that could slow down the growth and supremacy of few players on the global market.
7. What can we expect from video games in the future?
Video games are the number one activity across the globe. Their diversity is vast enough to suit each gamer’s liking. At this very moment, the majority of regular game players have limited access to all video gaming options offered on the market. The brand-new cloud gaming technology incorporated in Stadia and xCloud will bring about more freedom for all users who take care of high-end video games. These cloud streaming platforms will open up more opportunities and make the video game industry more flexible for mature players and more riveting for individuals who have shown minor interest in video gaming before.
About the Author: Betty Lockwood is a journalist, blogger, mobile apps developer, fintech expert and caring mother. She writes about informational technologies, news in the video gaming world, traveling, yoga, and music events. Betty is also an editor-in-chief of Computools. Follow Betty on Twitter.