The basic premise of cloud gaming is simple: in the same vein as being able to stream movies and TV shows on Netflix or music on Spotify, cloud gaming allows one to stream video games over an internet connection. In this case, the company's remote server does all the game's graphical processing, while the player supplies the expected inputs of pressing buttons, tilting analog sticks, and/or swiping with a mouse.
There are two major benefits of this. For the developer, they don't need to worry about creating a title that's too powerful for consumer hardware to run without going up in flames. As long as their computers and servers can handle all the required computational and graphical work, then they can do whatever they wish and people will still be able to play it on a budget smartphone and a mobile game controller. Meanwhile, since all the user is doing is sending back controller inputs, they don't need to spend a substantial amount of money on buying or upgrading to the latest computer or game console in order to experience the game, and can thus stick to using that aforementioned budget smartphone if they so choose.
The use of cloud gaming ranges from individual titles within a digital storefront (e.g., the Nintendo Switch has a number of games, such as Control and Hitman 3, that are only available as "Cloud Versions" due to being unable to run naively on the hardware) to entire subscription services and platforms based on the model (e.g. Xbox Cloud Gaming and Amazon Luna). Most cloud gaming services are presently supplemental parts of larger platforms and/or subject to regional availability.
Despite the noted benefits, cloud gaming comes with a notable downside that even fervent supporters acknowledge: more than any form of content streaming, it is subject to the whims of the user's internet connection. Unlike a film or music track, video games are interactive and rely on user input. As such, data cannot be preloaded for smooth playback, as it needs to run in real-time to react to everything the player is doing, whether it's navigating the menus, fighting an enemy, or running aimlessly in circles. A poor internet connection can and will mean buffering and latency, which in turns means a frustrating play session. The vast differences in internet infrastructure both between countries and within them has continued to serve as the biggest deterrent for the widespread adoption of cloud gaming, even as internet availability continues to improve globally.
Related to cloud gaming is "remote play", where users are able to remotely access and play the video games they own by having their home computer or video game console act as the "remote server" streaming content to their phone/tablet over the internet. The same concerns regarding internet stability apply to remote play as well.
Examples of Cloud Gaming Services
Current
- Apple Arcade - A mobile game subscription service from Apple that uses iCloud to sync progress across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS. Games on the service are under exclusivity agreements wherein they cannot be ported to other mobile platforms, though they can be ported to PC or console after approximately a year.
- Amazon Luna
- A subscription streaming service from Amazon utilizing their AWS cloud platform, with various additional tiers that include content from publishers such as Ubisoft. The service includes Twitch integration, with subscribers being able to directly launch into games available in the Luna library if watching someone that's currently streaming the title.
- AntStream Arcade: A retro gaming subscription service focused on arcade and 8-bit computer/console titles, with a small number of SNES and PlayStation 1 games as well. Has a free tier with limited daily plays, and a paid tier which allows unlimited plays.
- GeForce Now: Available for PC and mobile devices. As of 2023, the service is available in several countries through partnerships, with regional restrictions as a result (e.g., in Malaysia, the service institutes a a queue and limits play time to four hour chunks).
- Netflix: Introduced a gaming section in 2021, originally exclusive to Android, with several titles being self-published licensed games relating to their original film and TV catalog.
- PlayStation Plus: Originally a standalone service known as PlayStation Now, it was merged into the Premium tier of Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service. Only available in North America, Europe, Australasia and the Far East.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming: A streaming service for Xbox games. Currently in Beta and open to Gamepass Ultimate holders from West Europe, Australiasia, Far East Asia and North America.
Defunct
- Gaikai (2011-2012; acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment to become PlayStation Now)
- Google Stadia (2019-2023)
- OnLive (2009-2012; 2014-2015)
Examples of Remote Play software
Current
Defunct
- In the late 2010s, AMD and Nvidia introduced remote play services (AMD Link and Nvidia GameStream, respectively) built right in to their drivers for their graphics cards, the former working with all Android devices and the latter only with the company's Shield TV set top box, handheld, and tablets. Both would be discontinued by 2024 and be removed from future driver packages.
