“The future is already here — it's just not very evenly distributed.” - William Gibson
In earlier times, having an internet connection in the home computer was considered a luxury but In this new digital era, almost every person has access to it on their smartphones. This is because the starting prices of Smartphones aren't too expensive, and many telecommunications companies are providing internet at very cheap rates.
With this, there is a rise in the popularity of mobile gaming. But still, there was a gap between mobile games and PC/console games. To make the device portable, smartphones cannot be as powerful as PCs or consoles, so AAA titles like GTA, Assassin's Creed, etc. cannot be run on smartphones. To overcome this shortcoming, there is a new solution: cloud gaming, where the player, without downloading the game to their device, can play the game on any device that has a display and supports an internet connection. No high-end configuration is needed. This innovation opens a lot of possibilities for mobile/portable gaming.
Cloud gaming, often known as game streaming, refers to playing online video games on a remote server in a data centre. Cloud gaming, also known as gaming on demand or gaming as a service, is built on the idea of being able to play the most recent games available from a variety of devices as long as you have a good internet connection and a membership to a cloud gaming provider.
Did you know that people are searching for ways on the internet to play their favourite high-end PC and console games on their smartphones? Data says that the search term "GTA 5 Mobile" has had 368k searches in the past year. One of the biggest problems with gamers is that they do not own and cannot afford a high-end gaming PC, as they are very expensive. Cloud gaming solves this problem, as any high-end games can be played on any device with a display and supports an internet connection. It offers many more advantages, like instant plug-and-play without downloading or installing the games. It can also stream all types of games made for different platforms like PC, PS5, etc. With Cloud gaming, there is no need to always update PCs or buy the latest consoles to be able to play the latest high-end games.
With a monthly subscription model, cloud gaming is far more economical than owning a high-end PC or console which makes it a suitable platform for casual gamers, as they are those people who like to play games but see it as a time pass. Those people will never spend money on high-end PCs or consoles just to play games.
Cloud gaming has become a promising alternative to PC and console gaming. It is not without shortcomings, Latency remains a significant concern which leads to delays between user input and on-screen action, particularly noticeable in fast-paced games. Additionally, cloud gaming is heavily dependent on a stable and high-speed internet connection, making it inaccessible to users in areas with poor connectivity. Moreover, while cloud gaming offers convenience and affordability, players do not own the games they play, raising concerns about ownership rights and potential loss of access if the platform shuts down.
To say the least, cloud gaming has lessened the difference between complex computer/console games and mobile games, giving all players no matter their skill level easy access and convenience. Though this approach offers affordable flexibility, problems like delays, reliance on the internet, and not truly owning games continue. For cloud gaming to completely satisfy and engage people, technologists must solve these challenges by improving speed, reducing internet reliance, and finding ways for players to own what they buy. Only then can everyone enjoy gaming without interruption or limits.
