How to choose Cloud Gaming

PC and consoles remain the platforms of choice for gamers. However, more and more fans of the pixel and polygon universe are turning to Cloud Gaming as a revolutionary alternative. After all, streaming used in video games is a technology that is no longer in the experimental phase, and which currently has a few players competing for the attention of an audience who, thanks to these services, may be able to approach the world of games with a “gentler” approach.

Cloud gaming platforms, by definition, will actually cut costs by eliminating next-generation consoles and fairly expensive computers from the necessary purchases to enjoy one title or another. This is an advantage that must not be overlooked, but must meet certain conditions to fully enjoy our favorite video games. In this guide, we will discover what cloud gaming is, and above all, what are the main services that offer the ability to play games on all devices in our homes, and which of them offer the tastiest package for each player profile.

Cloud Gaming: What It Is And How It Works

Cloud Gaming, sometimes called on-demand gaming or gaming-as-a-service, is a service that can be simplified compared to what we see every day on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney +. Intended for video games only. There is no doubt that various streaming game platforms rely entirely on the web to run video games on remote servers and stream them directly to the user’s device or, more colloquially, play remotely from the cloud.

Acting similar to remote desktops and video-on-demand services, catalog titles are stored and run remotely on the provider’s dedicated hardware, then sent as video to the player’s device via the client. The client handles the player’s input, which is then sent to the same server and performed in-game as actual in-game actions.

You will also understand the advantages of these services. First of all, as already mentioned, they make games much more accessible: not only do we not have to download and install the game we are interested in locally, but we also have many compatible devices at our disposal. Therefore, all that is required for these “in the clouds” platforms to drag us into the magical world of video games is a good internet connection with minimal latency.

Everything happens immediately by opening the appropriate application on our smartphone, tablet, TV or computer and starting the desired video game. Second, various services may offer additional features, such as the ability to join a viewer to a player’s session and temporarily take control of the game if the player agrees.

Cloud gaming platforms: which service to choose

While Cloud Gaming is a relatively young reality, there are already quite a few tech giants who have believed and invested in this interesting opportunity. The competition in this sector is therefore quite fierce and includes both popular gaming companies and giants such as Google and Amazon. Of course, not all services are created equal: each has its own business model and specific list of playable titles, and the final offering can vary greatly by brand.

Of course, it is impossible to choose the best one, but the one that best suits our geeky needs. So let’s see in detail how the main ones on the market work and how they try to tempt players’ hearts and wallets.

Google Stadia

Big G, of Google Stadia, was the first company to concretize in a complete and well-defined project the choice of targeting (also) games on demand. We are dealing with a platform that, in its basic form, can be used completely free of charge, but with some restrictions. In fact, the business model of Google’s service is based on the purchase of individual digital video games and a subscription to the optional Stadia Pro service. This subscription offers better in-game performance such as 4K video resolution, as well as a good selection of games that can be downloaded for free each month, a bit like what’s happening on PlayStation and Xbox with Instant Game Collection and Games With Gold.

It should also be noted that it is now compatible with most devices, including those running on the iOS operating system. The most obvious downside, however, is list prices, which are all too often quite high for older titles. Either way, the cheapest way to enter the Google Stadia ecosystem is to go to the Premiere Edition, which includes the official controller, the Chromecast Ultra, and the three-month Stadia Pro subscription in one package.

Microsoft xCloud

Cloud Gaming, according to Microsoft, rhymes with xCloud, a service included in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which for EUR 12.99 a month gives you free access to an extensive library of over 300 games, including all Xbox exclusives. These titles can be played locally on computers and consoles of the company from Redmond, as well as in the cloud. Currently, the service is only available on Android devices, but it is Microsoft’s intention to make it as versatile as the competition by making it available to PC, iOS and Smart TV users as well.

The main advantage is the catalog of video games for use and consumption by fans, which covers the entire Game Pass library. So there is a place to use such productions as FIFA 20 football, Battlefield V and DOOM Eternal shooters, as well as sleepy Control every 30 days for a small fee. In addition, any Xbox-exclusive game coming in the next few years will be automatically added on release to this ever-expanding library. As if that was not enough, fans of Electronic Arts games will be pleased that the Game Pass Ultimate subscription also includes the EA Play service with a catalog of over 60 games.

Sony PlayStation Now

Sony PlayStation Now may look like a service similar to Microsoft’s service, but its business model has some notable differences. For now, it cannot be used on mobile devices – perhaps such an option will appear in the future – but it is fully compatible with the latest PlayStation consoles, i.e. PS4, PS4 Pro and PS5, as well as PC and Mac computers. It costs 9.99 euros per month and the title library is quite varied and changes over time.

Naturally, in parallel with what is happening on the shores of the “big M”, Sony exclusives such as Days Gone, God of War or Horizon Zero Dawn shine on Now. Contrary to this, Sony will not be adding upcoming releases immediately on their market debut. Therefore, even if you do not own the Japanese giant’s console, you can enjoy the iconic games from the PlayStation universe as long as you have an Apple PC or Mac. On PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, however, you have immediate access to a solid collection of games at a reasonable price.

Nvidia GeForce Now

They include GeForce Now, which is one of Nvidia’s veterans of cloud gaming. The company provides its powerful servers to play a number of proving ground productions available for purchase on the PC. Just connect the client to Steam or other compatible digital stores to access the library you already own and enjoy all the benefits of playing on your personal computer without having to own one. And also preferring to play on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices, not forgetting the Nvidia Shield.

Get the most out of GeForce Now’s graphic beauties, including 4k and Ray Tracing. The Nvidia service is available for free but limited to just one hour of uninterrupted play; alternatively, you could consider purchasing a founders’ pack for around 30 euros and lasting a total of six months. This model was created especially for those who already have titles purchased from Steam, GOG or Epic Games Store, and would like to try them freely on the go, enjoying the charms of streaming. Additionally, while competitors allow you to play with default settings, here we can change various parameters such as framerate, resolution and texture quality.

Amazon Luna

The latest Cloud Gaming platform to make its debut is Amazon Luna, which is still in beta and not yet available here in Italy. The eShopping giant has opted for a channel model in which video game packages can be purchased for a fixed price per month. As with Xbox and PlayStation, your choice will be made by Amazon itself, as well as additional channels from other major publishers. Among them is, for example, Ubisoft, which consists of small and large cult games such as Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs or Immortal Fenix ​​Rising. Amazon Luna, according to Jeff Bezos and his team, will be available almost anywhere, with compatibility guaranteed for PC, Mac, Android, iOS and TV via the Amazon stick.