The article discusses the Antstream Arcade service, a subscription-based platform that offers legal streaming of hundreds of classic retro games. The service has been available for a few years, featuring over 1400 games, including arcade hits and games from platforms like Amiga, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum. Now, the service has been launched on Xbox, allowing more people to access its extensive library of classic games.
The writer acknowledges that while Antstream Arcade has its shortcomings, they are thrilled that such a service exists, offering a wide variety of games, including both well-known classics and more obscure titles. The article emphasizes the importance of preserving and making available even the less popular games as they might hold value for different players.
The writer praises the games’ selection but also encourages users to approach them with an open mind, appreciating the historical value and unique qualities of older games that may seem stiff or dated by today’s standards. Antstream Arcade enhances the gaming experience by providing in-app challenges and leaderboards to compete against other players.
However, the article also mentions some limitations and issues with the service. Players cannot remap controls, and the discoverability of games could be improved with better filtering and categorization options. There were also reported problems with the save state feature not working correctly, and occasional bitrate artifacting in the streaming, although it didn’t significantly impact gameplay.
Despite these concerns, the writer expresses a strong desire for the service to succeed and grow, as it provides an opportunity for retro enthusiasts to legally access and play classic games. The hope is that the introduction of Antstream Arcade on Xbox will attract more subscribers and enable the service to continue improving and expanding its offerings.
