The Pros and Cons of Game Streaming: One Gamer’s Experience
Game streaming has been a buzzword in the gaming industry for a while now, promising to revolutionize the way we play our favorite games. But can it really replace the local experience of playing on a console or PC? One gamer decided to put game streaming to the test and spent a week exclusively using cloud gaming services. Here’s what they discovered.
Old Man Yells at Cloud (Gaming)
Starting with remote play on their PlayStation 5, the gamer quickly realized the limitations of this service. Remote play only allows streaming on devices on the same network as the console, making it more of a second-screen solution than a true game streaming service. Unfortunately, even this limited functionality was marred by long connection times and unstable gameplay. The visual quality of the games suffered, and input delay made playing frustrating.
Xcloud Marks the Spot
The gamer then tried Microsoft’s cloud gaming platform, Xcloud, which is still in beta but available on both PC and mobile. They were impressed with the quick boot time and the variety of popular games available to play. While there was still a delay in gameplay, it was consistent and didn’t fluctuate like with remote play on PS5. The visual quality was steady, but the delay made fast-paced games difficult to play.
Getting My Head Out of the Clouds
The gamer found that slower-paced and turn-based games were more suited for cloud gaming, while console-quality games on the go were more of a novelty. The screen size was a major hurdle, making it difficult to read and learn games with small text and UI. However, cloud gaming can act as a bridge for mobile gamers to try out more types of games than they would otherwise have access to.
The Pros and Cons
Cloud gaming has opened the door for many people who can’t afford dedicated gaming hardware, making it more accessible. However, there are still limitations, such as the delay in gameplay and the need for a stable internet connection. It’s also not a replacement for dedicated hardware, but rather a supplement to it. Slow-paced and turn-based games are more suited for cloud gaming, while fast-paced games are more difficult to play. However, the mobility of cloud gaming and the variety of games available make it an attractive option for casual gamers.
For gamers who want to experience console-quality games on the go or without the need for expensive hardware, cloud gaming is an attractive option. With services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, all you need is a subscription and a mobile device to play games anywhere you want. However, as my experience showed, the quality of the gameplay can vary depending on factors like internet speed and screen size.
One of the main challenges I encountered was the input delay, which was present in both PlayStation’s remote play and Xbox Cloud Gaming. While slower-paced games like turn-based RPGs worked well, fast-paced action games like first-person shooters suffered from the delay, making it difficult to keep up with the action. However, I was able to adapt to some extent, and the delay became less noticeable over time.
Another challenge was the small screen size of my mobile device, which made it difficult to read text and navigate menus in some games. While using a controller helped, it didn’t completely solve the problem. However, for games with simpler UIs and gameplay mechanics, like top-down or isometric games, playing on a mobile device can be a great experience.
Despite these challenges, I believe that cloud gaming has its place in the gaming industry. It has the potential to make games more accessible to a wider audience, particularly those who may not have the means to buy expensive gaming hardware. With the rise of 5G networks and improvements in streaming technology, the quality of the gaming experience is likely to improve as well.
In conclusion, my week of cloud gaming was a mixed experience. While I encountered some technical issues and limitations, I was also impressed by the convenience and accessibility of the platform. I don’t think cloud gaming will replace dedicated gaming hardware anytime soon, but I do believe it has a place in the gaming industry and will continue to evolve and improve in the coming years.
