Cloud computing has been around for a while, and its uses in our day-to-day life are quite influential. Cloud is one of the biggest revolution which led to changes like “Anytime, Anywhere” or “On-Demand” but have you ever wondered what the ‘Cloud’ really is? How does it work? Is it the future of many multi-billion dollar industries? Read on to find out!
What is the Cloud?
The Cloud refers to servers accessed over the internet and the software and databases which operate on those servers. In simple words, the Cloud is a remote server accessible to anyone with an internet connection, and it comes in pretty handy! Some examples of Cloud are ‘Google Drive’ and ‘Netflix’.
How is Cloud utilized in video games?
The past few years have seen the implementation of cloud into the gaming world as a ‘support’ service making game-hosting easier. However, cloud has upgraded, making hosting of games directly on super computer’s possible! Yes, you read that right. It is now possible to play games on the Cloud, meaning you don’t need hardware that’ll break the bank, but you still require the game downloaded on your device, along with a stable internet connection.
Cloud gaming been in the works for a while now, and companies (like Nvidia) have already released a cloud-based gaming service.
Why is Cloud gaming required?
The video games of today are far more complex than the old-school Mario. To keep the experience smooth, more sophisticated and costlier equipment is needed. However, not everyone can spend hundreds of dollars to get a computer fast enough to enjoy top triple-A titles, and this is where Cloud gaming steps up.
With the implementation of Cloud-gaming, users will only require a fast enough internet connection, which is way cheaper than getting a dedicated gaming PC!
Thus, Cloud-gaming is an impressive tool for those without access to fast computers.
What are some Cloud gaming Services?
If you were to search for cloud gaming on the net, you would find yourself spoiled with hundreds of choices. But what should you choose? So here are two Cloud gaming services I have found to work on a decent internet connection. All of these require just a simple download from their website!
Nvidia GeForce:
As one of the biggest Cloud gaming platforms, it has a paid and a free version. With the free version, time per session is only 1 hour, while it’s 6 hours on the paid version. However, it is only available in select countries, forcing some to use a VPN to enjoy GeForce. Find out more about supported locations here.
The Gaming Project
As one of the first Cloud-gaming services produced in India, it also offers free and paid versions, which require a download from its website! With a smooth experience, it is worth a try. As a bit of an issue, this service does require you to turn on developer mode on Windows, making the installation process more complex.
Is cloud gaming the future of this industry?
Even though many have started using Cloud gaming, which is improving at an impressive rate, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer does not seem to see the future in it. “cloud gaming will not be the end-all-be-all future for the industry,” he says. Well, Cloud may not be replacing consoles any time soon. However, it is a popular service that is here to stay. According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, more than 20 million people have streamed games using Xbox Cloud Gaming. Talk about a large number!
Overall, Cloud gaming is an a lot of potential, however, in its current state, gaming will never entirely shift to the Cloud
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