Cloud gaming

Cloud gaming, sometimes called gaming on demand, is a type of online gaming. Currently there are two main types of cloud gaming: cloud gaming based on video streaming and cloud gaming based on file streaming. Cloud gaming aims to provide end users frictionless and direct play-ability of games across various devices.

History

In 2000, G-cluster demonstrated cloud gaming technology at E3. The original offering was cloud gaming service over Wi-Fi to handheld devices. Video game developer Crytek began research on a cloud gaming system in 2005 for Crysis, but halted development in 2007 to wait until the infrastructure and cable Internet providers were up for the task.[1] OnLive officially launched in March 2010, and its game service began in June with the sale of its OnLive microconsole.[2][3] On April 2, 2015, it was announced that Sony Computer Entertainment had acquired OnLive's patents, and OnLive closed its doors. In November, SFR launched a commercial cloud gaming service on IPTV in France, powered by G-cluster technology.[4][5]

GeForce NOW is a cloud-based game-streaming service offered by NVIDIA that launched on October 1, 2015.

Nvidia GRID is a recent creation by Nvidia that is targeted specifically towards cloud gaming. The Nvidia GRID includes both graphics processing and video encoding into a single device which is able to decrease the input to display latency of cloud base video game streaming.[6] This is important due to the impact that latency will have between what the user does and when the action shows on their screen.

Google unveiled Project Stream on October 1, 2018.[7]

Microsoft unveiled Project xCloud on October 8, 2018.[8]

Types

Cloud gaming is an umbrella term used to describe a form of online game distribution. The most common methods of cloud gaming currently are video (or pixel) streaming and file streaming.

"Cloud gaming", also in some cases called "gaming on demand", is a type of online gaming that allows direct and on-demand video streaming of games onto computers, consoles and mobile devices, similar to video on demand, through the use of a thin client. The actual game is stored, executed, and rendered on the remote operator's or game company's server and the video results are streamed directly to a consumer's computers over the internet.[6] This allows access to games without the need of a console and largely makes the capability of the user's computer unimportant, as the server is the system that is running the processing needs.[9][10] The controls and button presses from the user are transmitted directly to the server, where they are recorded, and the server then sends back the game's response to the input controls. Companies that use this type of cloud gaming include NVIDIA (GeForce NOW), Playkey, PlayGiga, CiiNOW, Ubitus.

Gaming on demand is a game service which takes advantage of a broadband connection, large server clusters, encryption and compression to stream game content to a subscriber's device. Users can play games without downloading or installing the actual game. Game content is not stored on the user's hard drive and game code execution occurs primarily at the server cluster, so the subscriber can use a less powerful computer to play the game than the game would normally require, since the server does all performance-intensive operations usually done by the end user's computer.[11][12] Most cloud gaming platforms are closed and proprietary; the first open-source cloud gaming platform was only released in April, 2013.[13]

P2P cloudless gaming – a type of cloud gaming, where remote computers for game execution represented by community of individuals. Critical difference from cloud gaming is that game is executed on actual PC and it is streamed on one-to-one basis. The actual game is stored, executed, and rendered on the remote computer station and the video results are streamed directly to a consumer’s computer over the internet. P2P cloudless gaming allows closing latency gap: remote computer could be located within one internet provider. Network protocol in P2P cloud gaming smartly chooses the best fit between remote computer and consumer’s device.

Cloud gaming based on file streaming, also known as progressive downloading, deploys a thin client in which the actual game is run on the user's gaming device such as a mobile device, a PC or a console. A small part of a game, usually less than 5% of the total game size, is downloaded initially so that the gamer can start playing quickly. The remaining game content is downloaded to the end user's device while playing. This allows instant access to games with low bandwidth Internet connections without lag. The cloud is used for providing a scalable way of streaming the game content and big data analysis. Cloud gaming based on file streaming requires a device that has the hardware capabilities to operate the game. Often, downloaded game content is stored on the end user's device where it is cached. Companies that use this type of cloud gaming include Kalydo, Approxy and SpawnApps.

P2P gaming services

Name Company Access status Development status Source code available? Bring your own games (BYOG) Platforms License Price
DROVA DROVA Active Active No Yes Windows Proprietary €0.8 per hour

Cloud gaming services (Gaming as a Service (GaaS))

Name Company Access status Development status Source code available? Bring your own games (BYOG) Platforms License Price
Shadow Blade SAS Active Active No Yes (cloud computing: full computer in the cloud) Windows, macOS, Android Proprietary €44,95/month (1 month subscription)

€34,95/month (3 month subscription)

€29,95/month (12 month subscription)

LiquidSky LiquidSky Active Active No Yes Windows, Android Proprietary US$14.99/month (One-Time)

US$24.99-29.99/month (Monthly)

Vortex Cloud Gaming Active Active No No, existing library. For some you need additionally a license, e.g. at Steam Windows, Chrome, Android, Android TV ProprietaryUS$9.99/month
GeForce Now Nvidia In closed beta Active No No, existing library. For some you need additionally a license, e.g. at Steam Shield, Windows, macOSProprietaryN/A
PlayStation Now Sony Active Active No No, existing library from Sony (more than 500 games)PlayStation 4, WindowsProprietary€14,99/month
Project Stream (possible names: CloudCast or BlastLamp) Google In closed beta Active No Until now only Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Chrome N/A N/A
Project xCloud Microsoft In closed beta Active No Unknown so far PCs, consoles, mobile devices N/A N/A
Wiztivi Gaming Active Active No Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, STBs, Orange, SFR Proprietary Depends on operator services
Blacknut Active Active No Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV Proprietary £12.99/month
GameCloud Cloudzen Active Active No Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, SmartTV, OTT, Chrome ProprietaryN/A
Gaming: Solved. Active Active No Windows, macOS Proprietary US$1.49 per usage hour
GLOUD Active Active No Windows, macOS Proprietary ARS$229.90/month

CLP$7735/month

Kalydo Active Active No WindowsProprietaryN/A
LOUDPLAY Active Active No Windows, macOS, Android, iOSProprietary starting from €0.2 per usage hour
PixelStellar Active Active No WindowsProprietary€1 per usage hour
WADE Active Active No Windows, macOSProprietary€9,99/month
PlayKey Active Active No No, existing library. For some you need additionally a license, e.g. at SteamWindows, macOSProprietary€24,90/month
Turbo.net Active Active No Windows, macOS, iPadProprietaryFree access
Hatch In Beta Active No Android Proprietary N/A
Dalongyun Active Active No Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Android, Android TV Proprietary￥3/4 per usage hour
Snoost.com Probably discontinued, the Alpha has ended Unknown No Yes Windows, macOS, Linux Proprietary €12,95/month (480p)

€25,90/month (720p)

€38,85/month (1080p)

GameFly Streaming Discontinued No No Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG WebOs 3.0 Smart TVProprietaryUS$9.99/month
Leap Computing Discontinued Discontinued No Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Windows PhoneProprietaryN/A
Big Fish Games Discontinued
[14]		 Discontinued No Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7ProprietaryN/A
G-cluster Discontinued Discontinued No G-cluster, Orange, SFR, NTT Plala, VNPTProprietaryN/A
Gaikai Discontinued Discontinued No Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8ProprietaryN/A
Gface Discontinued Discontinued No Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10ProprietaryN/A
InstantAction Discontinued Discontinued No Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7ProprietaryN/A
OnLive Discontinued
[15]		 DiscontinuedPartial
[16]		 Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, macOS, Android, OnLive MicroConsoleProprietaryN/A
Playcast Media Systems Discontinued
[17]		 Discontinued
[18]		 No Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVProprietaryN/A
Ubitus GameNow Discontinued Discontinued No LG Smart TV, Google TV, Verizon, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOSProprietaryN/A

Game streaming systems

NameAccess statusDevelopment statusSource code available?PlatformsLicensePrice
GamingAnywhere Active Active Yes; Free and open-source softwareServer; Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS, Linux
Client; Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS, Android 4.1+,[19] Linux		BSD 3-Clause License[20]Free
Cloudzen - GameCloud Active Active No Server; Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10,
Client; Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Smart TVs, AndroidTV, STBs, Smartphones, Android, iOS		 ProprietaryN/A
LOUDPLAY Active Active No Server; Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS, Linux
Client; Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS, Linux		 ProprietaryN/A
Steam In-Home Streaming Active Active NoServer; Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
Client; Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS, SteamOS, Linux		ProprietaryFreeware
Remote Play Active Active NoServer; PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Client; PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation TV, Sony Xperia, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS[21]		ProprietaryFreeware
Cloud Gaming eXtreme Active Active NoServer; Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2012
Client; Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS, Android, iOS		Proprietary$0.30 per hour on Amazon Web Services
Ubitus GameCloud Active Active NoServer; Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10
Client; Smart TVs, Google TV, STBs, Smartphones, Tablets, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS		ProprietaryN/A
Rainway Active Active NoServer; Server 2016, Windows 10[22]
Client; Google Chrome, Firefox, Windows, macOS, Linux		ProprietaryFreeware
Parsec Active Active NoServer; Server 2012, Server 2016, Windows 8.1, Windows 10[23]
Client; Windows, macOS, Linux		ProprietaryFreeware
PlayGiga Active Active No
Client; Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, macOS, STBs, Android		ProprietaryN/A
Remotr Game Streaming Active Active No Server; Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10,
Client; Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Smart TVs, AndroidTV, STBs, Smartphones, Android, iOS		 Proprietary Standard; Freeware
No ads: $2.99 per month
G-cluster Discontinued Discontinued NoServer; Windows 7, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008R2, Windows Server 2012R2
Client; Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Smart TVs, AndroidTV, STBs, Smartphones		ProprietaryN/A
StreamMyGame Discontinued Discontinued NoServer; Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7
Client; Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux		ProprietaryStandard; Freeware
Premium; $9.99 per year
Unlimited; $19.99 per year

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dobra, Andrei (April 27, 2009). "Crytek Attempted Cloud Gaming Way Before OnLive". Softpedia. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  2. ↑ Perlman, Steve (2010-03-10). "OnLive: Coming to a Screen Near You". OnLive.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
  3. ↑ Shiels, Maggie (2010-03-11). "'Console killer' OnLive to launch in June". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  4. ↑ "Accueil Jeux vidéo". Jeux-tv.sfr.fr. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  5. ↑ "Reportage : SFR dévoile son service de jeux vidéo "cloud gaming" sur Neufbox". Clubic.com. 2010-10-20. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  6. 1 2 Shea, Ryan; Liu, Liu; Ngai, Edith; Cui, Yong (July–August 2013). "Cloud gaming: Architecture and performance". IEEE Network. 27 (4): 16–24. doi:10.1109/MNET.2013.6574660.
  7. ↑ "Pushing the limits of streaming technology". Google. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  8. ↑ "Project xCloud: Gaming with you at the center - The Official Microsoft Blog". The Official Microsoft Blog. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2018-10-09.
  9. ↑ "Exclusive: Does cloud gaming spell the end for consoles?". TechRadar. March 24, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Taking gaming into the 'cloud'". BBC News. June 9, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  11. ↑ Beaumont, Claudine (June 18, 2010). "OnLive launches cloud-based gaming service". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  12. ↑ Crowther, Joe (June 17, 2010). "OnLive launch cloud gaming platform". Metro. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  13. ↑ "GamingAnywhere -- An Open Source Cloud Gaming System". April 17, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
  14. ↑ Cook, John (August 21, 2013). "Full memo: Big Fish CEO announces job cuts, cancellation of cloud games business and closure of Ireland and BC facilities". GeekWire. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
  15. ↑ (in Turkish) Sony tarafından satın alınan OnLive hizmetlerine 30 Nisan’da son veriyor
  16. ↑ Assets Available | OnLive
  17. ↑ GameFly acquires Playcast, launches streaming service
  18. ↑ GameFly buys Israeli cloud gaming company Playcast
  19. ↑ GamingAnywhere - An Open Source Cloud Gaming System
  20. ↑ GamingAnywhere License
  21. ↑ (in Turkish) PS4 Sistemini Uzaktan Oynatma Windows® PC / Mac
  22. ↑ "Prepare For Launch – Rainway". Rainway.
  23. ↑ "Installing Parsec". Parsec. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
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