The Best Streaming Services for Games
[contentsdisabled] Streaming games from remote internet servers could be the future of the video game industry – or somehow part of that future. The need to own a PC or have the solace of playing the latest and most in demand games, the medium as a whole can become more accessible. That is, if you have a better internet connection. Google’s recent announcement of its gaming service, Stadia, has put the idea back in the spotlight, and if it gets whimsical later this year, it could be an interesting choice for newbies and veteran gamers alike. Who cares about streaming games on the internet? But this isn’t the first cloud gaming platform to debut. If you’re interested in streaming your own desktop PC games to your PC, Mac, phonetablet or console, you can try one of the many ehome cloud games streaming options today. (Some of them are free!) If you prefer to stream games you don’t already own, some companies already have catalogs of Netflix-like games that you can stream before Google Stadia comes along. The current cloud gaming market is populated by well-known gaming brands such as Steam, Nvidia, and Sony. There is a gallery of big names and startups that claim to have their own technology. While few game streaming technologies are free, others require a credit card, making them less desirable if you want to dip your toe in the water.
Here is the list of the best streaming services for games
Nvidia GeForce now
In terms of performance and versatility, the Nvidia GeForce Now is as good as game streaming these days. Even better, it leverages your existing library, so you don’t have to spend a dime to try it out. Here’s how the system works: You download the GeForce Now app on a compatible system, such as a PC or Android device. You then link the service to your Steam, Uplay or Epic Games library. You install a compatible game on a remote machine and play it on the platform of your choice. It’s a little tricky in theory, but in practice, it’s a smooth, ongoing process. The system has some potential drawbacks. Not all PC games are supported, and while many publishers have added new games to the GeForce Now library, other publishers have taken them out. Also, the free tier makes you wait in a queue and limits your playing time. The same goes for the paid tier, in fact, although it’s a much shorter queue and a much longer time limit.
Cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass
OK, so it’s not the most catchy name ever, but Cloud Gaming with Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s take on cloud gaming. As for cloud gaming itself, it’s Android-only for now, with PC support on the way, though don’t hold your breath for an iPhone version – blame Apple. It ships with over 150 games from Microsoft and beyond, and you can play some games with touchscreen controls or use just about any Bluetooth controller that connects to your device. phone/tablet – even a PS4 DualShock 4. This is especially great for anyone who already plays on an Xbox or PC, as you can choose up from the same save file or play online with the same friends on multiple platforms. Tested under the name Project xCloud, the service is part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which costs £10.99 / $14.99 a month. That means you can’t pay for the cloud gaming part on your own, but the other Game Pass perks are well worth it, including a huge library of games to play on Xbox and PC, special offers and discounts, and extra Xbox subscriptions. Live Gold and EA Play included.
PlayStation Now
PlayStation Now is the only major game streaming service that works on a subscription model, and it works very well. You need to provide your own DualShock 4 controller, as well as a monthly subscription cost and a PC or PS4. Next, Sony provides the game library, which consists of over 650 PS2, PS3, and PS4 hits. Some of the games are permanently in the library; others come and go monthly. What’s impressive about PS Now is the quality of the games you’ll get. Series like God of War, Resident Evil, Ratchet & Clank, Red Dead Redemption and Uncharted are all present and accounted for, and you can play the full games in 1080p resolution. Both PC and PS4 apps work well, so it’s also a good opportunity for PC gamers to experience PlayStation exclusive titles.
Google Stadia
Google Stadia is Google’s version of a streaming service, with the ability to stream games in 4K from a Chrome browser. Available for streaming on devices like Android (and eventually iOS) phones, laptops, tablets and televisions via Chromecast Ultra, Google Stadia effectively replaces the traditional game console. You get access to several of the service’s biggest AAA games, including Mortal Kombat 11, Destiny 2, Borderlands 3, and Darksiders Genesis, and updates are handled server-side so you never have to wait before playing your games. Not all of Stadia’s most impressive features are still integrated, but Google recently showed off its long-awaited YouTube connection, allowing you to click a link in a video’s description to be taken to it on Stadia. Viewers who watch a streamer on YouTube will be able to instantly join the game to play with them, or use a state-sharing system to replicate their save file and play where the streamer left off. They will even be able to start playing directly from YouTube ads in just five seconds and access Google Assistant to tips about how to clear tricky sections of the games they are playing.
Hatch
While most of the other participants in our chart are PC or console-based game streaming services, Hatch intends to take care of the mobile players. The game streaming service offers a range of over 100 mobile games, including Leo’s Fortune, Monument Valley, Crashlands and Hitman GO, available for instant streaming. In addition to playing whenever you want, you can also participate in casual eSports tournaments and go up against friends and others mobile players from all over the world to compete for real prizes. The streaming service also works surprisingly well, with little to no difference in terms of graphics or gameplay, and brings the high-end mobile gaming experience for those without a high-end smartphone. The only limitation at the moment is that the game streaming service was built with 5G in mind, so you’ll need a decent internet connection to stream the library of games on offer. We tested it on 4G with average results, so unless you’re an early adopter of 5G, you’re likely to only use it when connected to Wi-Fi – until 5G is more readily available, anyway.
xCloud
Google isn’t the only company that wants you to be able to play console-quality games regardless of your location. Microsoft first launched its Project xCloud service (now known as xCloud) and aims to eliminate the hardware barrier between its game library and potential gamers. Using Microsoft’s 54 Azure data centers, xCloud allows users to stream games originally made for Xbox One or PC on their device of choice. Everything from the Xbox One and PC itself to mobile phones and tablets will be supported eventually, and you’ll be able to access your games wherever you have a network connection. You will also be able to use your own Xbox console as a server through xCloud without having to pay anything. Unlike Stadia, which links your controller of choice to your Wi-Fi connection, xCloud does so via Bluetooth, which will theoretically lead to low latency during gameplay. Xbox One (and Series X) controllers made later will be supported on the device of your choice, and you’ll also have access to custom touch control interfaces when playing on a mobile device. You will need an internet connection speed of at least 10 Mbps to stream 1080p games or 35 Mbps to stream 4K games. However, the company has implemented an option for 720p, which has a lower internet speed requirement. Therein lies the problem with many streaming services. The premise sounds appealing, but to effectively play many modern games at high resolution, the internet speed needs to be fast, which is not a viable option in many areas, even in the United States.
Shadow
One of the most technically ambitious game streaming services we’ve seen so far, Shadow is designed to give your device of choice the power of a high-end gaming PC – be it another PC, a Mac, television, phone, or tablet. As with Nvidia GeForce Now, Shadow doesn’t require you to buy new games to play. Instead, you can import your current games from stores like Steam, Origin, Epic Games Store or Battle.net and play the ones you already own. Currently, Shadow uses a GTX 1080 GPU capable of running games in 4K at 60Hz or 1080p at 144Hz. It uses 12GB of DDR4 RAM and gives you access to 256GB of storage so you can have multiple different titles installed at once. Unlike Google Stadia or Project xCloud, you will still need to download and update your games. Shadow basically acts as a high quality game lender for remote gaming.
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