The cloud industry has been making waves in the gaming community in the past few years. The cloud gaming market in particular is now worth over 22.53 Billion USD, with an impressive CAGR of 58.75%. GlobeNewsWire attributes the cloud gaming growth to advances in remote server technology, and of course, the player base’s desire to play more high-end games on portable laptops, tablets, and phones, without having to install expensive and complicated software.
Here’s how cloud platforms prove to be integral to game developers and the rest of the gaming community across the world.
Brief History of Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming was introduced by Finnish startup G-Cluster at E3 2000, a trade event. During that decade, big names like Crytek, Gaikai, Sony, and NVIDIA contributed new ventures to cloud gaming. Two of the biggest developments were the implementation of the PlayStation Now cloud gaming service in 2014, and the linking of existing Steam libraries. Market Research from The NPD Group also points out how the COVID-19 pandemic further propelled cloud gaming, with it being a ‘remote’ and ‘accessible’ alternative to consoles.
Most Recent Gaming and Cloud Platform Developments
In 2020, there was an increased integration of cloud platform technologies in the gaming industry. Microsoft was able to launch Xbox Cloud Gaming, and the Sony PS Now service was able to surpass 2.2 million subscribers. Some of the most popular games such as Fortnite, Horizon, Halo Infinite, Monster Hunter, and Genshin Impact are also cloud compatible, which adds to their appeal. Genshin Impact, for instance, is playable on PC, mobile, and PlayStation, and has been made available on GeForce Now since 2022.
Cloud Platforms for Indie Game Developers
Cloud platforms have also made production much easier for independent developers and small companies. MongoDB highlights how databases are essential to games, as it stores information from player profiles to leaderboards. Cloud hosting platforms and tools are also cost-effective for those working with lower-end computers and non-specialized hardware. Gaming companies SEGA, FaceIt, and Lucid Sight have all commented on the growth and flexibility they experienced from the use of cloud platforms.
Cloud Platforms Improve Gaming Technology
In line with multi-platform gaming, cloud platforms have also contributed to improving gaming equipment. In 2018, cloud and Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) were utilized for the creation of the AMD Radeon Pro V340 Graphics Card to improve gamers’ GPU experience and accelerate visualization workloads. By shifting game production to the cloud, studios also enjoy a richer collaboration experience and can improve their overall workflow as well. Other benefits include easier testing, distribution, and a lower need for physical locations.
Bolster Virtual Reality and Gaming
The introduction of the metaverse and virtual reality gaming has become a hot topic, and cloud platforms have a huge part in making this new norm. Metaverse and cloud computing will benefit from each other, thanks to the massive amount of storage and processing required to run the former. Already we see companies like Fujitsu, JCB, and IP Games join forces to create the technology and management models necessary for this. Cloud will also contribute to maintaining the rights to data and keeping gaming data secure.
Conclusion: The Future of Cloud Platforms and the Gaming Industry
The future of cloud platforms and the gaming industry is a bright and rapidly evolving one. Although we foresee several roadblocks such as latency issues, lag, lack of space, and faulty internet connections, no problem is ever without a solution. Cloud gaming has come so far since its first introduction – and although it isn’t likely to replace traditional consoles and PCs in the next ten years, many players are already enjoying the flexibility and the multiple options that it offers. Soon, we might just see a cloud gaming takeover.
