Have you heard the term “Cloud Gaming” recently? Maybe your children have asked to purchase a plan for it.
We will explain what Cloud Gaming is, and the difference between Cloud gaming and normal gaming. We’ll also touch on the service plans.
What is Cloud Gaming?
Cloud gaming is a subscription service from companies like Nvidia, Steam, Google, Microsoft. These services allow users to play games from any device capable of streaming.
Game processing is offloaded to the company’s server warehouse. The warehouses are full of the high powered hardware that run the program.
Since all of the heavy lifting is done in the cloud, users with less powerful computers can still enjoy games. They can play with the performance of a top tier gaming rig. Even devices like Chromebooks are used as gaming machines.
Plans and Perks
Each respective company offers their own version of paid plans which have their own benefits.
For example, Nvidia, a leader in Graphical Processing, offers their streaming service by the name of GeForce Now.
GeForce Now client software connects to gaming stores such as Steam, EA, Epic games etc. This allows users to play games they already own. If a user has an existing steam library, then they can access it from any device with the client software.
Plans differentiate by power levels of emulated gaming computers/rigs. Plans access different levels of servers, session length, resolution and the refresh rate of the video (FPS) as well.
If the user wants a genuine high tier gaming experience, the Ultimate option above would provide that.
If a user is playing less demanding games, the free of Priority option level of settings could be viable.
With regard to this specific service, session length is also important. A new session can be started if the limit is reached. A user can do this as many times as they want.
For a full comparison on all the different companies plans and perks, check out this PCWorld article.
Is it worth the money?
This question depends on the user. If looking to access quality PC gaming without the up-front price tag of a new computer or laptop, it is a good option.
A comparison of cost is one factor. Users would need to purchase a device that ranges from $2000 – $4000 dollars to match the quality of the 20 dollar a month plan. The ability to stay up to date with the Cloud version might be another factor.
It seems likely that these services will also upgrade the performance of their packages over time. This would be based on new releases in technology to maintain the best possible performance. Enhancements are most likely in the highest paid plans.
Cloud Gaming allows users to buy cheaper computers and worry less about keeping up with expensive hardware. It is important to remain aware of hardware limitations though. The Screen size and refresh rate of the computer is important when it comes to the Cloud Gaming delivery of FPS. Keyboard comfort is also important, and the computer needs to have enough processing power to stream properly.
If you have specific questions about Cloud Gaming, or if our terminology isn’t clear, please use our contact form to send us a message. Thank you!