What is Cloud Based Gaming?

Cloud-based games are a system that allows players to play games using only internet access, using remote and large connected servers. A player using cloud-based systems does not need any additional hardware. It is sufficient to have an internet speed to quickly process data from cloud systems. Apart from this, he must also install the software of the system he uses in the operating system and if he has a membership, he must log in to this membership. After the player has prepared the necessary settings, he connects to the remote server and starts using the operating system in the server as if he were using a computer as a remote. After that, it starts the game in that operating system and starts to play.

It is useful to think of cloud-based gaming systems as if they are accessing the computer in your home or office from another city. Because the two systems are similar in this way. The biggest difference is that only you have access to your computer. In cloud-based game systems, there is a case of other players connecting to the server you are connecting to. With the hardware it contains, the server provides quality and high-definition gaming experience to tens or even hundreds of players.

PC Games

How Does a Cloud Gaming Services System Work?

A cloud-based game system is where players play games by connecting to a remote server. With powerful and reliable internet providers, players can play games in high definition and quality without the need for additional hardware.

Many cloud-based systems work with a paid subscription method. Cloud-based system companies that pay monthly and annually can change their prices regionally. Apart from this, the hardware used by these companies also varies. For example, GeForce Now uses highly equipped servers and these servers host the Windows operating system. Microsoft, on the other hand, uses the operating systems of Xbox consoles. Amazon Cloud Gaming, on the other hand, uses different systems according to its games, as it hosts many different servers and publishers. However, if every game played runs on different systems in the background, it uses the same interface in the foreground.

In cloud-based systems, data flow is two-way. This flow is in the form of data type coming from server to player and data type going from player to server. All data related to the game running on the server is forwarded to the system used by the player. The actions that the player wants to do in the current game on the server are sent to the server. Because of this data flow, the player who wants to use a cloud-based system needs a strong internet.

How Long Have Cloud Gaming Services Existed?

Cloud-based game systems have been in game technology since the early 2000s. It happened with the G-Cluster (Game Cluster), which was first introduced at E3 in 2000 and released in 2003. However, this technology was terminated due to the proliferation of free-to-play games in later dates and the fact that these games can also be played on the G-Cluster. Due to increasing costs and server density, G-Cluster developers switched to Internet protocol television, namely IPTV system.

Although another system called OnLive was released in 2010, Sony bought Gaikai, the producer of OnLive, in 2012 and added it to Playstation. Thus, cloud-based systems could not be developed for a while. However, with the increasing diversity in hardware and developing technology, the cloud-based gaming system has become very popular recently and has motivated several companies in this regard.

Best of Cloud Gaming Services

Today, when it comes to cloud-based games, a few names come to mind. These are, in order;

GeForce Now
Amazon Luna
Xbox Cloud Gaming
Shadow

There is no cloud-based game system that is completely free. Each system usually works with a paid membership. The systems mentioned above are some of them. However, they do not all work the same way. For example, GeForce Now only lets you access the Steam interface. Shadow gives you a real operating system and lets you use it like your own personal computer. (Windows 11) Xbox Cloud Gaming lets you play both games you own and games they provide.

Players considering using cloud-based systems should choose the most suitable company and system for them.