Video games are becoming increasingly complicated both in terms graphics and mechanics to the point that they require more sophisticated computer specifications to run correctly. It’s likely that you won’t be in a position to play games from 2021 on a PC that was purchased in the 2000s unless you upgrade the components of your computer. Cloud gaming is a technology that lets you play games online on any device, as long as you have a reliable internet connection.
Cloud gaming servers manage the processing of video games, and not the hardware of your device. They do this by sending you compressed frames in response to input. When you press a button this input is transmitted to the cloud-based server, which sends you a fresh video frame in response. It’s a simple idea but the bandwidth required to transmit these videos in real time is extremely. Cloud gaming has been hindered by this issue, but recent advancements in edge computing and cell networks have allowed it take off.
To achieve this, applications like Stadia and NVIDIA’s GeForce Now are able to stream games with near-native quality on devices with different power. They’re also designed so that you avoid the massive downloads and set-up process of installing a game onto your own hardware, which is important for people with variable network conditions. However, there are many hurdles that need to be over before cloud gaming is able to truly flourish for cloud gaming, including issues with bandwidth and latency.