Game Streaming Services & Cloud Gaming Explained

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Game streaming and cloud gaming are reshaping the landscape of gaming. With a fast Internet connection, gamers can now harness the power of a high-performance PC from virtually anywhere. Game streaming—also known as gaming on-demand or gaming-as-a-service—enables users to access their own PC remotely in real time via any Internet-enabled device (such as a laptop or tablet). In short, it enables gamers to play anytime, anywhere—not just at home. 

On the other hand, cloud gaming grants you access to a remote PC hosted within a sprawling server center, often in exchange for a subscription fee. The upside? With cloud gaming, you're liberated from the financial commitment of purchasing and maintaining your own gaming equipment. 

Thanks to cloud gaming and streaming, the days of having to buy a massive desktop PC or pricey gaming console to play the latest games are rapidly fading into the past. Join us as we delve into the benefits of game streaming services and cloud gaming and explain how to choose an Internet plan that supports your gaming needs .

What ls Game Streaming?

Game streaming enables players to enjoy video games on devices not traditionally used for gaming—like a cell phone or a tablet—in real time over the Internet. However, you need to already have a gaming PC or a console, and it needs to stay on at home. Instead of running the game on the player's phone or tablet, game streaming services enable the game to run on your PC and be “streamed” to your device (in real time) via the Internet. 

Here are the key components that allow game streaming to work:

• Player's device : Players use a web browser or app to connect to a game server via a smartphone, tablet, smart TV, or computer.
• Video feed : The game is run on the remote server (your PC or gaming console), and video feed of the gameplay is captured in real time. This video feed is then compressed and sent over the Internet to the player's device.
• Input commands : Players send input commands like button presses and mouse movements to the server, and the server processes these inputs to update the game instantly.
• Video output : The server instantly sends back the updated video feed to the player's device, creating the illusion that the game is running locally rather than via a remote server.

What ls Cloud Gaming?

Cloud gaming is a broader term that encompasses various gaming services and technologies. Like game streaming, it enables players to access games remotely. The benefit of cloud gaming over streaming, however, is that you don’t need to have a PC with all your favorite games downloaded. Instead, games are streamed via remote servers owned by the cloud gaming company. As such, gamers can start playing games in minutes, without having to wait for their chosen title to download to a PC. Cloud gaming also enables gamers to access a full library of games (for a monthly fee) or purchase individual titles à la carte.

Technically, cloud gaming is a specific category within game streaming—but while game streaming involves using your personal computer remotely, cloud gaming provides access (through a device like a smartphone, tablet, or gaming console) to a PC located within a larger server center. 

Cloud gaming can include both game streaming and other cloud-based gaming models, such as:

Game downloads : Some cloud gaming platforms allow players to download and install games from the cloud onto their local devices. These games can be played locally, but they are hosted in the cloud for easy access and management.

Cloud save and progress : Cloud gaming often includes features like cloud save, where game progress and settings are stored in the cloud, making it possible to seamlessly switch between devices without losing your progress.

Game library access : Services may provide access to a library of games that players can stream or download, offering a subscription-based model for game access.