Nvidia GeForce Now, PS Now, Google Stadia, and Microsoft xCloud all point to one fact—cloud storage is the future of gaming. Cloud gaming frees gamers from the need to buy expensive hardware and gaming devices.
It also empowers friends to play their favorite video games together even if they live in separate regions. For publishers, cloud storage lowers costs and improves efficiency.
What is Cloud Storage?
Put simply, cloud storage means storing data on the Internet through a service provided by an independent company. You can access your files through a private network or through the public Internet.
Cloud storage saves you the need to invest in expensive data storage infrastructures. Instead, your data stays inside servers located at a specific location in your country or in different parts of the world. These servers store data for thousands of businesses, which helps lower the storage cost for everyone involved.
The best cloud storage companies have dedicated security teams and tools used to keep the servers safe from hackers and malware attacks. What’s more, they allow businesses to shift their entire operations online.
In other words, a video game developer can move its game to the cloud, allowing players to play the game without having to download large files. Additionally, cloud computing helps players play complex video games even if they don’t have expensive gaming machines.
Cloud Storage for Gaming Consoles
Nearly all major video game companies have adopted cloud storage. There’s a perfect explanation. Cloud storage facilitates cloud gaming. And cloud gaming provides video game access to billions of people around the world.
Not only can people play a game online, but they don’t really need to have an Xbox or a PlayStation. They could play a game on their smartphone, or PC smoothly.
That being said, secure cloud storage has revolutionized console gaming in the following ways:
Improved Security
Cloud computing providers invest vast amounts of resources to keep gaming data safe. For starters, they use secure servers that are monitored in real time to prevent attacks.
Additionally, they follow secure data transfer protocols to eliminate security threats like malware and hacking. They also provide security against DDoS attacks and periodically work with compliance authorities to offer proof of their security procedures.
Compared to non-cloud solutions, cloud storage platforms are less likely to suffer data breaches. The explanation is that cloud computing providers use more advanced security equipment.
They invest a lot of resources to keep their platforms secure. Without proper security, a cloud storage facility is as good as dead, anyways. As such, it’s in their best interest to invest in research and equipment that can prevent as many threats as possible.
Democratizing Gaming
Cloud gaming moves a console game from the Xbox or the PS5 to the cloud. In doing so, gamers no longer have to rely on their fancy consoles for gaming. They can use a cheap laptop or an iPhone to play the same games.
If you own an older console, cloud gaming makes it possible to play more advanced titles using powerful graphics and low latency. This is greatly helpful to gamers who can’t afford to buy newer consoles every now and then.
All you need is quick Internet and a gaming device. It could be your old PS4. Or, it might be a laptop. If it connects to the Internet, it can give you access to hundreds of video game titles.
Additionally, gamers can save money on hardware. The standard console game occupies more than 100GB, these days. That means you have to delete certain games or spend more on storage every year.
With cloud computing, you can forget about storage space. Everything runs on the cloud, meaning you don’t need to buy additional storage for your console.
More, Quality Content
Until last year, Netflix had been increasing revenues and subscribers every quarter. The secret: the giant streaming network was investing heavily in lots of quality content.
Video game companies are following the same guidebook. Cloud computing allows developers to formulate unique, extensive, entertaining, and creative content even if it means the game will be huge.
Gamers don’t need to install the games on their consoles. They just need to like the games. Of course, people have different states. As such, developers must keep producing different titles every year.
Fortunately, cloud computing supports unlimited growth. If a developer wishes to create 10 games in a year, they can acquire all the storage they need through a reliable provider.
New Monetization Techniques
Before cloud gaming, most console developers made money by selling physical copies of their games. Then the internet grew and developers shifted to selling digital copies.
Cloud gaming is opening new monetization channels for developers. The most popular channel is in-game purchases. Some developers let you play their games free of charge.
But to access certain levels, weapons, skins, and characters, you need to pay. This freemium model works. It’s so popular with mobile games. But lately, some console developers are also introducing it.
Another popular monetization strategy is the subscription method. Here, companies like Netflix and Nvidia charge you a monthly fee to play some or all of their cloud-based games.
Some cloud gaming providers are also working on advertising as a monetization method. Google, for example, can charge businesses millions of dollars to advertise their products to Stadia customers. And as long as the ads are not overbearing, gamers may tolerate the idea.
Bigger Demand, Stiffer Competition
Sony, Microsoft, and Google may be at the forefront of providing cloud gaming, but the space is only going to get more competitive. Cloud computing democratizes the gaming space, meaning it no longer can be controlled by a few forces.
In the future, the world of cloud gaming will consist of collaborations. Google is already doing this. It stopped plans to create gaming content in-house in favor of a collaborative effort.
Amazon also works with Ubisoft. One of them creates gaming content while the other offers cloud computing. Platform, device, and connectivity providers will also play different roles in enhancing cloud-based gaming.