Cloud gaming’s promise is why Microsoft, Google and Tencent are all diving in
Cloud gaming is like streaming video, but for games. Games run on servers in the cloud, sending video streams to your device -- meaning you can play virtually any game on any device, no downloads needed.
The promise of cloud gaming is that people can browse a huge game library online, select a game and start playing immediately without needing to download the whole game. It won’t matter what device you have; whether it’s a traditional game console, a simple TV box or even a smartphone, even the most demanding game should be the same on any platform.
Think about how you play games right now. Whether it’s Candy Crush on the iPhone or Red Dead Redemption 2 on PlayStation 4, the general principle is the same: The game itself is on the device itself, either in internal memory or some sort of removable media like a cartridge or disc. When it’s time to play, the processors on your iPhone or PS4 run the game locally on the device. There’s a reason games on Nintendo Switch look worse than, say, a high-end PC: The Switch just isn’t as powerful.