Cloud Gaming Services

There is a common misconception that Cloud Gaming Services and Game Servers mean the same. While there are some similarities between the two but they are fundamentally very different from each other. 

Game Servers are a service that game manufacturers use to handle users on their platform. All online multiplayer games require game servers to receive user responses and respond to them.

On the other hand, Cloud Gaming Services act as a consumer-centric product that lets you stream any game of your choice.

Cloud Gaming comes with numerous advantages over conventional gaming. Some of the best cloud gaming:-

• No need for high-end hardware
• Play it anywhere 
• Excellent compatibility across devices.
• Significant reduction in cost.
• Access to a multitude of games.
• Prevention of piracy. 
• Security.

The NVIDIA GeForce Now provides a wholesome gaming experience with slight input lag but requires a strong internet connection for smooth gaming. While most cloud gaming services come with their own game library to buy individual games. GeForce Now does not give you the option to purchase games.

You can only integrate your games from famous game clients like Steam, Epic, Uplay, and more. You should also note that GeForce Now may not support a few games from some game clients.

The PlayStation Now is an excellent alternative if you have a PlayStation or love the PlayStation titles. The cloud gaming service comes with a library of over 800 games that gets unlocked after you pay for your subscription. PlayStation Now then gives you complete control over all the titles from their library.

You can either download the games and play them conventionally or stream them using the PS Now servers. It comes with a perfect blend of legendary titles from the PS2 and modern titles from the PS4 and 5.

This cloud gaming service does not support smartphone OS like Android or iOS

The much-hyped Google Stadia did not meet user expectations when it was initially launched, but the cloud gaming service has improved manifolds since then.

Stadia can run through the mobile application on Android devices and browsers on all devices Stadia lets you choose games through their library and pay for a monthly rental or opt for their monthly subscription that includes handpicked titles.

The Stadia controller is another unique feature of the cloud gaming service. You can pair the Stadia controller to your Android device and enjoy a console-like gaming experience on the go. 

It is not right to call Shadow a cloud gaming service; instead. Shadow is a cloud computing service. Unlike other cloud gaming services that allocate a piece of their resources when you want to play a game, Shadow dedicates an entire computer to you.

You get a new Windows-packed computer with RTX graphics, 12 GB of RAM, and a 1 Gbps download speed. The user can tweak all the system settings on the Windows computer as they would do on a conventional machine.

Shadow’s monthly subscription is on the higher side, but it is one of the best cloud gaming services due to its fantastic feature set.

Vortex is a reasonably new player in the cloud gaming service biz. You won’t experience the best application UI or cool features with Vortex, but it comes with a reasonably usable streaming quality. It packs an extensive game library despite its low subscription fee. Vortex comes with a browser and Android support for using the service, but the desktop version sports limited functionality.

The overall gaming experience is not stutter-free, though; frame drops and input lags are common, especially on higher settings. You can go with Vortex if you are tight on the budget.

Amazon Luna is a relatively new addition to the list of best cloud gaming services. Luna comes with a limited but swiftly expanding game library and a decent gaming experience.

Currently, Luna only supports web browser-based gameplay, but you can massively increase the feature set using the Luna controller.

Luna currently offers games like Wonderful 101: Remastered, Ride 4, and Narita Boy, but you can add the Ubisoft+ to your subscription.

Rather than just using centralized servers for its cloud gaming services, Playkey uses Blockchain technology. Playkey comes as a win-win service for both crypto miners and gamers. You can either let your device mine cryptocurrency by being a part of the blockchain network or use the good old cloud gaming service.

Playkey servers come with the Nvidia GeForce 1080 Ti with 3584 CUDA 11 GB, i7 4 cores, and 20GB RAM for the best cloud gaming experience.

Currently, Playkey does not support mobile devices and only runs on desktop operating systems.

Paperspace is yet another cloud computing service, with gaming being a part of the bigger picture. Just like Shadow, Paperspace assigns a Windows computer after you subscribe to a plan and lets you use the remote PC as per your wish. The best part about using Paperspace is the ability to choose your own hardware.

Good streaming experience and up to 4K gaming are some of the perks of using Paperspace. You also get the option to hourly rent the gaming

Blacknut is a highly affordable cloud gaming service with a reasonably easy-to-use application interface. The application comes with a two-week free trial to let you get used to it. Blackout markets its product as a family-centric entity.

You can use it on various platforms like Windows, Mac, Amazon Fire TV, Linux, Android, and more.

The platform offers 300 games in their library, but some of the most popular games are missing. You can try Blacknut for basic gaming, but this may not be the best platform if you wish to be a professional gamer.

NetBoom offers a full-fledged cloud gaming experience with all significant AAA titles on mobile devices. You get support for Android, iOS, and web browsers to stream your favorite games. It comes with the support of a customizable Virtual Keyboard during gameplay. The constantly growing game library includes popular titles like GTA V, Far Cry 5, FIFA, Hitman, and more.

The best part about it is that playing gaming is a straightforward process. Even a tech novice can play a game as it requires no prior installation or setting up before launching the game.