The following article covers all there is to know about Cloud gaming and Cloud gaming services:
What is cloud gaming?
Cloud gaming is a game streaming service (like video streaming) where a user can play the games on a cloud server while its video and audio is streamed to the user’s browser.
What is cloud gaming? The best cloud gaming services Cloud Gaming Services Loudplay Cloud Gaming GeForce NOW PlayStation Now Playkey Cloud Gaming Vortex Cloud Gaming Parsec Cloud Gaming Shadow Cloud Gaming Paperspace Cloud gaming LiquidSky Cloud Gaming Google Stadia Final thoughts
Cloud gaming has several advantages including: Along with advantages, there are disadvantages of cloud gaming including:
The best cloud gaming services
Cloud gaming services are classified on the basis of some parameters that are recorded in the table below:
Cloud Gaming Services
There are many amazing cloud gaming services, each with its pros and cons. Below is the description of the top gaming services and their necessary information
Loudplay Cloud Gaming
Loudplay is one of the most powerful gaming services offered by cloud. Basically it creates a virtual cloud computer for you that allows you to run and operate any resource demanding software, or game and access gaming libraries such as steam and Uplay etc. Loudplay requires server updates from time to time. Instead of upgrading your hardware, you can now use Loudplay Cloud Gaming to play in beautiful graphics from any PC or laptop. The service also supports AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) content In order to use Loudplay, here are a few important details that you should know:
Pricing: 1$ per hourFree trial available: No free trial availableBroadcast quality of the games: 1080pFrames per second: 60fpsInternet bandwidth required: 10MbpsRecommended browser: No preference
Visit LoudPlay
GeForce NOW
GeForce NOW is another cloud gaming service, brought to you by NVidia that supports up to 400 games and allows you to choose from your own gaming libraries along with external gaming stores. The best thing about GeForce NOW is that it doesn’t require any driver updates or maintenance. It also offers an ultra streaming mode that can easily increase streaming speed from 60fps to 120fps. You will never have to face any latency issues if you are using GeForce NOW. The only problem with GeForce NOW is that it has entered its beta version and you need to request access to it, with no guarantee that you will be accepted. Due to the beta version, GeForce NOW has not announced any pricing yet. Here are the further details that you need to know before using this cloud service
Pricing: Free (at least until the beta version is over)Trial: free trial availableBroadcast quality of the games: 720p, 1080p Frames per second: 60fps (can go up to 120fps in ultra-streaming)Internet bandwidth required: 15Mbps for 720p, 25Mbps for 1080pRecommended browser: No preferenceOperating System: Supports only 64-bit Operating systems
Go to GeForce Now
PlayStation Now
If you are looking for PlayStation games, this cloud service is the right choice for you. PlayStation Now offers up to 800 PS2, PS3 and PS4 games that you can run directly on your console. Not only that, it provides you with the exclusive offer of unlimited downloads to a range of games and directly run them on your PS4. Download games through this service to support add-ons, DLC, and PS4 pro enhancements. It also offers an Ultra streaming mode to reduce latency and the service is highly economical. However, to run this service you would have to buy a PS4 controller. Further information required to run the service is given below
Pricing: subscription based per month, price starts at $9.99 only. Free trial available: 7-days free trial availableBroadcast quality of the games: 720pFrames per second: 120fpsInternet bandwidth required: Minimum 5MbpsRecommended browser: No preference
PlayStation Now Signup
Playkey Cloud Gaming
Playkey is a decentralized cloud gaming service that works for obsolete PC’s and it uses its modern servers to provide you advanced graphics for a better gaming experience. The biggest advantage of Playkey is that you don’t need a high specs computer for playing resource intensive new games, it will work for PC with even low specs. It supports almost 150 games such as Grand Theft Auto V, Witcher, Fortnite, PUBG and many more exciting games. Playkey also allows you to play games using Steam, Origin or Uplay starting with a minimum Internet speed of 10 Mbps. The other details that you need to know are listed below
Pricing: time based, 70-hour plan available for $35, 200 hours for $40, or unlimited gameplay for $45 Free trial available: First 20 minutes after sign-in are freeBroadcast quality of the games: 720p,1080pFrames per second: 30fps, 60fpsInternet bandwidth required: 10 Mbps for 30fps and 720p 15 Mpbs for 30fps and 1080p 20 Mbps for 60fps and 1080pRecommended browser: No preference
Visit Playkey.net
Vortex Cloud Gaming
If you are a beginner to Cloud gaming, Vortex is the perfect start. The sign up procedure is simple and you don’t need any extra specifications for your device to use Vortex. It has more than 100 titles and you can play any game from Vortex library also. It is really affordable for regular gamers and offers pro and ultra packages as well for a better gaming experience. It doesn’t require maintenance of additional downloads and driver updates and your savings are always backed up in the cloud using it. Vortex works on mobile phones too. Here are further details you should know before starting on Vortex
Pricing: subscription based per month, basic package starts at 9.99$ Free trial available: No free trial availableBroadcast quality of the games: N/AFrames per second: N/AInternet bandwidth required: N/ARecommended browser: No preference
Get started with Vortex
Parsec Cloud Gaming
Parsec Cloud gaming is unique because of its multiplayer feature ability. It works as a simple screen sharing technology which allows you to share the screen with your friends, or gamers all around the world. It offers ultra low latency stream to reduce latency and also allows you to run OBS (open broadcast software ) in the background for your game streaming. Using Parsec you can connect to any game and add anyone you want to your game. Some other features it has are listed below
Pricing: $0.5-0.8 per hourFree trial available: No free trial availableBroadcast quality of the games: 720pFrames per second: 60fpsInternet bandwidth required: 5Mbps, 10Mbps for 1080pRecommended browser: No preference
Find out more about the Parsec cloud gaming service here
Shadow Cloud Gaming
Shadow is another gaming service that works on all devices. If you are a mobile or tablet user, the best cloud gaming service for you is Shadow. You can run any new game or software on your low specs PC using Shadow without making any hardware changes. Enjoy high-end performance on all screens up to 144Hz in Full HD using the Shadow cloud gaming service. The drawback of Shadow is that it is a very expensive cloud service and it is only available in some parts of US. Some further details that you need to know about Shadow are listed below:
Pricing: subscription based per month, $34.95 with cancellation available at all timesFree trial available: No free trial availableBroadcast quality of the games: 1080pFrames per second: 60fps to 120fpsInternet bandwidth required: 15MbpsRecommended browser: No preference Operating System: 64-bit Operating System
Find out more about Shadow here
Paperspace Cloud gaming
Paperspace is a cloud gaming service that has a very simple setup to provide you with a strong gaming platform. Paperspace has partnered with Parsec to provide you with the most high resource demanding games. It has high powered GPU’s (that are also available for rent) that allow smooth streaming and enhanced graphics for a better gaming experience. It offers the best titles and allows installation of any application. Moreover it works at a very reasonable price. Here are the further details required before you sign up:
Pricing: $0.51 per hour (minimum package)Free trial available: N/ABroadcast quality of the games: N/AFrames per second: 60fpsInternet bandwidth required: 15MbpsRecommended browser: No preference
Paperspace Cloud gaming
LiquidSky Cloud Gaming
LiquidSky offers many services, one of which is Cloud gaming. It also allows you to play PC games on your android smartphone by installing LiquidSky app. LiquidSky is capable of running the latest AAA Windows games, with the ability to stream in full HD, 120FPS, and with ultra low latency. In order to use the service, you need to login to Steam, Origin or Uplay account. Some other features of LiquidSky are given below
Pricing: Subscription based per month, package starts at $19.99, also offers hourly packagesFree trial available: First 20 minutes are freeBroadcast quality of the games: 1080pFrames per second: 120fpsInternet bandwidth required: Minimum 15MbpsRecommended browser: No preference
LiquidSky gaming signup
Google Stadia
Stadia is a gaming service offered by Google. The unique feature of Stadia is that it allows developers to create different instances of their game in the cloud to easily provide players the ability to play co-op. It is planned to be integrated with Youtube as well. It is advertised to be working with 4K resolution at 60fps with high dynamic range. Further information required is given below
Pricing: Subscription based per month, package starts at $10Free trial available: No free trial availableBroadcast quality of the games: 4kFrames per second: 60fpsInternet bandwidth required: Minimum 10MbpsRecommended browser: No preference
Open Google Stadia now
Final thoughts
While most cloud gaming companies are investing more and more into cloud gaming, one thing is for sure: offline gaming is not going anywhere. The cloud gaming service can be used to complement your gaming experience but not replace offline gaming completely. What are your thoughts about cloud gaming? Which service do you use for your games?
