As gaming hardware increases to more expansive technology, providing large amounts of content with spectacular graphics and gameplay, game files and install data grows larger and larger in size. Along with a cry for a drop on the price tag of popular titles and gaming developers looking to put a halt to the used game market, streaming services step in to potentially douse a few fires with Sony’s gaming app, PS Now.
We take a walk around the Cloud Gaming Graveyard - listing all the failed cloud gaming services over the last decade.
We discuss the ups, the downs, and overall history of this technology. Turns out running a successful cloud gaming service that addresses the various technical hurdles and actually makes money is a real challenge.
PlayStation dominated cloud gaming users throughout 2021, beating Microsoft's xCloud streaming by over 10%, but Xbox swings back at PlayStation in 2022.
“Good competition” is not something Microsoft offers often. You should want THEM to feel enough heat to actually do better.
Agree. I wish sony would be more afraid of gamepass to get better games on ps+
"You should want THEM to feel enough heat to actually do better."
Phil Spencer started to acquire studios back in 2018, after that, Xbox Studios only had 5 studios. Now Xbox has 23 almost 5x more studios. Not to mention third party exclusives like Flight Simulator, Contraband and Project Dragon.
Plus, unlike Sony, Xbox Studios won´t be distracted with things like VR, all of their first party efforts goes towards Xbox first and foremost.
Sony so can expect a much more robust Gamepass in terms of first party and third party exclusives games from Xbox from now on.
Since Sony have less studios and won´t release their games day one on PS+, they better make sure andl deliver high quality games like Ragnarok. Because so far, 2023 hadn´t started well for them with Forspoken.
https://www.videogameschron...
Sony spent millions to secure a AAA third party exclusive game build from the ground up for PS5, not to mention more millions spent on market to be outperformed by a AA game which costs less than half on Steam, had an EPIC day one surprise announcement AND release with ZERO money invested on promotion and marketing.
If that´s not good competition, I don´t know what it is.
"It isn’t."
Oh yes, it is. You can bet your life that both companies cares about their money and investments.
The simple fact that Sony continues to pay multiple publishers to keep games out of Xbox forever, is nothing but a reaction to Gamepass.
Imo, Sony now fears that once their timed-exclusive contracts ends, those games will be available on Gamepass the moment the said games hits the Xbox platforms.
Sony fears the scenario where gamers realize that it´s not worth to invest in every single game released on Playstation at full $70 once they´ll be getting it for "free" on Gamepass eventually, just like Yakuza, Dragon Quest, Octopath Traveler, Nino Kuni, Persona series and more.
ARK 2 (exclusive on Xbox consoles), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2( exclusive on Xbox consoles), Flintlock, Wo Long, Atomic Hears, Lies of P, Eiyuden Chronicle, Hollow Knight: Silksong. Minecraft: Legends, MLB 23...
Those are just some of the games that Xbox players will be getting for "free" day one while Playstation gamers will have to pay for all of it.
So at least you´re rich or something, Xbox players will be getting way more NEW games to play than you. That´s just facts.
@Obscure_Observer
I can bet that one company brings actual competition, isn’t afraid to share losing numbers, and doesn’t buy huge publishers due to said weaknesses. That’s what I can bet.
As a fan of theirs, you should want them to do better and offer more than subscriptions services and unfulfilled promises.
@obscure. Well Sony can't control 3rd party games quality, but their 1st party certainly trounces MS's. Spiderman 2 is going to a absolutely dominate the holiday season, just like ragnarok did this past holiday season. Sony easily has the best gaming studios out of the big three. It's.not Sony who has to worry about their 1st part output, it is MS.
@Obscure: what AAA games would I buy an XsX today to play?
I own a ps5 and XsX, and I don’t know of one game that would have motivated me to buy an XsX ( I bought it to appease my dumb Xbot friends).
I bought a ps5 for Demon Souls (best looking game on consoles), Returnal (top 10 game of all time for me), and Dualsense upgrades for shooters (completely changes R6 for me).
So, can you illustrate how XsX is competing? I liked HiFi Rush a lot, High on Life too, but neither make we happy about the $500 I sunk into the hardware to play them.
Obscurer, you're saying an awful lot without talking much sense at all.
VR isn't a distraction, neither does it take games away from playstation. Sony have been building and harnessing studios just for this while working on their 1st party none VR titles.
Microsoft is fully committed to gamepass and that's fine for them and those that like to game that way. It will be an even better product if Microsoft can nail their 1st party games.
What I'd hate to see are more moves like the Activision and Bethesda purchases and attempts because it destroys the gaming ecosystem. I'd say the same for Sony as well because once the ball is rolling, they'll all start buying and diving gaming.
"I can bet that one company brings actual competition, isn’t afraid to share losing numbers, and doesn’t buy huge publishers due to said weaknesses. That’s what I can bet."
Unfortunately for you, MS or Nintendo aren´t forced to play by yours or Sony´s rules. Fyi, Sony used to buy publishers back in the day. The only reason they aren´t doing it now is simply because they can´t.
As it is, Sony already owns 14.09% of Kadokawa´s shares while Tencent acquired 16% of the company's shares, which means 1/3 of the entire company ownership.
The only reason why Tencent owns more than Sony is because Sony couldn´t pay more for it. So spare me from this "victim complex" bs defense for Sony.
Phil acted as the "nice guy" for too long. To the point where stupid fanboys were all happy when Xbox acquired new studios and publishers, because the idiots were under the illusion that all future Xbox games would become multiplatform and be released on Playstation.
Yeah, they were stupid to the point of thinking that MS would turn into a third party developer for Playstation.
Reality hits hard and here we are. Now that they KNOW those games aren´t coming to Playstation, all that they can do now is cry and moan over games paid and developed by Microsoft to not be on their platform of choice.
They think they´re entitled to have anything and everything otherwise it´s not good competition.
Phil Spencer won´t stop. Be the Activision/Blizzard deal approved or not, he can just go after a single studio like CDPR for example and you´ll be here crying all the same.
I don´t care if Sony or Nintendo buys SquareEnix, From Software or even SEGA tomorrow. Because I have no problem buying products from those companies if they have the games I want. I care about games first and foremost. So don´t expect me to be on your sad place complaining about big a$$ companies running their business as they see fit.
"You should want THEM to feel enough heat to actually do better."
But when they do attempt to do better ppl complain about it.
With the whole Bethesda thing. There was article on here not too long ago talking about how Bethesda investment will pay off for MS. The whole comment section everyone was whining about how MS was taking games away. So when MS competes everyone here complains on here. No matter what MS hurts feelings. It's quite funny actually.
@Lightning77
In other words, outside of publisher acquisitions, they have not really attempted to compete.
And "whining" happens on both sides, so I hope you are just as entertained when people bitch and moan about moves Sony makes.
Ps+ extra already has better games than gamepass. Just look at the highest scoring games...ps extra has more of them.
Lol. What a joke.
PS+ relies on old games. Gamepass not only has day one first party games but also day one third party as well. Even from Sony. XD
Exactly. “Day one” is a buzz word that makes these guys think they have a better line up but it has not amounted to much. If you look at what they have at any given time on their service its not that rosy. Not to mention “day one” also exists on PS plus just not for the first party AAA story games (which is fine w me as long as they continue making the hits).
Check out their list of day one releases for all the years they had gamepass. Its a joke.
@obscure
I'd take good old games then new Bad games. Besides that wasn't his point and that has nothing to do with what I claimed. The op said that they should offer better games but they already offer better games. He did not say new games. Or even New Quality games. But to your point, I know that game pass lovers do enjoy their day one bad or mediocre games. It's all about value with you guys and not quality
Some are going ape shit over Hi-Fi Rush but completely forgot about the Tokyo Wire dud the same developer last released. My point being there are hits and misses.
" It's all about value with you guys and not quality"
Lol. Your false narrative didn´t aged well.
All Metacritic scores for day one first party games
.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps 92 on Metacritic
Flight Simulator 90 on Metacritic
Forza Horizon 5 92 on Metacritic
Halo Infinite 87 on Metacritic
Grounded 85 on Metacritic
Pentiment 87 on Metacritic
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition 87 on Metacritic
Hi-Fi Rush 88 on Metacritic
And that´s only from first party games/IPs on Xbox series consoles.
So much for your "quality vs quantity" BS narrative.
Oh, and we "Gamepass Lovers" also love old quality games as well. I also can give you a large list of high quality third party on Gamepass. Just ask. ;)
@Obscure_Observer… Forspoken was not a 1st party game from Sony nor should it be treated as such. Square Enix will comeback nicely with FFXVI I’m sure.
Besides Sony is entitled to some misses here and there because they actually take chances on new titles and release them regularly.
Bu the time Spiderman 2 releases everyone will have forgotten all about this terrible start you’re claiming.
They're so anxious to try to nail Sony on something that they'll even bring up third party developers not under Sony. Oh look this time's exclusive that wasn't developed by a Sony studio was bad so Sony doesn't know how to do good games.
"@Obscure_Observer… Forspoken was not a 1st party game from Sony nor should it be treated as such. Square Enix will comeback nicely with FFXVI I’m sure."
In no moment I said it´s a first party game. Both Forspoken and FFXVI are exclusive Playstation 5 games which Sony invested large sums of money to secure to their platform. Just like the original Spiderman from Insomniac. (which till this day Sony fans treat it like a first party/IP)
So it´s pretty obvious if the game fails, Sony also fails and loses tons of money which could had been invested on first party games.
"Besides Sony is entitled to some misses here and there because they actually take chances on new titles and release them regularly."
True.
"Bu the time Spiderman 2 releases everyone will have forgotten all about this terrible start you’re claiming."
Also true. The same can be said about FFXVI, imo.
"The leader, Nintendo, doesn’t care what the competition does."
Couldn´t agree more
The Switch is leading the PS5 because it launched three years prior. PS4 won last gen is all forms (money made, units sold, software totals).
No hate for Nintendo though, as they are another company who actually puts out quality games in high numbers, but just a little perspective.
“In 2022, Microsoft took the lead with 60-70% of total MAUs”
From 20-30% up to 60-70%? That’s some crazy growth. Probably thanks to Fortnite.
All the other stats dont matter. Especially the ones where ps is tearing xbox a new one
“In 2022, Microsoft took the lead with 60-70% of total MAUs”
Probably one of reasons why Sony won´t return Activision´s calls.
Oops, somebody didn't read the article.
This isn't a "YoY increase". It's market share, so we know they had 60-70% of the streaming market.
That’s why we game: to celebrate YoY growth!
Three cheers for first-party content-starving fueling third party max’s and subscriptions.
What a clickbait headline. Why mention 2021, when the tides turned in 2022 for the obvious reason of one company making the Cloud service one of their biggest marketing pushes throughout the entire year while the other company was able to promote the games they had coming out?
And it's imprudent to suggest crazy growth when we only know proportions - did Xbox grow its proportion by attracting from the competitors' bases, did their marketing pay off and attract new users, or did cloud gamers on competitors just not play as much? The MAU figures don't point to shifts as significant as the Cloud proportions do, and Microsoft's lack of raw subscriber numbers that they happily boasted about in 2021 is telling too.
The PlayStation Brahs:
"Playstation Now will soon cease as exist as it combines with PlayStation Plus to be one super subscription, titles that won't carryover to the PlayStation Plus revamp will begin to leave the service in May."
Wait, what? I thought PS+ premium would carry over the games from PSNow?
Also this basically leaves MGS4 dead in the boneyard unless you play via RPCS3…
That was never going to be the case. Sony said that Premium would have 340 PS3, PS2, and PS1 games. There are like 400 PS3 games alone on PS Now right now so it was obvious some of them weren't going to carry over.
If they are just combining forces... there is no reason why any games would leave. Unless they were already planning on removing them regardless of the merge (licensing issues).
MGS could be licensing I guess - isn’t the HD collection still unavailable / in licensing hell?
I’d like to think Konami are yanking everything MGS because they’re about to announce a 1-5 collection but… we know Konami better than that.
I forgot to include PSP in my comment. So yeah you can see that when Sony says there will be 340 PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP games while there are currently 400 PS3 games on PS Now that a good chunk of those current PS3 games are going away. They aren't just rolling them all onto the new PS+ otherwise the number would be much higher than 340
Yeah I guess I just never really did the math on the numbers they announced so this caught me off guard.
PSnow is a platform and it will not exist after next month. Them being on one service doesn't automatically mean that they will be on another service. Contracts are drawn up and compensation may include things like per player reimbursement. Therefore you shouldn't automatically expect a game to go from one platform to another.... if Sony can strike a deal with Konami then the game will come to plus (if it already hasn't been decided).
But to be clear all PSNow games are leaving the service because the service will cease to exist.
400 ps3 games that you have " no Choice" but to stream, doesn't make me want to upgrade ps+ . As it is , if you keep the basic ps+ you're going to lose1of the 3 games a month to begin with.
Nothing here for the new upcoming service seems like a worthwhile subscription.
Or, you know, you could play it on an actual PS3.
If you don't have one there's almost 90 million systems to track down, cop one and do that.
Here's the game too
https://www.ebay.com/itm/40...
Is that you Don Mattrick?
The ideal solution would be a proper back compat implementation.
I shouldn’t have to crack out my 16 year old console to play a legendary game like MGS.
Also MGS was basically a PS franchise yet somehow it’s now basically an Xbox franchise if you want to play it nowadays.
Hopefully the new “preservation” team at Sony tackle this problem.
@mkis The PC is always the place where you can get everything thanks to emulators etc.
But still, XSX and XB1 plays substantially more metal gear games than any other recent console, so my statement stands true.
Or you know, you could play it on the console that you ACTUALLY HAVE without having to resort to ebay to buy a a console from two gen ago with scalper’s price.
I have a OG PS3 (big boy) just gathering dust. I think it even plays PS2 games. I guess I'll put it on eBay.
so basically throw money at the problem.
sure it works, as long as not everyone is doing it. Is it ideal?....maybe for the sellers
Oh. So orchard can lie and say that the only way to play the game is through an emulator. Which is false.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/13...
Here's a console for $50 and 7 games. Buy MGS4 above and that's 55 bucks before shipping. Can play it forever.
“Also this basically leaves MGS4 dead in the boneyard unless you play via RPCS3…”
Looks like what I wrote is accurate if your only alternative is to go on eBay and buy a console from 3 generations ago which is no longer manufactured.
Thanks for reinforcing my point.
I agree you should buy a PS3 if you are really interested in it's games but don't come on here linking to a eBay auction that has a price that will definitely increase before it ends and act like that is what they sell for. More accurate prices seem to be around $100.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i....
Only reason I want PS3 emulation on PS5 is because a lot of the original games aren't even 1080p, some even sub 720p and we could see these games up to 4k and smoother framerates on PS5.
Orchard, PSNow has 800+ games. PS+ Premium was announced for 700+ games. Some games were expected to be removed as one service cancelled and combined for another, and now we know which ones. What are you so surprised about, or did you not know PS+ Premium was loosing 100 games from PSNow while simultaneously being compared to a Gamepass competitor?
And yes actually, a lot of lifetime PS gamers have a PS3. I have one in my living room with the rest of my consoles and one in my bedroom. They aren’t like ancient record players today like their competing consoles. The PS3 came with features we expect today in a new device that were very premium for 2006 hardware. I can use my PS3 as a blu-ray player in 2022. I can’t with my 360 since 2005. I can also put MGS4 in my PS3 in 2022, or any of my 220+ on the game shelf.
I think you’re scaling PS gamers abandoning their prior consoles at the rate Xbox gamers did with the 360 and One. If you are a gamer and enjoy PS, chances are you don’t have to ‘crack’ out a 16 year old device and suffocate on the floor in a web of cords around your neck wishing we were loyal to Phil Spencer to swoop in like Superman to save us from imminent death
I sure hope MGS4 comes to PS pass or whatever. It's the one game i want to replay. Man i loved that game.
It's actually a lot of games that will leave at the same time.
Probably to leave some space for the PSP games that are gonna be added to the premium service.
As for MGS4, I would expect Konami to be behind the move.
Unfortunate that MGS4 is leaving regardless. Played it with PSNow on PC and enjoyed having one of my favorite PS3 games to play again.
It's going to suck if these PSP and PS2 games they are referencing are the few already released on PS4 store which were included with PS Now.
Ah, yes. Bask in the "service" era. Where what you see today, is not what you'll see tomorrow, thanks to an overcomplicated system.
The "service", is simply, off the charts.
Complicated how?
Also, you can always buy the game. Just like other services that offer third party content, they are on their for a limited time or however long the contract holds.
Well, yes, when I subscribe to a service I hope to have different games cycle through. PS Now gives you a time frame to finish the games you want to try and Xbox is generally a year for most titles. They both give warning when titles are leaving. There are multiple web pages dedicated to each service if you need help figuring out which carton of milk needs finished first.
Big difference between PS Now games leaving that are only available for streaming and games you can purchase even if they leave the service. Every game on Game Pass you can purchase without a subscription unlike PS Now.
im not really sure how the complexity of the PS3 architecture, and the "service" era are related. They seem like two completely separate entities with no interaction worthy of mentioning. Maybe you meant it as a problem that can exists in both entities.
So when games leave PS Now, it's a huge issue but when games leave GamePass it's just fine? All subscription services have games / movies leave all the time.
I really hope that the future of gaming isn't the removal of all ownership rights and an always online service.
It could have been a big step but sometimes Sony can't seem to figure out how to take great technology over the finish line. Where are the Android/iOS clients, marketing, multiple devices? Except for the lack of buttons, the Vita client works brilliantly, yet it's getting discontinued. I really don't get what Sony is doing here. I don't want to stream old games in low resolution on my ps4 pro/4k, but I'd be happy to do it on a portable.
PS Now will always remain an interesting alternative, nothing more nothing less
It'll never be the definitive next step
720p streaming with artifacts, PS Now needs to take a big step forward in it's streaming quality first.