I finally get the value of Cloud Gaming and it's amazing

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Long time cloud gaming hater here. Never saw why I would bother with cloud gaming when playing locally is "superior". Also like the feeling of knowing that the game is running off the console and not streaming.

Never tried any cloud service until this year with Gamepass. I travel a lot for work and of course can't take my Series X with me. Being able to play my library of games straight away on the fly anywhere I am on my laptop is amazing.

For instance i'm currently half way through Halo Infinite, I'm out of town for the next 3 weeks and all I had to do was launch the game on my laptop to pick up exactly where I was. No need to download, configure or whatever anything. To be honest being able to play all my games anywhere on any device with 100% continuity between devices is the most next gen thing to me so far this gen.

As a "hardcore" gamer if you think about cloud gaming as something to replace console gaming you're looking at it all wrong, you need to think about it as an extra option for you to keep your gaming habits wherever you.
 
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if you think about cloud gaming as something to replace console gaming you're looking at it all wrong,
this.
Try explaining this to the "the cloud will replace all local hardware next gen (every gen)"-guys, though.
 
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Been saying this since XCloud launched in beta. Being able to play Xbox games on my lunch break at work was a game changer for me. Anywhere you have an internet connection, a screen, and a controller (optional for some games), you have an Xbox.

My only real gripe now is that it doesn't work for games that aren't on Game Pass, but I'm sure that'll get sorted eventually.
 
You can't really explain it to people.. its something you need to try and see for yourself.

It still feels weird to just click and play a AAA title in a browser .. no download, no installation, no hassle at all, and you start where you left off on your local machine. Its a bit of a magic trick.
 
I'd love it to work well but MS must not have any servers near N.Ireland because its just always a laggy glitch fest when I use it, even with wired ethernet.
 
These cloud praising threads today...

Frustrated Clint Eastwood GIF
 
I'd love it to work well but MS must not have any servers near N.Ireland because its just always a laggy glitch fest when I use it, even with wired ethernet.

That is the main issue and MS do have a huge amount of servers all over the place and its still no enough to cover everyone.
 
As a "hardcore" gamer if you think about cloud gaming as something to replace console gaming you're looking at it all wrong, you need to think about it as an extra option for you to keep your gaming habits wherever you.

This is an excellent point. I believe more people will eventually warm up to the concept, even if it's something that they'll only use occasionally when their preferred "traditional" method of playing video games isn't readily available.
 
It will happen eventually. Probably sooner than later.
wake me up when basic things like the speed of light are no longer a factor in computation and information transfer or we at least have a digital infrastructure where basically everyone has a computation hub with near unlimited bandwith right next to his place, until then this claim is simply bullshit.
 
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You can't be hardcore if you tolerate the noticeable input lag and inconsistent image quality, while playing a fucking FPS.

I've given a fair shake to all these cloud services, including Xcloud, and they are impressive at first but the problems just start sticking out more and more.

Good solution for games that don't require precision gameplay.

If you are an addict and need to play games on your lunch break or can't handle a few days without gaming, I suggest playing some of the good games out there available for mobile.
 
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I think putting things on someone else's computer is always going to have flaws.

It's be better if you had multiple devices that could effectively play the game.

If the game could scale a better option would be cloud saves and playing on local hardware.

I'd rather have the power of that server in my hand. Which is more likely than cloud being worthwhile.

There are serious issues with not owning hardware and software.
 
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Yes, it's a great option. I used Geforce Now on PC, and PS Now on my PS5. Both work pretty well. Latency is pretty low these days.
 
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I have GamePass and tried streaming a few times on a few different devices. It worked, so that's cool?

That said, I could feel the latency and resolution difference, and would rather just play the game natively on the best device for the best experience.

Basically, I was dubious about cloud gaming before and after trying it I'm even more dubious.
 
I used to stream Destiny from my PS4 to my Vita when I was away from home and wanted to do Strikes with my friends. I played some PS3 games using PS Now too. It was a good experience for what it was, but it's very situational. I wouldn't choose it over gaming on the actual hardware, but like you say that isn't the point in our case.

I suppose it would be decent for those looking to upgrade their GPU's. Geforece Now could provide better graphics / performance in certain games. Again it's situational.
 
I played Halo 4 and 5 via the cloud and honestly it was kinda trash. Input lag makes the controls sluggish, and visually it's like playing a youtube video but worse.

It's servicable at best.
 
You can't really explain it to people.. its something you need to try and see for yourself.

It still feels weird to just click and play a AAA title in a browser .. no download, no installation, no hassle at all, and you start where you left off on your local machine. Its a bit of a magic trick.
Most next gen feeling for me so far.
 
I played through Halo Infinite this way, and while it does in a pinch, because of the added (and worse, inconsistent) lag and video compression I wouldn't want to play the rest of Infinite's future this way and was thinking about local hardware. I watch reviews of it running on local hardware and just go, yeah I missed out with that video quality and how much quicker you can be with local native latency. And MP was definitely a no go that way.

Cloud Gaming will only get bigger going into the future but it needs years more of buildout, at least where I am in a city of half a million. Maybe if you're right beside one of their servers with a fast connection to boot it's better than what I experienced, but despite a good internet connection the streaming thing was just sapping some fun out.


But I was impressed at its syncing for sure, you can play some locally on a PC or Xbox and pick up from anywhere.
 
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I played through Halo Infinite this way, and while it does in a pinch, because of the added (and worse, inconsistent) lag and video compression I wouldn't want to play the rest of Infinite's future this way and was thinking about local hardware. I watch reviews of it running on local hardware and just go, yeah I missed out with that video quality and how much quicker you can be with local native latency. And MP was definitely a no go that way.

Cloud Gaming will only get bigger going into the future but it needs years more of buildout, at least where I am in a city of half a million. Maybe if you're right beside one of their servers with a fast connection to boot it's better than what I experienced, but despite a good internet connection the streaming thing was just sapping some fun out.

Its just not good enough for FPS games.. for now at least.
 
wake me up when basic things like the speed of light are no longer a factor in computation and information transfer or we at least have a digital infrastructure where basically everyone has a computation hub with near unlimited bandwith right next to his place, until then this claim is simply bullshit.

Yeah, I wonder what people thought about "internet" in the 80s. Or about gaslight in the 1700. Or
 
Yeah, I wonder what people thought about "internet" in the 80s. Or about gaslight in the 1700. Or
No comment on the basic limitations I mentioned ofc. Who`d have thought.....
Another barebones "tech is magic" answer.
 
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if you think about cloud gaming as something to replace console gaming you're looking at it all wrong, you need to think about it as an extra option for you to keep your gaming habits wherever you.

D-do people actually think it will replace console gaming as a whole?
 
I've been using the backbone with my iPhone max pro and it's been an incredible experience with the cloud. I couldn't agree more. It's amazing how well it works if you have a good internet connection
 
Those are good points, OP, but consider mine.

I've tried cloud gaming. To me, it's crap.
I played five minutes of Path of Exile over GFN, and I turned it off because it was unbearable. And keeping in mind that I'm a low-spec gamer, for something to be "unbearable" to me really takes some doing - this isn't a case of some noticeable input lag or slight stream artifacting at 4K, this is "stream breaking and stuttering at 720p, sometimes disconnecting entirely, and don't even mention the sound" kind of situation.

Point of fact is, cloud gaming as a whole is a privileged country thing. It's not some fantastical solution that rids you of hardware requirements to play your games - it just replaces one set of hardware requirements with another, no less expensive and no less pointless for those who don't have access to them. I don't even have a 5GHz wifi router for my landline. I'm not sure my tablet supports 5GHz, either. Most of the time I go out of the house, my internet connection is 3G cellular. I don't have the money to upgrade to use cloud gaming. So for me, cloud gaming is nothing - I would much rather have cheap, powerful dedicated hardware. If it's portable like the Steam Deck, all the better.
 

Cloud gaming is very clearly the future and it's been clear to me for a long time. It will replace localized gaming. Eventually. The time is not yet, though.
It wasn't 10 years ago. Why would it be is?

We now have a Switch console dominating.

If everyone had a mobile device to play 720p games on the go and the A home console or PC that can play 8k cloud gaming makes no sense.

What advantage is there?
 
It's all how it is supported, monetized, and given a lot of optional function. In other words, gamers do not trust or like foreign concepts shoved down their throats. Implement it as an option for games, but remove the concern of replacing other ways to own and play games, and it will do just fine; if it's really meant to be.
 
Game companies do not make a profit off system hardware, so once the cloud/internet is basically the same at the system level, they are gonna cut out that system manufacture loss. They might still make a console, but it will probably only have some streaming stuff inside, nothing too expensive.
 
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That latency….until they figure it out, it destroys any use of cloud gaming for me.

There's a reason they don't stream VR games….
 
That latency….until they figure it out, it destroys any use of cloud gaming for me.

There's a reason they don't stream VR games….
Wired helps a lot.

For me I've been grinding on Forza Horizon 5 when at work so I can complete the big set pieces when at home. It's been a cool thing to do with how fast it keeps things in sync.
 
I have to asume most of the posters here dont even invest 30 seconds to read what OP is saying.
Summary:
- Cloud Gaming is not a replacement of local hardware.
- Cloud gaming is an option for situations where usually it was not possible to play in the past. IE: A plane.

Hard to understand why theres comments like "Nah, will stick with local hardware" when thats not the premise in the first place.
 
xCloud adds a lot of value to GP Ultimate. It creates a new method of local co-op by being able to spin up a Series X on your phone with a controller. It's a faster way of game discovery, too. Don't have to wait for a 80GB download, you can just jump right into a game and try it.
 
OP "finally" sees the value because MS started doing it. You can do that with remote play or PS Now for years + GeForce and Stadia.

You never see any threads about it tho. How strange.
 
I find threads like these funny - mainly because the OP assumes everyone else shares their same bias against the thing they just had a "revelation" of. I think most people understood the key benefit cloud gaming can bring from its inception; the reasons mentioned have been the cornerstone for any company pushing for game streaming, ever since OnLive & Gaikai were announced. With video content it was a quicker cycle comparatively due to the nature of that content. Streaming has come a long way when it comes to games but it's not perfect for every situation and for every household.

So if someone isn't necessarily in favor of streaming it's not because they don't "get" it and need someone to 'open' their eyes. I tried OnLive when it was first announced, later when it became PS Now, then I tried again with Google Stadia and more recently with Xbox. The issues I felt when I first played still exist (speaking of all services) but compared to when I first tried, it's better. I have felt this weird type of lag when playing Stadia, PS Now and Xbox Cloud. Regardless, the ability to play gaming content on any device, anywhere etc has always been something people value (the reason portable gaming is popular) - the cloud is just one thing that gets us there.

I know why the OP made this thread but I won't say it. :D
 
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