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How is streaming taking the video games industry to the next level?
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2019 is looking to be an interesting year for gaming streaming development. There are a lot of power players looking ahead to the future – reports surfacing about Microsoft’s xCloud streaming service, AMD bringing game streaming to phones with Radeon Adrenalin, and Google’s Project Stream (which is giving away copies of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey simply for testing the service).
What will streaming do for the industry?
There are numerous advantages of cloud-based game streaming over traditional installation methods. For starters, games have grown massively in size – AAA titles are hovering between 50 – 80 GB lately, just for initial installation.
Updates can increase that, or when huge game files need to be replaced, patch downloads can be the size of entire games from just a few years ago. Bethesda, for example, released a 47GB patch for Fallout 76.
Game streaming also addresses imbalance in the hardware market. Running the latest AAA titles at their full graphical glory can often require extremely powerful computers, which can exceed $1,000 easily for high-end hardware. Bitcoin mining sent GPU prices through the roof as miners bought up some of the best cards, creating unavailability in the market – thankfully, the market has recovered a bit from that particular fiasco.
In any case, game streaming allows gamers to save considerable hard drive space, not waste time downloading humongous game files and patches, and perhaps most importantly, it allows budget gamers to stream titles in the best graphics configuration possible.
Google’s Stream platform, for example, is reportedly able to stream Assassin’s Creed Odyssey at 60FPS in 1080p resolution, which is quite impressive.
Cross-platform compatibility in the works?
While we’re speculating, it’s also entirely possible that cloud-streaming will bridge the gap between console and PC gamers, allowing for cross-platform compatibility. It seems logical that if the cloud-services are delivering games through some kind of browser client, instead of a native desktop client, console users will be able to point their browsers to the cloud service.
That is pure speculation, of course, and will be highly dependent on the console developers. Currently, Google Stream is being developed for the Chrome browser, which is definitely not available on Sony’s PS4, and Microsoft’s Xbox One uses a version of the Edge browser. So, we probably won’t see cross-platform gaming over the cloud right out of the gate, but it’s certainly a possibility if certain agreements are made.
If game streaming clients are developed to work regardless of the browser being used, it could be feasible, similar to the browser game industry. In fact, numerous HTML5 games are already compatible with console browsers, and some of those games even have gamepad support. You could theoretically point your console browser to Tanki or Fireboy and Watergirl, or some other multiplayer browser game, alongside PC users.
How will streaming impact the gamers?
What does this bode for the consumers, and not just the industry? For starters, it might affect the hardware market, as less people will need to purchase high-end gaming machines. Of course, the cloud companies will still need to invest in extremely high-end server hardware – although Google has reportedly built theirs in-house, in connection to the Yeti project (reportedly a streaming-based console).
Cloud-based game streaming could also help the current problem of so many DRM-based services. Currently there exists Steam, EA’s Origin, Ubisoft’s UPlay, Battle.net, and others. While its doubtful that the DRM platforms will go away, at least gamers won’t have a handful of client platforms installed on their computers.
One current drawback is that the cloud-based providers are having difficulty finding a fair balance in subscription prices. Gamers are notorious for impulse-purchasing games, especially during Steam sales. It’s a popular joke that gamers spend more time purchasing games in Steam than playing the games. Thus, offering subscriptions to access particular titles may not be the best route.
Its possible that the cloud-based providers could allow downloading games (after purchase) to your account, and then have you pay a subscription for the cloud service itself – of course, this ramps the cost of gaming up a bit, even with the savings on hardware. Gamers would be paying a monthly service to stream games they’ve already purchased – which of course, is very similar to how subscription-based MMORPGs used to operate.
In any case, video game streaming is going to be a potentially immensely lucrative market, as evidence by the huge interest from companies like Google and Microsoft. 2019 is going to be the year that significant headway into making it a reality, so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for development.
Written by: Katie Greene, who is a professional game developer with 5 years of experience in this field. VR obsessed and captured by an AI future.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: How is streaming taking the video games industry to the next level?
Leading iGaming content provider Spinomenal has unveiled its latest game to join the much-loved Folktales series, Story of Cinderella.
The game is presented within a 5×4 frame that is brought to life with a soft, enchanting soundtrack. The reels are positioned between two golden pillars and luxurious architecture, evoking a regal environment.
A glistening silver slipper, sparkling tiara, antique grandfather clock and a magical wand form the influential symbols in the main game. Free Spins can be accessed only when players find three or more Scattered Free Spins symbols and initially will grant 10 Free Spins.
Any player lucky enough to discover four Free Spins symbols will collect 25 Free Spins and five or more will secure a massive 100 Free Spins.
Once in the Free Spins round, a Cinderella Stacked Wild is randomly attached to one reel for each spin – it moves left and right for each additional spin. The Wild symbol represents all symbols except Free Spins and five Wild symbols on a winning line will pay out x3000 the bet line.
Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Unlike the origins of the word, Cinderella, meaning someone whose attributes are unrecognised, this game instantly catches the attention. Its bright design is complemented by seamless gameplay and the chance for 100 Free Spins means players will have a ball.”
The post Spinomenal enhances Folktales Series with Story of Cinderella launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SOFTSWISS, a global provider of innovative iGaming solutions with over 15 years of experience, launches SOFTSWISS Excellence Talks. The YouTube series connects professionals with inspiring leaders from diverse industries, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration to spark fresh ideas and new perspectives.
SOFTSWISS Excellence Talks will feature renowned experts from various fields, offering practical advice and motivational insights for professionals across industries. New episodes will be regularly announced on SOFTSWISS’ social media platforms and YouTube channel.
The first episode features Formula 1 legend Rubens Barrichello, now Non-Executive Director in Latin America at SOFTSWISS, and Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS. In this insightful conversation, Rubens Barrichello reflects on his remarkable F1 journey, shares stories from his time working alongside Michael Schumacher at Ferrari, and explores how lessons from the racetrack can drive success in business.
Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, comments: “We are excited to share our experience and invite exceptional people to SOFTSWISS Excellence Talks to explore the intersections of business and their unique expertise. During these interviews, we aim to uncover commonalities across industries and inspire professionals with practical insights. This project is about learning from extraordinary people, helping businesses thrive, and empowering individuals to be more efficient, stronger, and truly enjoy what they do. In the first episode, Rubens offered incredible insights into teamwork, leadership, and life in one of the most competitive and innovative sports in the world.”
The YouTube show builds on a recent event at the company’s main development centre in Poznań, Poland. At this gathering, Rubens Barrichello delivered an inspiring motivational speech, engaged in a lively Q&A session with local professionals, and awarded prizes for the most thought-provoking questions raised during the discussion.
For a closer look at SOFTSWISS’ vision and innovation, ICE Barcelona 2025 attendees can join the team at Stand 2G42, where more strategies and insights will be shared.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post F1 Icon Kicks Off SOFTSWISS New YouTube Series appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
EGT is prepared to make a long-lasting impression on visitors at ICE 2025, which will be held in Barcelona for the first time. The Bulgarian manufacturer of gaming equipment will showcase its compelling selection of bestsellers and high-potential new developments at one of the largest stands at the exhibition 3F30.
Among the novelties that will arouse the greatest interest will be 2 brand-new slot cabinets – 32-32 St and 32-32 Up. These models will certainly not go unnoticed by the event guests.
On display will be the newest addition to the company’s jackpot family – the 4-level Asian-themed Zhao Cai Shuang Yu. It will reveal the astonishing world of its 2 games, Prosperity Strike and Rising Coins.
The attendees will also be able to see and test the latest multigames from the Supreme Selection slot series. The Mega Supreme Fruits, Supreme Red, and Supreme Buy Bonus Prize Selection will present a lot of new slot titles, offering a perfect mix of fascinating themes, attractive bonus features, and great entertainment.
EGT will show its newest ETG developments as well. Among them will be the 32 T terminal, which will make its debut during the show. It will complement the company’s rich portfolio of ETG products, which are the preferred choice in numerous gaming venues around the world.
Expanding its offering, EGT will present the Supreme Series of game mixes, currently including the Supreme Roulette Union and Supreme Green Union multigames. Focusing exclusively on roulette, the Supreme Roulette Union blends the excitement of classic roulette gameplay with innovative jackpot systems and versatile features. Supreme Green Union combines popular games from the company’s portfolio with roulette, Keno, Baccarat, and Blackjack, offering players a unique and engaging experience.
Numerous new AWP and VLT products, created specifically for different markets, will also be at the visitors’ disposal, as well as the casino management system Spider, which will show its latest modules.
EGT Digital will also present its vast array of iGaming solutions, including instant and casino games, jackpots, and its in-house developed “all-in-one” betting platform X-Nave.
Nadia Popova, Chief Revenue Officer and VP Sales & Marketing at EGT, commented: “ICE is a very important event for us, which gives us the opportunity to meet with industry professionals from all over the world. We will welcome our current and potential new customers and partners at our stand to present them all new products from our portfolio, divided into zones, covering all gaming verticals. I believe in the positive potential of changes. That is why I think that the relocation of the show to Barcelona will open new business horizons and bring many opportunities for building fruitful partnerships, for which we as a company are ready. “
The post EGT at ICE Barcelona 2025: Get ready to be stunned appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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