{"id":11658,"date":"2011-11-01T14:28:58","date_gmt":"2011-11-01T14:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/cloud-gaming\/"},"modified":"2024-03-20T13:10:42","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T13:10:42","slug":"cloud-gaming","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26527\/cloud-gaming","title":{"rendered":"Cloud Gaming"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Cloud Gaming?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cloud gaming, also called gaming on demand<\/i> or game streaming<\/i>, refers to playing a video game<\/a> hosted on a remote server<\/a> rather than on the player\u2019s own computer or device. The remote servers use high-performance hardware<\/a> to manage the processing, rendering, and execution of the game. The game audio and video are streamed back to the player\u2019s device over the Internet<\/a>, while player input (i.e., controller or keyboard<\/a> and mouse actions) are sent back to the server.<\/p>\n

To play, gamers install a client program that connects to the server where the games are hosted. Compatibility is typically not an issue since cloud gaming allows streaming to various devices, including computers, laptops, smartphones<\/a>, smart TVs<\/a>, or gaming consoles. This eliminates the need for gamers to own high-end gaming consoles or expensive gaming PCs.<\/p>\n

Techopedia Explains the Cloud Gaming Meaning<\/h3>\n

\"Techopedia<\/p>\n

Cloud<\/a> gaming allows you to stream and play video games over the Internet on various devices like laptops<\/a>, smartphones, or tablets<\/a>, without the need to own expensive gaming hardware.<\/p>\n

To access the game library, players install a lightweight client that requires minimal processing power to operate. Using the client, the players can select from the available games and play them on the server. Cloud gaming companies usually charge a fee or subscription, operating much like online video streaming services such as Netflix.<\/p>\n

History of Cloud Gaming<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cloud gaming emerged as a concept in the mid-2000s, fueled by advancements in consumer access to high-speed Internet. Early systems, such as G-cluster, offered PC games that were run on remote servers.<\/p>\n

In 2010, OnLive made history by launching the world\u2019s first commercial cloud gaming service. Over time, improvements in data technology, video compression, and smartphone capabilities further enhanced the feasibility of cloud gaming.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the growing interest in cloud gaming, major companies like Electronic Arts, Microsoft, and Google<\/a> launched their own cloud gaming development projects in 2018.<\/p>\n

\"History
Source: Tecsens<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How Cloud Gaming Works<\/span><\/h2>\n

The video game is processed on servers managed by the cloud gaming service provider. The servers, equipped with high-performance graphics processing units<\/a> (GPUs) and central processing units<\/a> (CPUs), allow for real-time rendering of graphics<\/a> and game logic.<\/p>\n

Graphics frames are encoded into a video stream<\/a> and compressed<\/a> using video codecs<\/a> to optimize bandwidth<\/a> usage. The compressed video stream is sent over the Internet to the player’s device, using streaming protocols like HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH). Audio<\/a> output is streamed to the device simultaneously.<\/p>\n

The player’s device decodes the compressed video stream, displaying the frames on the screen. Input devices<\/a> such as controllers or keyboards enable interaction with the game. As players move characters or navigate game menus, the input commands are relayed back to the cloud server, where they are processed to update the game.<\/p>\n

Cloud gaming operates as a continuous loop of rendering, encoding, streaming, decoding<\/a>, and input processing, to provide players with a responsive gaming experience.<\/p>\n

Cloud Gaming Technologies<\/h3>\n

\"Cloud<\/p>\n

The cloud gaming ecosystem<\/a> requires a vast collection of technologies to deliver games over the Internet. Some key technologies include:<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Data Centers and High-Performance Servers<\/strong><\/div>
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Powerful servers with advanced GPUs and CPUs capable of processing and rendering video games are housed in global data centers. <\/div><\/div>\n

<\/span>Video Encoding and Streaming<\/strong><\/div>
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Games processed on the servers are encoded into a real-time video stream transmitted over the Internet, using various compression techniques and streaming protocols, like HLS or DASH.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)<\/strong><\/div>
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CDNs<\/a> optimize data delivery by distributing content across multiple servers, reducing latency, and ensuring faster response times.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Input Processing<\/strong><\/div>
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User input (i.e., button presses and mouse movement) is sent to the server for real-time processing, using various technologies to minimize input lag.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Client-side Decoding and Device Compatibility<\/strong><\/div>
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Cloud gaming services support a variety of devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. Client-side decoding technologies enable the display of the streamed video without significant processing on the player\u2019s device.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Cloud Gaming Platforms and Libraries<\/strong><\/div>
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Platforms offer a user interface<\/a> for game access, subscription management, and community interaction, and provide on-demand access to game libraries.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>Security and DRM<\/strong><\/div>
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Cloud gaming providers implement Digital Rights Management<\/a> (DRM) to safeguard against unauthorized game distribution and manage the security and privacy of user data.<\/p>\n

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Why is Cloud Gaming So Popular?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Accessibility and cost-savings make cloud gaming a popular choice for gamers.<\/p>\n