Video games are becoming more complex, both in terms mechanics and graphics. They require better specifications for computers to play correctly. It’s unlikely to be playing games in 2021 on an old computer unless it’s been upgraded significantly. Cloud gaming is an innovation that lets you play your favorite games on any device, so long as you establish a stable internet connection.
Cloud gaming servers handle the processing of video games, not your device’s hardware. They accomplish this by sending you compressed frames in response to input. When you press a button this input is transmitted to the cloud-based server which sends you a fresh video frame in response. It’s a very simple concept, but the bandwidth required to transmit these videos in real time is very high. This has traditionally slowed cloud gaming, but recent advancements in cellular networks and edge computing have enabled cloud gaming to grow.
To achieve this, applications like Stadia and NVIDIA’s GeForce Now are able to stream games with near-native quality on devices with varying power. They’re also designed to avoid the massive downloads and set-up process of installing a game on your own hardware, which is particularly important for users with fluctuating network conditions. Cloud gaming isn’t yet an actual reality. There are a number of obstacles to overcome, for example latency and bandwidth issues.