Game streaming is something the industry continues to push for, with companies like Sony and Nvidia currently running ambitious, albeit niche, services and EA recently buying into it as well. That said, the technology is currently still limited, especially with respect to latency issues. That said, if recent comments from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick are any indication, that investment could be part of an effort to make those issues go away.
Zelnick’s quotes come from a recent talk at the Goldman Sachs Communicopia conference (via Ars Technica). Zelnick acknowledged the current issues with game streaming, but then countered by noting large companies have “hyperscale data centers,” and that these things expanding around the world will lead to latency no longer being an issue within a few years.
Referencing recent comments from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot about streaming boxes replacing consoles, Zelnick hesitated to agree that streaming boxes would bring tons of new people in, he did suggest it will still lead to growth in the big-budget gaming market.
He also figures that once streaming takes off in a mainstream capacity, things like Sony’s controversial stance on cross-platform play will also begin to erode.
What do you all think? Will streaming become a living room standard within a generation or two? Or will it remain a niche option due to factors like brand loyalty or internet infrastructure?
[Source: Ars Technica]
PlayStation-Now-Expectation-Reality
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First-Party Backing
The Last of Us stands as the poster child for PS Now's PlayStation 3 library, but Sony needs to continue to introduce new titles regularly if the service is to build momentum.
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Third-Party Gems
Of the 100+ titles currently lining the digital shelves, there are but a few must-play games. Even still, Sony has laid a solid foundation upon which to build a rich game streaming service.
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Support is Key
Currently, Sony is adding a handful of new titles on a monthly basis not unlike PlayStation Plus, with March's additions including the likes of Sucker Punch's inFamous 2.
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PS4 Showcases
We touched upon the long-term introduction of PSOne and PS2 software, but Sony also has plans to add PS4 access to PlayStation Now, perhaps shifting the spotlight to console exclusives such as Killzone: Shadow Fall.
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Oh, the Nostalgia
Reports have suggested that PSOne and PS2 software will run locally through the use of hardware emulation, which could negate any fears that older games would suffer from the upscaling effect. Now, who fancies another shot at Gran Turismo 3's Endurance tests?
