The idea of streaming games on any platform without the need to download it (provided you have decent internet connection for streaming the game) sounds pretty good. This can be very beneficial for people who don’t have the proper hardware requirements to run the game. With the likes of current game streaming services like PlayStation Now, and the upcoming services like Google Stadia, Microsoft’s Project xCloud and Bethesda’s Orion Project, it appears that game streaming could be the next big evolution for gaming.
So it isn’t surprising that Nintendo is also interested in it and is “evaluating” the game streaming technology. This Netflix style approach to games makes a lot of sense for a company like Nintendo with such a rich gaming history. And certainly, the idea of paying a small amount of subscription fee to access Switch games and years and years of Virtual Console titles doesn’t sound like a bad idea. While Nintendo might not have a streaming service of its own, in Japan, the Nintendo Switch has a few third-party games that run from the cloud servers, including Resident Evil 7 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, it is a possibility that Nintendo could use the same cloud streaming technology all over the globe and not just in Japan.
In an Interview with TechCrunch this week, Nintendo of America executive Charlie Scibetta said that game streaming is “certainly interesting technology”. He added — “Nintendo is keeping a close eye on it and we’re evaluating it. We don’t have anything to announce right now in terms of adopting that technology. For us, it’s still physical and it’s digital downloads through our eShop.”
Nintendo of America President, Doug Bowser told The Hollywood Reporter, “We’re always interested in how various new technologies can enable different ways to play games.”
Only time will tell if Nintendo would pursue a cloud-based game streaming service or not. As for other companies, the public beta for Microsoft’s xCloud game-streaming service launches in October, while Google Stadia will release in November for people who pre-ordered the Founder’s Edition.
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