Gaming on the cloud? It’s no pie-in-the-sky idea. Discover what cloud gaming is, how it works, and the internet you need to enjoy it with our detailed guide.
Gaming has entered a new era, where fun and powerful experiences are accessible from almost anywhere with an internet connection. Cloud gaming allows you to stream games directly to any device, whether that’s a smartphone, tablet, computer, smart TV, or even your gaming console.
No more waiting for lengthy downloads or dealing with storage limitations: with cloud gaming, the games you love are ready to play instantly. The flexibility to game across various devices – including your console – and the ability to pick up where you left off, whether at home or on the go, makes cloud gaming a revolutionary leap forward. And since cloud gaming services often provide access to a vast library of titles, you can enjoy the latest releases without breaking the bank on constant hardware upgrades.
But how fast is “fast enough” for cloud gaming, and how does it all work? That’s what we’ll answer below.
Cloud gaming is a unique, convenient way to play video games using the power of the cloud. “The cloud” includes any distant servers that a device, like a smartphone, gaming console, or even TV, connects to for computing services. For example, you might use the cloud at work to take advantage of “software-as-a-service” products, such as specific programs or network security monitoring.
The principle behind cloud gaming is the same as all other cloud computing: the processing, rendering, and other “work” is performed in data centers or servers far away, and that data is then streamed to your device of choice. Cloud gaming allows you to play video games anywhere, anytime, so long as you have the right equipment and a good enough internet connection. The graphics, gameplay, and other aspects are all streamed right to your device, and your device doesn’t have to build any of it.
Imagine that you want to play a new, great-looking game on your phone or computer. It doesn't matter if your phone or PC has the hardware needed to run the game or not. With cloud gaming, all they need to do is be able to receive the stream from the cloud gaming center, which significantly lowers any game’s hardware requirements.
The mechanics of cloud gaming are fairly straightforward:
In essence, cloud gaming data centers take the place of powerful PC or gaming console hardware and do all the heavy lifting.
Cloud gaming is very convenient and may even be more affordable than buying a gaming PC or a new console. However, you need several things to get in on the fun, including:
For example, you can enjoy cloud gaming on your smartphone with a Bluetooth controller linked up to the smartphone via an app. Or you can play your favorite games over the cloud on your TV, all without having to hook up a gaming console beforehand.
Cloud gaming services are still relatively new, but there are several to choose from. Google’s Stadia was once a trailblazer and innovator in this market, but it was shut down at the beginning of 2023. Fortunately, there are other popular options for cloud gaming, such as:
Since cloud gaming streams high-quality graphics alongside player actions and other important gaming data, you need a substantially fast and consistent internet connection to enjoy it fully. Generally, a download speed of at least 10 Mbps is recommended, though many cloud gaming services recommend faster speeds of at least 15 Mbps.
In addition, your internet speed needs to be faster if you want better graphics and smoother frame rates. For instance, cloud gaming at FHD resolutions with 60FPS demands an internet speed of 25 Mbps or faster. Slower internet speeds just won’t be able to stream your games in all their glory.
That’s not all. Since streaming any media relies on connection stability, it's a good idea to have your device hooked up to your router with an ethernet connection if possible. Alternatively, make sure your device is connected to your WiFi router and using the 5 GHz band. Either of these options will help to reduce latency and make your cloud gaming as smooth as possible.
It’s tough to know whether your home's internet is up to the challenge of cloud gaming if you've never tried it before. We recommend running an internet speed test on the device you want to use for cloud gaming. It's a quick and easy way to know if you meet the minimum internet speed requirements needed for a good gaming experience.
Your internet type can affect how much you enjoy cloud gaming, as well. For instance, standard cable internet may not provide you with enough speed, bandwidth, and network stability to play your favorite titles at maximum graphics and FPS settings.
Fiber optic internet, on the other hand, combines lightning-fast speed, low latency, and exceptional stability, making it the go-to option for many gamers (including those who like cloud gaming). If your internet isn’t quite fast enough to hop on the best games over the cloud, a switch to fiber internet might be in order!
Glo Fiber’s internet plans are just what you need for fast, fun gaming on the cloud. With speeds of up to 5 Gbps, plus friendly service and future-proof fiber installation, our internet isn’t just great for gaming; it’s also amazing for everything else you like to do online, like surfing or streaming a new movie.
Want to know more? Check out our internet plans today, or contact us if you have questions!