When looking towards the future, the main element that dictates the road ahead for the gaming industry are the companies. The actions of giants like Nintendo, Sony, and others will tell us what the future of gaming will be like. However, it seems like people outside of the industry have stepped in as well. One of those companies is Verizon.
Verizon Wants to Start a Game Stream Service
According to a report made by The Verge, Verizon is currently conducting testing for a game stream service. This project is known as “Verizon Gaming” and it is already up and running on the Nvidia Shield top-box. According to company documentation, Verizon Gaming will eventually be part of Android devices as well.
For testing, Verizon used the help of players that were quietly recruited to take part on the tests. The streaming service currently involves 135 games. Participants are promised a $150 Amazon gift card upon completion. They’re also given a free Nvidia Shield, Xbox One controller, and a login for testing purposes.
Taking a look at Verizon’s Early Game Selection and performance
Information indicates that the service has games like Fortnite, Destiny 2, and Battlefield V. However. games like Detroit: Become Human, Red Dead Redemption 2, and God of War have also been found part of the service. However, most of the game covers in the service are mere placeholders. Furthermore, A Verizon employee recently noted that not everything is final or representative of the commercial service.
“This trial is primarily focused on performance,” the Verizon Gaming team recently wrote in an email to participants. “At a later date, when we advance the product, our library will consist of most or all of the top games you are familiar with — but at this early stage we’re working on the engine and its parts.”
What could Verizon do with Game Streaming?
Verizon made clear that the pursuit of a Cloud Gaming strategy involves the use of 5G network technology. 5G Technology is planned to become a standard around 2020. Additionally, the low latency and fast data speeds of 5G could be a solution for many hurdles that game streaming apps have issues with today.
Verizon is not the only company trying to make Cloud Gaming a reality, either. In fact, companies like Google, Sony, Microsoft, and even Amazon are developing their own Cloud Gaming services. As such, the future of gaming might lie on the streaming of games.
What are your thoughts about Verizon’s latest venture? Do you think Cloud Gaming is going to be the future of gaming? What do you think about Digital Distribution of games? Let us know your thoughts on the VGR Forums and stay tuned for more news and updates.