This article from The Washington Post is titled, ‘Google’s New Stadia Service Will Let You Play Video Games Without Downloading Them’. It focuses on Google’s newest announcement which is an online video gaming platform. This platform allows the user to run games on hardware only maintained by Google but is able to be directly controlled from their device on their own internet connection. This type of platform usage is a mirror image of any streaming service from Hulu to Netflix to Spotify. The development of this game streaming platform not only reminded me of watching Netflix and listening to Spotify, but the way that Amazon makes most of its money. Amazon makes a massive amount of its profit through selling software services and storage in the cloud. The idea that a user, either an individual or even entire company is able to store and set up whatever they need on another company’s platform is incredible. In this example of video games, Google is essentially giving the user a platform to play otherwise very sophisticated to install gaming software. The user is able to access the games without the wait of installing and not having to buy many of the processing tools needed to run it. Google goes even further to support the spread of this program that they call Stadia by including a share to YouTube button on the game. What is unique about creating a program on a platform on the cloud is the versatility of it. With Google’s Stadia, uses are able to move from one device to another. From a TV to a phone to a tablet and there are no interruptions. The framework of this concept is what should be taken into consideration by other companies. They could be able to take a concept that is somewhat already included in their field of production and put it on a platform. Selling something on a platform might not only be easier, but most likely more cost effective. For Google, they are the only ones paying for the processors and sophisticated software. These costs are usually expensive for the individual user, but to a company as large as Google this looks like pocket change. Charging people to use the platform you have already created is a very strategic business model. Google does have some competition with this announcement including Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Verizon which shows that the idea of streaming things as sophisticated as gaming on the cloud is a trend that is not going away any time soon.
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This new service from Google does look very interesting, but I do see some issues that can arise with it. When you first look at this service, it seems that it is an easy and quick way to play video games online. To some, this may appear true. Google Stadia will be accessed through a subscription similar to companies such as Netflix and Amazon. Stadia will then let you choose the game you want to play without having to wait for it to download. You also will not need the best PC to play these games, as the service is operated from the cloud. As many gaming platforms operate now, you buy the game you want from the service (which could be up to $60!), wait for it to download and then play it. Google’s service looks like it will take a lot of this away and bring you from the dashboard straight into the game. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems almost flawless. A service that can be used similar to how I use Netflix? That’s great!
It has to be noted however, that Netflix was not the same popular service we know now when it first launched. Google Stadia is the same thing. One issue that I see as someone who plays videogames is what will the catalog of games look like? Companies such as Microsoft and Sony have deals in place that grant the companies exclusive games for its customers. I believe that Google will have trouble getting people to switch over to its service due to this. Another big issue with Google Stadia is the fact that it is based entirely over the cloud. This could cause big problems for users with poor internet connection. These users will have trouble in the game with server and input lag. It will also have trouble connecting large amounts of players in a multiplayer game. These problems will drive customers away immediately because other products such as the XBOX and PlayStation are already established, have servers all over the world and save data to the system rather than the cloud. If Google can make the gaming experience clean for all of its users, it has the potential to be bigger than any service or system out right now.
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