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Earlier this month, Google launched a closed beta test for ProjectStream, a video game streaming service that lets you play high quality video games through the Chrome browser. The beta test only includes one game, the most recent "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey".
Developed by Ubisoft, "Assassin's Creed" is the kind of hit game that traditionally required a $ 400 console or gaming computer. ProjectStream significantly reduces this barrier to entry; the only requirement is a 25 Mbps Internet connection or higher, and the controllers are optional.
Having already played "Odyssey" on PlayStation 4, I was skeptical as to how ProjectStream would compare to the console experience. After all, ProjectStream is not the first streaming service of cloud video games and the technology has not been successful so far. Sacrificing graphics quality or being content with less responsive controls has emerged as a requirement of previous cloud services, and performance varies greatly depending on the game. "Odyssey" being a brand new game in an open and huge world, Was skeptical about ProjectStream's ability to follow.
Playing for the first time on a MacBook Pro, my concerns were quickly dispelled. At best, the version of "Odyssey" from ProjectStream seemed identical to that used on PlayStation, the game immediately recognized the PlayStation 4 controller that I connected via Bluetooth and displayed the appropriate button icons on the screen. There was no noticeable delay in the controls and the graphics seemed broadly consistent with what I saw on PS4, although "Odyssey" supports more 4K and HDR on consoles and PCs.
I've tried ProjectStream with three different computers with three different network scenarios; a 2017 MacBook Pro with a throughput of 250 Mbps, an HP hybrid laptop with a 50 Mbps connection and my gaming computer with a 970 GTX graphics card and a 1 Gbps connection. The experience seemed about the same on all three computers, which made their difference in processing power insignificant.
Running on the slowest Internet connection, the HP notebook experienced a few moments of instability where the image appears slightly pixellated and the controls frozen, but the game returns to normal after a few seconds. On my gaming PC and the MacBook, ProjectStream was essentially flawless.
Consistency is the most encouraging factor of ProjectStream. Know that the game via the Google Chrome browser matches the console game, regardless of the computer used – as long as the speed of the internet is sufficient – is a great motivation to leave my version of PlayStation game behind. ProjectStream also automatically backs up my game so I can easily continue where I stopped, play at work, at home or at a friend's house. Unfortunately, ProjectStream still does not work on smartphones or tablets, but it would be surprising if Google does not find a way to make the service functional on its own Android devices.
ProjectStream represents a compelling leap in cloud gaming technology at a time when gamers are wondering whether the next generation of video game consoles will prioritize streaming content over traditional media. ProjectStream leverages Google's huge server infrastructure and development resources and introduces a beta product that players can trust. However, even if the technology can match the experience of an Xbox or PlayStation, the next important step will be to find the full library of old and new video games at a reasonable price.
Google will also compete directly with endemic video game brands as it enters the streaming space. Until now, the most functional cloud-based gaming options were Sony's PlayStation Now and Nvidia's GeForce Now, but neither of the two services is a real alternative to buying. an expensive console or PC. PlayStation Now offers a pre-selected library with hundreds of $ 20 games a month for PS4 and PC, but new titles are not included. GeForce Now allows players to access specific titles that they have already purchased for their PC library and charges $ 25 for every 20 hours of broadcast. For reference, "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey" costs $ 60 and lasts at least 30 hours.
Shortly after the launch of ProjectStream Beta, Microsoft announced its own cloud gaming platform, Project xCloud. Project xCloud will stream games on PCs and mobile devices with a planned launch in 2019. Microsoft has already shown touch-screen controls for tablets and devices to use Xbox controllers with smartphones. Microsoft already has a separate game subscription service with Xbox Game Pass, which allows players to fully download the games on PC and Xbox One instead of streaming them.
In his 2018 speech, Microsoft CEO Phil Spencer said the new Xbox devices would also use cloud games. Spencer said the company's goal with Project xCloud was to reach the two billion video game users around the world, no matter what hardware they play.
It will take some time for publishers and gaming platforms to create a market for streaming games, but ProjectStream has shown that the future of games will not depend on the sale of consoles; excellent games can be delivered directly to your browser. The ProjectStream beta test accepts new players on an ongoing basis and will continue until January 2019. Follow this link to register.
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