The gaming industry is changing at a rapid pace. In the past, before the internet went mainstream, people used to play games on consoles like Atari, Sega, or Nintendo. The gamers had to buy a cartridge to play their favorite games. Super Mario, Pacman, and Counter-Strike were few popular games in the early 90s.
With the revolution of the internet and ease of access, game-streaming services came into existence. If you are not an avid gamer, you may not have an idea about these platforms. The game streaming services are just like any video streaming platform like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, or Sling. Individuals can access a huge library of newly released titles on multiple devices.
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What Is a Game Streaming Service?
Game Streaming allows you to access the hardware on your gaming service provider, and that too remotely. You use a streaming service to sign in to an improved computer and the game you play actually runs on that computer instead of your own. The streaming service provider will simply translate your gaming commands and send them to the main server while you only see the audio and video of your gameplay while it actually happens on a stronger computer. In short, you are actually controlling a remote computer while only seeing its display on your PC.
If you are interested in trying it, make sure to get a high-speed internet connection. Click here to access one such service provider that offers its coverage in over 41 states.
Now let us have a look at some of the best online game streaming platforms where you can try a library of different game titles.
1. PlayStation Now
PlayStation Now is a popular choice among gamers allowing them to access a collection of more than 800 games for PS4, PC, PS3, and PS2. People are inclined more towards PlayStation Now after the price was reduced to $9.99 per month from $19.99 per month.
PlayStation Now offers a wide range of genres from action to adventure and strategy to war games. The service has added some of the latest titles like Grand Theft Auto V and God of War. With the addition of new games, PlayStation Now is now the center of attention for gamers.
If you want to get a hands-on experience with the latest games without downloading or wasting time, PlayStation Now is the best option. One of the drawbacks is that if you go through a connection drop, you won’t be able to resume the game from where you left.
2. GeForce Now
Are you addicted to playing high-end games but don’t own a gaming PC? GeForce Now will allow you to play high-end games on a low-end PC, Mac, or NVidia Shield. Access games from all the major publishers without buying an expensive Asus gaming laptop or Nintendo Wii.
GeForce is not like any other services as you need to buy games through a digital store including Uplay Blizzard’s Battle.net, or Steam. After installing the app on your system, GeForce’s cloud-based processor will allow you to play games on any device irrespective of the specs. The minimum internet speed required for downloading games is 15 Mbps. However, 25 Mbps is recommended along with MacOS 10.10 or higher or Windows 7 64-bit to run it.
3. Google Stadia
Google Stadia is a game streaming service as well as a storefront where gamers can purchase games. Once you purchase the game, it is yours forever. However, you need to pay the full price for the games available on Stadia Store.
Google Stadia is a popular game-streaming service that allows you to access the game library without any geographical limitations. If you like to play games on 4K at 60fps, you need to get a Stadia Pro subscription. Moreover, Google Stadia also has its game controllers to enhance the gamer’s experience without feeling rugged.
4. Apple Arcade
The majority of the game streaming platform will offer the latest AAA games. However, not in the case of Apple Arcade as it focuses on providing 100 exclusive indie games to attract gamers all over the globe to be its subscriber.
If you are not willing to pay a heavy subscription, Apple Arcade is a great option with a monthly subscription of $4.99. For low-budget families, Apple Arcade is going to provide loads of entertainment without breaking the bank. One account can allow six people to access the Apple Arcade library.
5. Vortex
When talking about popular online game streaming platforms, Vortex surely deserves a spot on our list. The platform has a lot to offer for addicted gamers to play games like Apex Legends, Destiny 2, Grand Theft Auto V, and many more. For a monthly subscription of $9.99, you can buy loads of entertainment to fulfill your cravings on the weekend. Vortex is a cloud-based gaming platform that allows subscribers to play games on any device including phone, TV, or laptop.
6. Amazon Luna
Amazon waltzed into the game streaming arena with Luna. The premium game streaming service at supremely affordable rates. Some of the prominent features include super-low latency, great performance overall, reasonably priced channels, smooth streaming in web browsers too. It offers multiple channel-based subscriptions that you can opt for, depending on your budget and preferences. The channel pricing starts at an affordable $5.99/month with Luna+ and goes up to $14.99/month with the Ubisoft+ channel. Amazon also recommends using its personalized Amazon Luna Controller, priced at $49.99. The best part about it is the fact that it uses its built-in Wi-Fi to improve overall performance.
7. AntStream
If you miss the 80s style retro Arcade games, then AntStream is your place to be. This service features 1000 plus game options to pick from including cult favorites like Amiga, Spectrum ZX, Commodore64, and more. AntStream prides in offering one of the widest collection of streaming options but all of them being over 30 years old makes the target market smaller.
Summing up
The above-mentioned game streaming options are personally tested and some of the top ones. You can conveniently pick any one of them and have the peace of mind that you are going to have the best gaming experience of your life without having to invest a lot.