The Google Stadia is set to launch this November 2019. With more and more streaming services rumored, could this spell the end of future console generations?

 

Stream Dream

  Eventually we all knew it was coming, but quite frankly I didn’t think Google would be the one that introduced it to this magnitude. OK well we can’t say Google was the first because Sony does have its PS Now service. I personally have not had a chance to try PS Now but to be honest I don’t have the urge to. I can’t justify paying $20 a month for a lot of titles I don’t really give a shit about or already own. After Google introduced us to the Stadia I will admit I was intrigued briefly and the concept does sound great. With the Stadia you will have your pros and cons of course and you just need to decide for yourself. Google has the money to throw around and can work on Stadia continuously until its perfected or close enough. Google claims they will be able to hit 4K resolution at 60fps and support HDR during your time with the Stadia. But wait! you will also need to have a very strong internet connection to do so. Stadia is a free service if you have just the base version and a higher tiered option is available. Looking at the chart below you do have options in terms of your internet speeds and I guess that’s ok?. Google Stadia is picking up some steam though considering its partnership with Ubisoft and the titles that Ubisoft can offer should lure gamers to sign up. There will be some notable titles releasing at launch of the Stadia and stay tuned as more and more gamer will probably become available in the future. But is this really enough to cripple consoles?        

Subscription Prescription

  The world has changed in terms of what is being offered to consumers, from insane cell phone plans to streaming movies and t.v shows at the click of a button. So why wouldn’t gaming powerhouses like Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony be all aboard the gaming streaming services at a higher rate?. Like I mentioned Sony has the PS now which doesn’t seem to be where it needs to be, Nintendo has nothing at the moment and Microsoft is working on a few streaming services to combat Google. Granted Microsoft goes have Gamepass although it isn’t a streaming service it does provide gamers with a decent library to choose from where you can download games and play with a subscription. Microsoft does have Project xCloud in the works and if I had to bet money on a service that can compete with the Stadia I would have to put my money on Microsoft. Coming later this fall you will be able to use your Xbox One as virtual server and you will be capable of streaming titles you own for free. Also stated during E3 the xCloud will be able to stream various generations of Xbox titles going back to the original Xbox I take it. Sounds cool, but how well will this work? At the moment we have no price tag on Project xCloud aside from the free release of it. Sony seems to be super quiet lately on anything they are doing aside from their PS5 spec release. Sony was absent from E3 which in my opinion wasn’t a bold move and I truly think it’s because they hand nothing to show other than Death Stranding for an hour and some more clips of TLOU2. I guess they are the top dog when it comes to console gaming at the moment but I think the mighty will fall eventually if they don’t adapt to what is happening around them. You can only keep the same business model for so long before it gets out dated and your competitors pass you. Remember Blackberry?. It’s funny how “next-gen” gaming is banking on the whole let’s get rid of load times nonsense, lets face it we will never get rid of load times. Listen, more power means more money and with that being said are you really willing to shell out $1000 after it’s all said and done with. You might as well build a powerhouse PC that can run better than whatever console you have.        

The Rundown

  If you think any of the upcoming consoles from Xbox and Sony will have an attractive price tag then you are smoking some NEXT LEVEL SHIT!. Console prices will be at it’s all time high and I believe Google is banking on a lot of angry customers jumping ship to a more affordable gaming service like the Stadia and rightfully so. “next-gen” consoles at the minimum will have a $799 price tag for the pro models and who knows if we will even see various models being released for that matter. As times change with gaming a more viable game streaming service is convenient and whoever is the first company to perfect it will make a lot of money and I mean A LOT of money. Google seems to ahead but Microsoft is close behind. Sony and Nintendo where art thou! What will game developers end up doing as well? Create games for multiple consoles or jump ship and just create for a streaming service? I mean whatever is going to make them the most money right. As for consumers they want it fast, cheap and they want it now. A perfected streaming service at a low monthly fee will be highly sought after and a very attractive selling point to hardcore gamers and your average gamer to boot. With more and more services coming to light is this the future of gaming and the end of consoles down the road? who fucking knows! but the war of gaming services is just getting started. So buckle up people!   [wpdevart_poll id=”3″ theme=”1″]   Cheers folks!