According to the Game Pass manager, it is only an alternative to consoles

GamesIndustry’s editor-in-chief interviewed two executives from Microsoft and Samsung. The recently launched Samsung Gaming Hub and cloud gaming in general are discussed.

Since June 30 Xbox Game Pass is available on 2022 Samsung Smart TVs. Games can be streamed via the Samsung Gaming Hub thanks to the cloud, which means that the user can do without the console.

In the Conversation with GamesIndustry Pav Bhardwaj, a senior global product manager at Microsoft, said: First, he pointed to the now huge target group: “We know there are three billion players worldwide and we know that today we are talking to the vast majority of those customers.”

Bhardwaj then spoke about the benefits of game streaming: “For us, cloud gaming means making our products and services available to customers around the world in different markets. There are many reasons why people don’t buy certain devices: affordability, accessibility, maybe they are gamers. Previous or already owning hardware for other platforms. We really think this is about access and choice.”

It is not intended as a substitute

Despite these advantages, the demand for video game consoles continues. Both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are in great demand among gamers. Realizing this fact, Bhardwaj notes, “Consoles are popular, and cloud gaming is just a great alternative.”

This technology should not replace the tried and tested controllers. Alternatively, the console and the cloud can complement each other: the former provides a better gaming experience due to stability and higher graphics quality, while the latter provides greater accessibility.

“I love game consoles – this is just another way, another option to open up games to others. It doesn’t mean that one harms the other. It’s a rising tide, and it’s a really good place where all these different opportunities are available,” explains the Senior Global Product Manager.

Search and Discover options are the feature

Game streaming will one day become as popular as movies or music which it doesn’t seem to be. Here, product after product is rarely consumed, as with Netflix. Instead, the average player focuses on a few games, mostly multiplayer games like “FIFA” or “Fortnite”. Some titles are also free and available on mobile devices. Subscription is not necessary.

However, Bhardwaj is convinced of the subscription model: “If you calculate that you buy two or three games a year, I think the annual subscription fee is value for money.” And through the subscription service, the player becomes aware of the genres that he would otherwise have never come into contact with.

Jose Grimaldi, Head of European Division at Samsung, agrees: “It’s all about search and discovery capabilities. The Gaming Hub provides the opportunity to watch all kinds of games, no matter what you want to play.”

More news about cloud gaming:

In terms of time, cloud gaming has the advantage of using Game Pass on console or PC. Annoying installation times are eliminated, after only a few minutes the desired game can be started. Since titles are often downloaded and tried, they are deleted after a short time.

More cloud gaming news.

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