Cloud gaming service expands to more devices

A cloud gaming service has expanded to a wider range of smart televisions, letting subscribers play its catalogue without a console or dedicated hardware, using only a controller paired directly to the set.

The pitch and the physics

Removing the hardware requirement is the whole promise of cloud gaming. The obstacle has always been latency: the round trip from controller to distant server and back is fine for a slow strategy title and punishing for anything requiring fast reflexes.

• Support added for several recent television model years
• A wired connection is still recommended for competitive titles
• The catalogue matches the existing subscription tier

Adoption has been steadier than early skeptics expected, though it remains a complement to local hardware rather than a replacement. The audience it serves best is the one that wants to try a game without buying a machine to run it.