Google just got done with their presentation for the Google Stadia, their streaming service you don’t need a game box to jump into. However it brought up a lot of questions, mainly where consoles and games as a whole are going. At this point, we see the industry going towards digital everything. GameStop has had some rough shake ups and isn’t doing to hot right now. And if GameStop goes places like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy are going to be the only place to buy physical games still, though it feels fair to say they might get rid of their selections to because if we aiming for digital and they don’t think enough people are buying the games, why dedicate a section to it? And while this part of the world of video games doesn’t know where it’s going yet it feels like some companies are trying to push past that and get to the next big issue: streaming. Now at some point in my opinion at least streaming will overtake both physical and digital hardware. I’m sure hardcore and casual gamers alike are tired of spending so much on their favorite hobbie. Right now, to start playing the best games with a console not including sales going on you’d spend $300 for the console (PS4 or Xbox One) if it didn’t come with a game $60 on that, $60 if you want another controller and another $60 if you want online. That’s a lot of money to put down and while I’m sure anyone who picks up a controller for even an hour a day can justify it the more casual people can’t We had an influx of people join the community when Fortnight got big and for those people who didn’t have a good enough computer or a console already I’m sure the $300 barrier to entry was hard to swallow. So I get it really I do but streaming is not the future yet. It’s been proven already that the U.S has the weakest wifi out of anywhere in the world. Despite this Twitter if filled with people staying it’s not available in their country bit guess where it is? The U.S. Now I think this is a double edged sword. Google, one of the biggest tech companies out there and has a estimated 80% of people (CHECK THIS) already in their pocket with their Android devices is one of the best companies to do this. No matter if you have a Mac or a PC, Stadia will work in Google Chrome a web browser you just have to download. And like with most Google apps that work on their phone they come to IOS either earlier or on the same day, so it’s a fair assumtion that it’ll come to IOS. Now, I just named three devices the majority of people in the U.S are guaranteed to have. Even if you only have one of these especially with the announcement of IOS supporting PS4 and Xbox One controllers eventually with Stadia you’ll be able to play anywhere on something you already have in your pocket or that you own. That’s not including the $50-100 Chromecast line you can get that’ll plug directly into your TV and make it not only a smart TV but also a streaming box right out of the box. But this also ignores the one most important thing, wifi. You can plus your Ethernet into the Chromecast and be done with it but most U.S wifi isn’t reliable enough to stream now, and Google is asking you to buy into a service that revolves around the streaming. Thats bound to cause issues in the future for many people, of which if the Pixel help line is anything to go by will be a tireless battle. I’m not saying this doesn’t seen cool. I’m an old person now. I remember the days of having to buy a disc and that being the only way of being able to play the game. And I’m glad we’re using technology to the fullest to improve. But I don’t think this is the time to go all in on streaming. We’re still focused on losing physical software pushing the next big thing down our throats this early feels rushed and if it is rushed it’ll only lead to a bad product.
(This is a reupload of a blog post written on wix
Kamec's game corner 