As a lifelong gamer the whole idea of cloud gaming — the ability to get into a game whenever and wherever — was nothing short of amazing. It provides freedom and, for busy people like myself, it’s an absolute game-changer.
What Is Cloud Gaming?
Cloud gaming, in essence, is like Netflix for video games; you stream games directly from powerful remote servers straight to your device, whether that be your Xbox, phone, PC, or what have you, without necessarily needing to be tied to bulky equipment or stuck solely in your living room.
All you need is a decent internet connection, and you have access to your favorite game anywhere at any time without constant updates or hardware limitations. That means, for someone like me who is constantly on the go and having to juggle work, life with kids, and playtime; I can finally actually have time and space to enjoy the games I love.
Convenience for the Whole Family
As one example of how cloud gaming has benefited my family, here is the typical scene in my household: a family of four with three active gamers (and one young’un who just wants to watch Bluey), who would typically be competing for a spot in front of the television to play their chosen game for whatever time they can scrounge.
With cloud gaming, I can game on my laptop while my husband plays Genshin Impact on his phone, and one of our kiddos is playing Minecraft on his tablet, all without a single hardware squabble. No more accusations of “hogging the TV” or “taking over the console” here!
Savings All Around
The beauty of cloud gaming is not just limited to its convenience, with cost-effectiveness and space-saving being two other big points in its favor. Gone are the days of stacking cartridges or disks that inevitably get lost, broken, or scratched.
With a cloud-based library of games, my digital shelf is tidier and I always have instant access to a range of experiences. Plus, with cloud gaming services such as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate available, I can try out games for cheap that I wouldn’t ordinarily take a second look at because I wouldn’t want to have to pay for them.
Seamless Streaming
Another benefit realized by cloud gaming is just how seamless it is to play pretty much anything on whatever device it is compatible with. You don’t have to waste time (or space) downloading gigabytes of data or wait for all sorts of updates to take place before starting to play.
Plus, you can transition seamlessly from one device to another. So, for instance, if a work call interrupts my morning gaming session, I can pick up right where I left off on my break by using my phone, all without missing a beat.
Play Anywhere, Anytime
Another seriously liberating aspect of cloud gaming is that I am not restricted to my own household and couch when I want to throw a few hours into a good game. Now, whether I’m waiting in the car line to pick up the kiddo or taking a few quiet moments in a hotel room on a family trip when the kiddos are napping from their long day, my virtual world is just a tap away.
This ability to play anywhere miraculously squeezes extra hours from my day that I didn’t know existed, meaning those awkward waits and restless nights are gaming opportunities instead of just time spent wasted and wishing I could play.
A Flexible Experience
When it comes to gaming in today’s world, it seems like fluidity is one of the most important aspects, and cloud gaming offers just that. The transition between devices is smoother than ever, meaning I can seamlessly switch from tablet to smartphone to console without missing a beat of the action.
Never before have I felt so free to play where and when I want to — and since I am constantly on the move, that is incredibly important to me.
In fact, I would say it is the basis for which cloud gaming is built and what makes it such a huge benefit to anyone who, like me, needs the flexibility to be able to be an adult gamer.
Cloud gaming is the number one thing that allows me to continue gaming even with my (perhaps overly) busy life. Plus, it means my whole family can enjoy gaming as well, something I wouldn’t have believed could happen when I was younger. It takes fighting over consoles off the table, allowing me to focus on what really matters: getting those good gaming hours in!
