Netflix meets gaming? Everything about Google Stadia & Apple Arcade
FILE – In this Dec. 17, 2018, file photo a man using a mobile phone walks past Google offices in New York. Google says it plans to launch a video-game streaming platform called Stadia, positioning itself to take on the traditional video-game business. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
For years both Apple and Google have been trying to enter the video game market. While they both dominate the casual market with their respective app stores neither have tried to make a console or service, until now. At the end of March, both Google and Apple showed off their respective gaming subscription service, the Apple Arcade and Google Stadia.
Google Stadia is a video game streaming service that will allow you to stream 4K quality games at 60 frames per second. Stadia is being directed at a more hardcore gaming audience as the service will allow you to have a Netflix for video games. The service is based on the Google Cloud and is going to allow you to have cloud save states that can be shared through YouTube. This allows content creators to share a section of a game they’re playing with the audience. The games available that we know about right now are Assassin’s Creed, Tomb Raider, and various other Ubisoft games. The Stadia does bring up concerns about how efficient the streaming will be but if the service is stable than it could be a huge success.
Apple Arcade is a service that also relies on a subscription and allows you access to a games library, however Apple Arcade is all about games exclusive to the service. While Stadia requires an internet connection, Apple Arcade can be used offline and allows you to download a game from the service and play it online or offline. The service will most likely have a smaller library than the Stadia but Apple Arcade is given the advantage of Apple funded exclusive games only available on Apple Arcade.
Both services have advantages but we won’t know which service is better until they launch. Google has said that more info about the Stadia will come during the summer and Apple has announced the launch of Apple Arcade to be this fall. Both subscription services are reminiscent of Netflix and its service model however Apple Arcades offline functionality is pretty unique to itself. However, Stadia is revolutionary in how it will allow people, regardless of the quality of their computer or device, to play 4K games on demand. The era of Netflix style gaming services has officially arrived.
