Cloud play on horizon in video game world
Learning from mobile
LOS ANGELES, June 13, (Agencies): Console makers long at the center of the video game universe are adapting to an exploding constellation of ways to play, with the cloud looming on the horizon.
Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony remained stars, with rival Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch gaming hardware respectively, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) show floor that opened in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
But the premier industry gathering was very much focused on games themselves, and the idea they can be played as a service hosted in the internet cloud using an array of devices from smartphones to personal computers.
The annual E3 event “occurs against a backdrop of disruption in the console market,” according to IHS Markit games technology research director Piers Harding-Rolls.
“As the market becomes more digitally enabled and service based, console companies and publishers are starting to map out their longer-term strategies including the building out of subscription cloud gaming services,” Harding-Rolls told AFP.
Companies interested in cloud gaming see it as a way to reach broader audiences, adding to console businesses instead of taking away from them, according to the analyst.
“I see consoles being around or the foreseeable future,” Harding-Rolls said.
Internet
But the competitive landscape will tilt away from console-market leading PlayStation to terrain more favorable to Xbox, he reasoned.
Microsoft has built a powerful platform for hosting computing in the internet cloud, making such service a thriving part of its business.
“We commit and harness the full breadth of our resources at Microsoft to deliver on the future of play,” Xbox team leader Phil Spencer said at an E3 briefing.
The Redmond, Washington-based technology veteran has also invested heavily in machine learning, naming its Cortana digital assistant after an artificial intelligence character in blockbuster Xbox video game “Halo.”
Spencer also said that Microsoft is working on a cloud service for streaming console-quality games to internetlinked devices.
“If you agree that the eventual future of games consumption is through cloud gaming services, then those companies with a strong position in cloud are likely to be best placed to benefit from the transition,” HardingRolls said.
“In this context, Microsoft’s cloud division gives the company a natural advantage when trying to build a profitable business.”
Sony and Microsoft have each put out word they are working on nextgeneration consoles, but planned capabilities have yet to be revealed.
PlayStation 4 has dominated the current console generation, briskly outselling Xbox One.
But if the video game world shifts to Microsoft’s strengths, its new competition in play could become cloud and AI titans such as Amazon, Google, Tencent, and Alibaba, according to Harding-Rolls.
The video game industry is seeing its biggest investment ever, with the three big consoles “very healthy,” according to Electronic Software Association chief executive Michael Gallagher.
Trade
The ESA trade group organizes E3, with 60,000 industry insiders and gamers from some 100 countries expected to attend the three-day gathering.
Video game industry revenue worldwide tallied about $116 billion last year, according to the ESA.
Console makers have been taking lessons from mobile games, building online communities of players who provide feedback; stream play; subscribe to services, and spend money on digital content such as dance moves or funky clothing for characters.
“Mobile has been a fantastic growth point for the industry,” Gallagher said.
Console video game titan Bethesda is unabashedly bridging the divide between console and mobile play with versions of blockbusters “Fallout” and Elder Scrolls” for play on smartphones or tablets.
“I can’t wait to play it,” Gallagher said of “Elder Scrolls: Blades” that will be available free for iPhones or Android-powered mobile devices when it is released later this year.
Another sign of console-quality play making its way to mobile devices came in the form of telecom giant AT&T showing off ultra high-speed 5G wireless data capabilities on the E3 show floor.
Super-fast internet service is seen as key to rich, seamless game play.
“Exponential increases in computing power, storage and speed will lead to the streaming of realistic, systemic, densely populated and persistent game worlds to any screen,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive of French video game powerhouse Ubisoft.
Also: LOS ANGELES:
The 1984 arcade title ‘Hyper Sports’ is getting a modern day Switch remake, Konami announced in a press release.
The new title is “Hyper Sports R” and will include multiple sports for players to compete in, including track and field, swimming and beach volleyball. The upcoming title can be played alone, in a campaign mode in which the player can build up their own team through competitions and by completing. Or, it can be played with up to four friends in a quick play competitive mode.
Konami has also released a trailer for the game, which magnifies just how much has changed in the last few decades of gaming. The trailer starts with original “Hyper Sports” footage before revealing the development shots from the new Nintendo Switch exclusive version.
A release date and other sports to be included in “Hyper Sports R” have not yet been announced, but the original “Hyper Sports” also included sports like archery, weight lifting and skeet shooting. So it’s possible they could be added in to the remake.
Konami, publisher of the hit “Metal Gear” series, recently reported their most profitable year yet, with over $2 billion USD in revenue at the end of the past fiscal year.
LOS ANGELES:
Gaming accessory maker Nyko is selling a new cardboard kit that turns into a buildable recreation of a retro arcade cabinet.
The PixelQuest Arcade Kit will be available this Fall and costs $20. It’s Switch compatible and comes with two balltop joysticks custom fit to attach to the Joy-Con analog sticks. Meanwhile, the Joy-Con slots contain mechanical button remapping, allowing players to press the shoulder buttons while keeping the traditional button configuration of a classic arcade machine. It also has cut-out ventilation slits and a working coin slot that doubles as a piggy bank.
The PixelQuest Arcade Kit will be available for pre-order soon at Amazon.com and Nyko.com.
Nintendo launched its own line of do-it-yourself cardboard construction kits this year called “Nintendo Labo.” The Variety Kit and Robot Kit costs $70 and $80, respectively.
Nyko is also releasing an Intercooler Stand and a Wireless Core Controller for Nintendo Switch. It features a unique design that lets the console dock horizontally while increasing airflow. Built-in proximity sensors will automatically activate the fans when a Switch is placed in the dock, ensuring the console is properly ventilated even when placed near other heated electronics in an entertainment center. The Wireless Core Controller has programmable turbo functionality along with additional enhancements like a gyroscope motion sensor, built-in rumble, and a rechargable battery that Nyko says has up to 20 hours of playtime. It’s compatible with all Pro Controller Switch titles, with additional suport for Android devices (via Bluetooth) and PC (when plugged in via USB). The Wireless Controller and the Intercooler Stand will cost $30 each, and they will be available for pre-order soon.