Not only are we on the precipice of a new console generation, with PlayStation 5 now about a year away, we're seeing a newcomer arriving in a matter of days. Google is about to launch its cloud-based gaming platform Stadia, and it's going to be fascinating to see what impact it has on the industry moving forward. In an interview with GamesIndustry, PlayStation boss Jim Ryan seems pretty happy with the platform's position as we head into this turbulent new era.
First commenting that all platforms are "in for a rollercoaster ride of constant evolution" in the coming years, Ryan says that PlayStation is in a very strong position. He says that, while there is going to be disruption and "new entrants with deep pockets and strengths in areas where distribution of content creation might move", Sony's platform has the upper hand with three key advantages: "the brand, the content, and the community". Ryan doesn't name Google specifically, but he's clearly explaining that Stadia might have forward-thinking tech, but it doesn't yet have the trust of millions of players or the software to attract consumers. Ryan says that if Sony can play to its strengths, "I see no reason for us not to be really optimistic about the future".
So, it seems Sony is pretty happy with how things are shaping up for the next few years. Even if you just consider PlayStation Now, it's already the most popular cloud gaming service with over a million subscribers, partly thanks to renewed pricing and some major titles being added to the list. It has an enormous head start, in other words, and we can only see it going from strength to strength with PS5.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 24
Streaming is a big part of the future but it feels like Stadia are a few years early to the party. That said, it’ll take big moves like this to trigger such a significant change so.. it could be the one.
Plus, Baldurs Gate 3 hype.
Go get them Jack Ryan.
Yep, Stadia is a decent concept in theory but it lacks branding, vision and focus. In a few years, dedicated gaming companies will do the same thing but better.
Can we stop using 'moving forward,' moving forward?
you know what else gives them an edge, that fact that their player base can actually buy their games and ain't reliant on a constantly connected internet service that is useless if your unable to connect
plus they aint Google so they wont abandon it within 2 years
Some might call this overconfidence.
I'd say it's only overconfidence if you can't back it up.
The huge advantage Stadia has over any of the next gen consoles is that it can upgrade its system at any stage with no cost to the consumer There is no buying of expensive hardware either.
He's absolutely right. Though I will be trying Stadia and my founders edition should be here shortly, they can't compete with 2+ decades of brand recognition.
@FullbringIchigo but equally you can play your games from work, or a family or friends on any connected PC screen or any TV/mobile or tablet, with just a controller that you bring along in your bag. Swings and roundabouts!
@kyleforrester87 oh that is also true but you still don't own any of the games and they can remove them at anytime and unlike a physical or digital game you brought once it's gone from Stadia then it's gone for good
plus like i said it's google and they have a habit of dropping stuff within a few years of launching and that's one of my main fears, that and the internet in my region barely hitting 30mbs which leads me onto another issue, if you buy a PS4 for example you can play it anywhere without issue but in some regions Stadia just wont be worth it as internet speeds just aint good enough
streaming is trash, and it definitive is not the future. i will never support it.
Well of course he says that. If he didn't, every single investor would be roasting his nuts before lunch break.
@FullbringIchigo I really don’t get hung up on ownership of games, bar 4-5 in my collection I’m unlikely to play any of my physical games ever again and they are just in the way. But I am obviously hung up enough to not get rid of them. So for me I’m quite happy with the idea of just streaming a game through once and moving on. But then if I really liked it, I think I would want the option of buying it physically too.
I got Xenoblade Chronicles 2 digitally and while I like having it ready to go on the Switch I am seriously considering picking up a hard copy just for prosperity.
Then I have games like Mario Kart and Smash Bros which are digital, fun to jump into every now and then. I’d be happy with those being streamable too. I wouldn’t miss them if internet made them temporarily unavailable, but I they would be fun games to dive in to wherever I am in the world with only a controller and steady internet connection.
Stadia has no edge, can't wait till it fails, stuff any game streaming service, yes even sonys.
I prefer to touch and hold my games thank you very much. I've been with Playstation for a long time and for the most part I'm very satisfied with their exclusives. There's simply no good reason to switch allegiances. In order for them to compete they would have to come up with their own exclusives, otherwise the Stadia will ultimately be a dud (that's my personal prediction actually).
meanwhile the PS4 remote play app isn't available on Android, what a load of crap, does he know what convenience is?
Methinks Stadia DOA. Baulders Gate 3 isnt gonna do it. Rural America isnt gonna do it. Latency and input lag are a thing. Even the mighty google cant fix that. I guess with their rip off nintendo pro controller and no console there are minimal manufacturing risks or expense....still im calling this a flop. And if it doesnt flop im sad for where gaming goes from here
@LaJettatura as much as i dislike the idea of a streaming future...THAT would be crazy....but woukd probably galvanize the base
@hotukdeals
They can upgrade that thing as much as they want you can't beat local gaming... And no cost is quickly said
Stadia basically is a rental service at $60 price for gaming, you're at the mercy of google that can axe the service anytime. Their platform are dead if they don't have subscription plan like psnow or gamepass, hardcore gamer won't rent games at $60, super casual gamer already have free to play games on their phone/tablet, and casual gamer will likely buy cheap ps4 or xbox one coupled with psnow/gamepass rather than subbing to stadia since you need great and expensive internet to play it.
@kyleforrester87 and to be fair if it was just a monthly fee for streaming then i would be OK too but it's the fact you not only have to pay a subscription and have a steady connection BUT you still have to pay for each game too, so you're paying £9 a month to play a game you already paid £50 for, that's like buying a DVD and having to put money into your DVD player to use it
now there is something called Stadia Base coming next year that has no sub and maybe then i'll take a look but for now i'm not touching it
@FullbringIchigo Oh yeah the pricing seems messed up. Rome wasn't built in a day I guess, costing and the technology will become more realistic over time. I remember my brother got an MP3 player in 2000, cost a couple of hundred with a 16mb card. Enough for like 6 songs :')
Didn't skip when you shook it, though!!
@kyleforrester87 i remember when DVD players first came out and they cost up to a grand in some cases, same with blu-ray players
seriously i think if it wasn't for the PS2 and PS3 getting affordable players into homes we would still be on VHS (on a side note i actually still use VHS actually i even reverse transferred a few DVD's to VHS for my collection)
@FullbringIchigo The weird thing is, I don't use MP3s anymore and the majority of TV and film I watch is streamed. In the past 20 years I've basically transitioned through digital physical media, aside from video games which is around 50/50 now I'd say.
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