Although known mainly for its wealth of (sometimes very expensive) graphics cards, Nvidia is also at the forefront of cloud gaming. Its GeForce Now subscription service allows players to game online without having to have a hefty PC jammed with pow??erful hardware.

However, something is on the horizon which doesn't appear to be going down well. According to a recent post on the Nvidia blog, a monthly playtime limit is coming into effect at the start of 2025. It essentially caps cloud gaming though G??eForce Now to 100 hours.

The monthly allowance is to "continue providing exceptional quality and speed �as well as shorter queue times �for Performance and Ultimate members," according to the post. ?Nvidia says overall it won't have effect around 94% of its current userbase.

No prizes for guessing people's reactions

Of course, you can increase this limit by paying a bit extra. T??o the tune of $2.99 or $5.99 per month for Performance or Ultimate users, respectively, you can add an extra 15 hours onto this 100-hour cap. It can also be rolled ov?er to the next month, but only to a maximum of 115 hours (which includes the initial 100 you'll already be getting).

The news was shared on the above Reddit post and without even opening the thread, you can probably guess people's?? reaction to the upcoming monthly playtime limits. Even though Nvidi??a has said current members who pay can enjoy unlimited gaming until January 2026, it's not going down well with the community.

Of course, Reddit is not the whole world and the comments are just a small slice of how people?? may be feeling. However, I put it to you that not many are going to be pleased with GeForce Now moving forward with the cap. One hundred hours a month equates to just over three hours a day. Even if you skip some days or only play for a couple of hours, it does mean having to keep an eye on how much you're playing, lest you need to fork over for additional time. The phrase "nickel and dime" suggests itself somewhat.

The post Nvidia GeForce? Now to in?troduce monthly playtime limit appeared first on Destructoid.

We've kind of become used to the idea of monthly subscriptions for our gaming needs. But if even that's too much for you, Nvidia has now made it possible to utilize its clou?d gaming service on?? a daily basis.

As reported by Videocardz, you can now purchase a Day Pass for GeForce NOW, which gives you access to Nv?idia's servers, powered by the RTX 4000-series graphics cards. It comes in two flavors as well: Priority a??nd Ultimate, similar to the monthly memberships.

As for what you get, well, you'll be entitled to 24-hour access t?o Team Green's cloud, which inc?ludes all the usual benefits of a typical subscription, but without actually having to subscribe for a month or beyond.

But not 24-hour gaming

It should be said that you won't get to play your games through GeForce NOW for the full 24 hours. Depending on which tier you opt ??for,? you'll get either six or eight hours of actual game time, but you'll have access to the servers for the entire day.

According to the sign-up page on Nvidia's website, you can pay $3.99 for the Priority Day Pass or $7.99 for Ultimate. The latter is said to ??have "exclusive access" to the RTX 4080 servers. You'll also benefit from up to 4K resolution and 120 FP??S.

Oh, but if you want to try before you buy, the report from Videocardz says there's an option to get a free hour-long session, but I couldn't see where you would sign up for that. It also comes with ads, because we are, in actuality, living in an episode of Black Mirror (what a cool reference).

The post Can’t afford an RTX 4000-powered rig? Nvidia GeForce Now will let you rent one for a day appeared first on Destructoid.

Microsoft first announced its intentions to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022. Since then, the road to closing the deal has been a long, sinuous one. The megacorporation has faced pushback from several sources, including Sony. The competitor argues that the acquisition would be anti-competitive, especially if franchises like Call of Duty become Xbox and PC exclusives. Some governi??ng bodies have also stepp?ed in, now prompting Microsoft to revisit its initial agreement.

Previously, Microsoft claimed it was committed to keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation, at least for the next 10 years. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also voted to block the buyout, driving the companies to push back the merger deadline to October 18. Initially, the CMA made its case against the deal over Microsoft's potential monopolization of cloud game streaming. To appease the CMA, Micr??osoft has decided to give Ubisoft a pie?ce of the cloud game streaming pie.

Microsoft intends for Ubisoft to compensate it "for the cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard’s games through a one-off payme?nt and through a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism." Ubisoft could also offer Activision Blizzard games to cloud services running non-Windows operating systems.

[caption id="attachment_358407" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Ubisoft.[/caption]

Microsoft restructures its agreement to include Ubisoft

The proposed changes would, in theory, limit Microsoft's ability to monopolize cloud game streaming. According to vice chair and president Brad Smith, the company would "not be in a position either to release Activision Blizzard games exclusively on it??s own cloud streaming service �Xbox Cloud Gaming �or to exclusively control the licensing terms of Activision Blizzard games for rival services."

Navigating cloud streaming rights remains tricky for Microsoft, as it has several preexisting commitments in place. The company currently maintains obligations to "provide cloud streaming rights in the European Economic Area". Cu??rrently, Microsoft holds contractual agreements with cloud streaming providers such as Nvidia, Boosteroid, Ubitus, and Nware.

The merger agreement expired in July, though it r??eceived that 90-day extension. Nevertheless, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard continue to make headway slowly, and the "transaction is now in a position to move forward in more than 40 countries". If completed, the $68.7 b?illion acquisition will be the most expensive in gaming history by a significant margin.

The post Microsoft and Activision Bliz?zard restructure acquisition to address CMA concerns appeared first on Destructoid.

Cloud Dissipates

Google's beleaguered cloud gaming service, Stadia, is officially no more �The big red button was hit on the servers last night at 23:59 PT / 02:59 ET / 07:59 BT, bringing to a?n end a costly experiment that on paper had some interesting and engaging concepts, that simply didn't translate into real, financially successful benefits for the internet giant.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Wy_pWscsk&ab_cha????nnel=GameSpotTrailers

Launching on November 19, 2020, Google Stadia was an endeavor to make a massive library of online games available to players all over the world, accessible via cloud streaming and playable on practically any screen that could be connected to the internet. All a Stadia user would need was a controller and a Stadia subscription.

Unfortunately for Google, however, the service struggled to find momentum from launch. This can be put down to a variety of reasons including disinterest from non-gaming fans, confusion over the subscription model, a lack of validation from some major publishers, and major games releasing in a state th??a?t placed them behind their PC and console brethren.

On the whole, however, players were simply happy to stick with the gaming hardware they already owned, rather ?than stump up a subscription fee to play some (not all) of the same games in a cloud format.

//twit??ter.com/GoogleStadia/status/1615804298381725696?s=20&a??mp;t=0usLimNdo0pp8rS2VLWp5g

"To our players and partners, our team, community, and fans â€?thank you, for everything," said a succinct message posted to the Stadia Twitter yesterday. "As of 11.59pm PT today, weâ€?™re signing off from the cloud. Y’all be good to e?ach other, and stay safe out there."

Google has stated that it intends to refund all hardware and software purchases that have been made through the Google Store and the Stadia network. The technology itself will be assimilated into future cloud projects in other arms of Google's network, such as You??Tube.

In regards to the project itself, either the world wasn't ready for or the world simply didn't require a 100% online gaming service. Either way, I'm of no doubt that somewhere, sometime down the line, somebody is going to take another ?swing at the cloud gaming dream.

Farewell ?Stadia, and tha?nks for giving it the old college try.

The post Google Stadia is now officially shut down appeared first on Destructoid.

The team becomes Netflix's sixth in-house studio

Netflix has announced another games studio acquisition. Cozy Grove developer Spry Fox is joining Netflix.

In an announcement from the studio, Spry Fox says this acquisition will allow for a few things. Firstly, the team will be able to make games they've been making and wanted to make, ??with more support and resources.

It will also reduce stress on Spry Fox's games to generate profit, according to the studi??o, and give the team access to other creatives a??t Netflix for collaboration.

"Real talk: we’ve been at this for almost 13 years," said the Spry Fox team in today's statement. "It’s been exhilarating, humbling, endlessly interesting and often challenging. We’ve always known that above all else, we wanted our games to bring people happiness. But in other ways, it feels like we only recently figured out what 'we want to be when we grow up.' What has become clear over the course of all of our adventures: We are a studio that builds original, world-class cozy games. Especially games that bring people together. And we are confident th??a??t Netflix is going to help us do that."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=35nCCbXBhw8

Spry Fox is the developer behind the cozy game Cozy Grove, as well as titles like Alphabear and Road Not Taken. All of Spry Fox's games will remain up for download and available in their cu??rrent versions, on their currently available platforms.

As for future plans, the studio says it is working on Cozy Grove 2, as well as a non-violent MMO. No changes have happened ??in terms of their develop?ment plans.

A growing Netflix presence

With the news, Spry Fox be?comes the sixth in-house games studio for Netflix.

The streaming giant has been gradually investing into the gaming space, picking up some studios in the process. Notably, it brought Oxenfree studio Night School under its banner last year. And it just recently announced another studio opening, too.

While reports have indicated mixed results in getting Neflix subscribers to check out games, these pick-ups are certainly interesting for the service. Netflix already had some ??solid games popping up in its service. Adding a few releases from solid studios could entice more?? to check the service out.

The post Netflix acquires Cozy Grove studio Spry Fox appeared first on Destructoid.

Dark Clouds

During yesterday's Resident Evil Showcase, Capcom offered up r??elease dates for cloud editions of several "modern classics" that currently winging their way to the humble Ninten?do Switch platform.

The four titles pulled from the modern canon of the survival horror series consist of 2021's Resident Evil Village, the 2019 Resident Evil 2 remake, the 2020 Resident Evil 3 remake, and the iconic Resident Evil VII: Biohazard, which literally reshaped the entire franchise following its launch in 2017. These cloud editions will see the games streamed directly to the ??Switch platform, allowing Nintendo's plucky hybrid console to depict the top-tier visuals and intense act?ion of each respective horror show.

//youtu.be/vJ1Ih37TnTI

The action kicks off with Resident Evil Village on October 28. Resident Evil 2 will then launch November 11, with Resident Evil 3 following a week later on November 18, and finally rounded out with Resident Evil VII: Biohazard on December 16. That's hours upon? hours of top-tier goo-filled action to keep you warm during those cold winter nights. All three titles are well worth your time and effort, and these new cloud editions will open up their creepy worlds to a new audience of players... You should play it in bed, under the covers. Oooooo... Spooky.

Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, and Resident Evil VII: Biohazard are all available now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. In related news, be sure to check out the exciting new trailer for the highly anticipated remake Resident Evil 4.

The post Res??i?dent Evil Cloud titles dated for Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Overwatch producer on board for new SoCal digs

Netflix Games continues in its efforts to boisterously become part of the gaming industry at large �The fledgling outfit has not only announced the opening of a brand new studio, its fifth developer to date, but is also currently looking into the possibilities of launching its own cloud gaming service. The news was announced by Netflix VP of Gaming Mike Verdu during a presentation at TechCrunch Disrupt.

The new development studio, which will be established in Southern California, will be headed up by industry veteran Chacko Sonny, who previously worked for Activision Blizzard as the executive producer of arena shooter Overwatch. Sonny left the publisher in the fall of 2021, one of a number of high-profile departures in the wake of the company's Califor??nian lawsuit and myriad toxic workplace allegations.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMdi0VlPJ0o

In addition to the reveal of the new studio, Verdu also noted that Netflix Games was "seriously exploring" the potential for a cloud gaming service. Verdu suggeste??d that this service would be a "value add", as opposed to its own distinct platform �This is clearly a distinct effort to distance the potential Netflix service from Google's "Stadia" model, which announced its c??losure earlier this month.

The newly established studio, along with the exploration into the world of cloud gaming, represents the latest steps in Netflix' efforts to carve itself a piece of the lucrative gaming pie. Already ?building a portfolio of in-house developers, Verdu surmised that the studio had 55 games currently in the works, wit?h at least half based upon Netflix own range of IPs.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jhfofq-ehw

For the most part, Netflix Games has focused on the mobile gaming market �with gaming releases based on Netflix franchises such as Stranger Things as well as its own original titles �though it clearly has ?some serious ambition on deck.  Thus, it wouldn't be surprising to see the company eventually branch out into producing more games for home console platforms in the future.

Netflix to expand into clo??ud gaming, opens new studio in Southern Californ?ia [TechCrunch]

The post Netflix Game?s to open fifth studio and explore cloud ??gaming appeared first on Destructoid.

Refunds will roll out for games and hardware

Google is shutting ?down its cl??oud-based game streaming service Stadia. After a few years of operation, the service is shutting down and refunds are rolling out.

In a new blog post, Google VP and Stadia general manager Phil Harrison says the technology "hasn't gained the traction with users" it expected. So the company has decided to wind do??wn its Stadia services.

Google will be refunding all Stadia hardware purchases made through the Google Store. All game and add-on content purchases made through the Stadia store will also ?be refunded.

Those who want to can keep playing their Stadia games through January?? 18, 2023. So if you've got a save file you want to clear, you'd better get on that. Google expects to have the "majority" of refunds completed by mid-January, 2023. The Stadia team members will be mo?ving to other parts of the company.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeFnQrgtZ9k

The tech underneath

Harrison writes that the technology that powers Stadia "has been proven at scale," and it sees "clear opportunities" to utilize this across other parts of Google, including YouTube, Google Play, and AR. It also cites making this technology available t?o industry partners, which Harrison says aligns wi??th where they see the future of gaming headed.

"We remain deeply committed to gaming, and we will continue to invest in new tools, technologies and platforms that power the success of developers, industry partne?rs, cloud customers and c??reators," said Harrison.

Google Stadia was one of the earlier technologies breaking into the cloud race. It had quite the interesting reveal, and started ??to build ??up some gaming development power behind it.

Issues soon arose, though. Stadia shuttered its internal development studios in 2021. Plans circled to reportedly shift Stadia's direction, but it looks like the final bell has tolled.

Other cloud services are still persisting, like Amazon Luna and Microsoft's fairly successful venture into cloud gaming, alongside its Xbox Game Pass.

The post Google is shutting Stadia down appeared first on Destructoid.

Logitech's cloud gaming handheld will launch at $350, with pre-orders coming in $50 cheaper

After much speculation and some leaks, Logitech has lifted the lid? on its new built-for-cloud-gaming handheld system, the Logitech G Cloud, ahead of its O??ctober 17 launch. It's a device for players who actively use services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia GeForce Now (or even Steam Link), but plenty of us are still only dabbling in this stuff at best.

The handheld Android device has a 7-inch 1080p touchscreen, a supposed 12-hour battery life, and "haptics, gyroscope, and remappable control," according to Logi??tech. I will say, it's a sleek design. The Logitech G Cloud is 10.11 inches by 4.61 inches, and weighs 463 grams?, which would sandwich it between the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.

How powerful is it? The processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, an "octa-core CPU up to 2.3GHz." Per The Verge, it's got 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and? 64GB of UFS storage??.

Here's the tricky bit: at launch in October, the Logitech G Cloud will cost a hard-to-justify $350 �but for those who pre-order, the handheld system will be $300. Still!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6104nB2pFs

In other words, it's a cool device that's going to feel way too limiting �unless, of course, you're re??ally down to play games over Wi-Fi?? right now. I could see more of us getting there collectively, eventually, but even with some positive Xbox Cloud Gaming experiences, this feels too early to me. Especially compared to the Steam Deck (and future iterations).

Game Pass is doing the heavy lifting

One big selling point is the Xbox angle. According to VP of Xbox Cloud Gaming Catherine Gluckstein, they've "worked with Logitech to enable our Remote Play feature, also pinned as a shortcut to the home scree?n. Remote Play differs from Xbox Cloud Gaming by letting you stream your full Xbox library �going beyond titles in Xbox Game Pass �from your personal Xbox console to phones, tablets, and now handhelds."

The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, tweeted that he's "been using the Logitech G Cloud for about a month," and called it an "incredible streaming device for playing while I'm away from my console. I love the feel, the battery life, and screen size. Took it to Europe and TGS with me and had a great time playing, even on hotel Wi-Fi."

[caption id="attachment_345495" align="alignnone" width="1384"] _{A nice design, but there's tough competition.}[/caption]

That said, Xbox cloud support is only getting easier to come by.

Even in good circumstances, mileage can vary considerably for cloud gaming. Are you outright against this ??kind of streaming handheld, or could you see a use for it in your life? Either way, I think most of us will agree that the price is tough to overlook.

It's not a one-to-one comparison, but I would argue that using a newer phone with a mobile controller (or a gam??epad attachment) will get? the job done for a lot of us.

The post The streaming Logitech G Cloud handh??eld is a tough sell appeared first on Destructoid.

Gods, monsters, and some coffee all hit Game Pass this month

One god game is leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of August, but a few "immortal" games are stepping up to take its place. As Supergiant's Hades leaves at the end of the month, Xbox Game Pass picks up Immortals Fenyx Rising, Immortality, and several other new games for the service.

The selection for this month is a solid selection of indie gems, both new and old. Coffee Talk arrives today, letting you play barista to a host of creatures in alt-Seattle. Opus: Echo of Starsong arrives later on, bringing a vibrant art st?yle and deep narrative to?? the service.

A notable arrival this month on Game Pass is Immortality, the new FMV adventure from Sam Barlow and Half Mermaid. It was pretty impressive when I previewed it, and seems like it'll be worth checking out?? when it launches on Augus?t 30.

Or if fighting Greek mythology is more your thing, Immortals Fenyx Rising should fit the bill. It's a Breath of the Wild-adjacent adventure with a heavy helping of myth, and I've heard mostly alright things about it.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEStlPKIGL8

Of course, as some games arrive, others leave. This month sees another batch of games leave Xbox Game Pass, and there are some heavy hitters worth checking out before they take off. Hades is a big one, with a little roguelite action mixed with Greek myth and Supergiant charm.

We also see What Remains of Edith Finch, Spirifarer, Twelve Minutes, and more leave the service at the end of August. Hades aside, those are some games you could absolutely squeeze into a weeken??d before they're gone.

Here's t?he full lineup for t?he second half of August.

Xbox Game Pass - August arrivals

• Coffee Talk (Cloud, Console, PC) - August 16
• Midnight Fight Express (Cloud, Console, PC) - August 23
• Exapunks (PC) - August 25
• Opus: Echo of Starsong - Full Bloom Edition (Console, PC) - August 25
• Commandos 3 - HD Remaster (Cloud, Console, PC) - August 30
• Immortality (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) - August 30
• Immortals Fenyx Rising (Cloud, Console, PC) - August 30
• Tinykin (Console, PC) - August 30

Xbox Game Pass - August departures

• Elite Dangerous (Cloud and Console)
• Hades (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Myst (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• NBA 2K22 (Cloud and Console)
• Signs of the Sojourner (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Spiritfarer (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Twelve Minutes (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Two Point Hospital (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• What Remains of Edith Finch (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• World War Z (Cloud, Console, and PC)

The post Xbo??x Game Pass sees gods arriving and leaving at the end of?? August appeared first on Destructoid.

Free games for a limited time

Google Stadia may not have seen the massive success that the company was hoping for, but almost three years after its launch, the streaming service is still holding on. Now it seems that Google has a plan to get more players onboard, because they've just announced that they have over 120 game trials (and more on the way) that you can hop in and try out right now, no payment or Stadia account required. The catalog includes hit games like Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, Far Cry 6, Little Nightmares, Saints Row: The Third, Terraria, Spiritfarer, and many more. Of course, this?? deal isn't without its stipulations.

The trials may in fact be free, but players' time with each game is limited from anywhere between 120 minutes to 30 minutes, which is pretty insubstantial depending on wh??ich game you're playing.

So, it's looking like this is a better deal if you're already looking to try Stadia �as one Reddit user points out, playing the trials of games like Hotline Miami is actually a great way to ??see if Sta?dia's streaming will work with your network and hardware.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pwb6d2wK3Qw

If you're someone who doesn't want to drop a ton of money on a console or PC gaming rig, Stadia is a nice option, in theory, assuming that it works for you. Okay so maybe there ar?e a lot of "ifs" at play here, but that never stopped Google, clearly.

Regardless of the logistics, others on Reddit praised the trial model, and said they wished Steam would do the same thing. Games are expensive, and only ra??ising in price, so it makes sense that players would want to try out a game before they commit to dropping some major cash for the full thing. If you've ever looked at Google Stadia and thought, "it's a good idea, but..." this is a good no-risk opportunity to give it the ol' college try.

The post Google Stadia has ov??er ?120 game trials, no subscription needed appeared first on Destructoid.

AT&T customers can stream it right to their phone or computer

As cloud gaming continues to build out, one service provider is now bundling streaming games in for its customers. AT&T announced today that Control Ultimate Edition is free to stream in its e?ntirety to a phone, tablet, or computer for AT&T customer?s.

According to AT&T's site, you just need a postpaid mobility plan. Then you can head to its Play Now site using a mobile device or computer. Enter your phone number and zip code for your account, and bam, Control Ultimate Edition.

It's available for a limited time, and powered by Google's Immersive Stream for Games. That program is a spin-off of Stadia, where companies can license Google's Stadia streaming tech for their own streaming purpos??es.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=UISRDU_mzaw

This isn't the only game available, either. Batman: Arkham Knight is also on the program, as it launched last fall.

Cloudy future

Cloud gaming has been an interesting technology to watch develop over the years. Stadia itself went through some woes, shuttering its internal studios and looking to expand in other ways.

A report in February indicated Google might be pivoting and adapting the technology, bringing the tech to services looking for streaming options. It certainly seems like this Control offer falls under that.

Other companies have tried out their cloud tech, too. Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming?? has made Xbox One and Series X|S games open fo?r streaming through the cloud.

For AT&T, it's a very specific subset of users able to take advantage of this. But it is interesting, as a microcosm of where these options could go: mobile. Cloud options already feel largely targeted towards phones, as they make for capable and widely available streaming platforms. With a pack-in like Control Ultimate Edition, it's certainly a step to?? watch for future streaming de?velopments.

The post Control Ultimate Edition is available for AT&T users to stream appeared first on Destructoid.

You'll now get a "server congestion" warning screen

The Kingdom Hearts Cloud Versions just got a little more "yikes" worthy, as a new update actually encourages you not to play it, depending on how the servers are fee??ling at that moment.

Yep, patch 1.03, which just arrived this week, applies to all three versions. After the update, "the server congestion status is now displayed on? the portal screen." In other words, the game will actively tell you if the servers are overloaded, and potentially scare you off from actually playing it. Gaming in 2022!

At the very least, the Kingdom Hearts III Cloud Version also added the ability to toggle between a visual and a performance mode. But other than that and the aforementioned warning screens for all the Kingdom Hearts Cloud Versions, that's about it.

On one hand, it's actually nice to know whether or not you're going to be diving into a game and then having it crash five minutes later, during some pivotal moment. On the other, this band-aid fix ??is incredibly weird all-around, and just comically highlights the problematic nature of releasing cloud versions of?? a wildly popular game series without the proper infrastructure to support it. Now you have a minigame beyond the game in terms of pinpointing the best time to play! Or you could get a used copy of the complete collection for around $30 on another platform.

The post Switch Kingdom Hearts Cloud Versions updated to warn you when you shouldn’t play them appeared first on Destructoid.

iPhone owners get another option for Fortnite

It just got a little bit easier to play Fortnite just about anywhere. Xbox and Epic announced today that Fortnite is now freely available via Xbo?x Cloud Gaming, through supported browser-enabled devices.

Fortnite is playable through the Xbox Cloud Gaming beta in 26 countries. And most notably, it's free; all you'll need is a Microsoft account and an iOS, iPadOS, Android phone or tablet, or Windows PC. With that done, just head over to the Xbox play site and sign-in, then start dropping.

Notably, this doesn't require a subscription to Xbox Game Pass. While previously you could play Fortnite through a Game Pass Ultimate sub, this makes Fortnite access throu??gh Xbox Cloud Gaming completely free. It's also playable through either native touch controls or a supported controller, if you've got one of those for your phone.

It's a big step, and apparently not the last one for Microsoft. The company says in today's announcement that starting with Fortnite, they're looking to bring more free-to-play games in. No specifics on which games, but it's an interesting proposition, especially because of the browser aspect. Rather than needing a con??sole,? you just need a decent connection and the phone in your pocket.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M3-AwaIwzM

Renewing the battle royale

It's also big news for iPhone users who have had some trouble playing Fortnite. Ever since the big Epic-Apple spat went down, Fortnite has been delisted from the App Store. When that changes is anyone's guess, but this Xbox workaround gives players the option to get back on the Fortnite train on their phones, at the least.

Epic CEO Tim Sweeney shared the news, saying "no subscription required, no 30% Apple Tax." It seems to be a good day for iOS Fortnite fans. And as for Microsoft's further plans in the free-to-play space, it'll be interesting to see what other ga?mes they look to get enabled on the cloud.

The post Fortnite is playable through Xbox Cloud Ga?ming ??for free appeared first on Destructoid.

Giving 'open world' a whole new meaning

The annual Game Developer's Conference is right around the corner, which means studios, devs, and hobbyists are primed to discuss some of this year's biggest advancements in game development. One of those studios is Ubisoft, who just announced a brand new "cloud-native" technology, Scalar, that they will use to create "limitless" open worlds, as reported by Gamespot. Ubisoft has proven that they want to be on the cutting edge, so it makes sense that they would lean into technolo??gy that could set them ?apart from competitors.

As of now, we only really have an announcement from Ubisoft that they're working on this project, so we don't know what it?? will look like in practice in the final version of a game quite yet. It's all a bit nebulous right now, with Ubisoft claiming Scalar would mean "unprecedented scalability, flexibility, and creative freedom." Apparently, it would also allow for games with no patches, because developers would update single elements of a game in real-time without it affecting other aspects �something that usually causes bottlenecks in development. Computing power would also be optimized ?in ways we haven't seen before, so in theory, there could be "millions" of players in a "singular, shared virtual environment." We do know, though, that Ubisoft Stockholm is currently developing a new IP in tandem with Scalar, which will most likely be used for its first in-game implementation.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Fkyj2GYeo

What a lot of game fans don't know is that, in addition to developing our favorite games, a lot of the bigger game studios have whole teams dedicated to creating new tech that the studio, and eventually the entire industry, can leverage in order to progress the technology of games as a whole. A great example of this is ray tracing -- after one company had cracked it an implemented it into their ga??mes, it became pretty ubiquitous in the rest of the industry. That's likely what Ubisoft's plan is with Scalar: to set a new standard with the technology that they create.

Although the extent of Scalar's potential practical application is currently unknown, it certainly sounds like an intriguing next step in gaming technology. If you're interested in learning a bit more about how Scalar works, I also recommend reading Gamespot's writeup, because they do a great job of explaining the tech in more depth. For now, I'll just be on the lookout to see what exactly Scalar's continued development mean??s for the rest of the industry, because?? Ubisoft could either be all talk right now, or on the brink of impacting the rest of the industry in a big way.

_{[Featured Image Source: Ubisoft]}

The post Ubisoft announces their new cloud-based developmen??t tech, Scalar appeared first on Destructoid.

What a ride for a cloud game

Kingdom Hearts cloud is out, and it's been rocky for folks ever since it dropped. In response, a patch just arrived.

So what's the deal? Well, crashing. In a cloud game. Fans have been reporting numerous launcher Kingdom Hearts cloud crash incidents since launch, with anomalies like it working on handheld/tabletop mode, but crashing in TV mode.   Wild, I know, especially since you're paying to own the game, but the right to play it for a bit. In other words, it behooves Square Enix to fix it as quickly as possible. Since it's the Nintendo eShop r?efunds have been harder to come by according to folks on Twitter, even in the face of these bugs.

A patch has been since issued by Square Enix, and here's the vagu?e statement on it:

"Today we've ??also launched a day 1 patch. This will fix various bugs which occur whilst playing either the full or demo versions of each Kingdom Hearts game on Ninten?do Switch. #KH20th"

Patching a? cloud game so that it w?orks day one. It's a crazy world we live in.

This news comes amid the announcement that Dying Light 2 cloud is delayed for quality cont??rol reasons to "up to six months." Maybe with the next generation of Nintendo hardware we won't need these cloud experiences? Or maybe they'll all be cloud experiences so publishers ?can ultimately just not sell you games anymore, but charge you for rentals, as the industry moves further into a wasteland. Flip a coin!

The post Kingdom Hearts cloud Switch is having launch issues and got? a patch appeared first on Destructoid.

Struggling platform fights on

The past week has seen various whispers and rumors regarding the fate of Google's cloud gaming service, Stadia. While these stories range from depriorit??ization to outright abandonment, the internet giant is seemingly not "walking away" from the struggling platform, and is instead leveraging its application to other companies and industries.

Multiple reports online cite that Google is quietly dropping Stadia way down the list of its priorities for the coming years �with a key element being a discontinued interest in chasing major league releases for inclusion on the platform. In a report from Business Insider, however, it is suggested that Google is not so much abandoning the beleaguered project, as much as it is adapting the technology itself into uses outside of video game retail.

Google is believed to be shopping Stadia service as "to hire" technology under the brand "Google Stream" �the company having already had negotiations with publishers such as Capcom, Bungie, and trendy fitness factory Peloton. The concepts range from the possibility of using Stadia to deliver exclusive demos, to utilizing the tech within Peloton's range of network-connected gym equipment. As an example, AT&T users can already stream Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Knight directly through their web browsers. While the Google branding is not referenced at all, this? feature is powered by Stadi??a technology.

And thus, it appears that Google still has ideas for the Stadia service,?? and is still open for business for those who wish to integrate the cloud service in any which way they can think of. Unfortunately, this news will come as little solace to the general Stadia community, who clearly purchased the product... well... to play brand new video games.

Google Stadia is not on its way out... Except, possibly, in the very sector it was designed for...

The post Google reportedly aims to piv??ot Stadia into wider streaming market appeared first on Destructoid.

Valve is thinking ahead about how users will probably handle the Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is expected to start rolling out in February, ??and Valve is thinking ahead. Given that players of current handheld systems have picked up some habits??, Valve introduced Dynamic Cloud Sync today. Hopefully, it should make carrying save data across systems pretty seamless, if developers implement it.

Steam already supports cloud saves, but this update seem?s targeted at the way Steam Deck users will probably handle their new platform.

"We anticipate that users will frequently suspend their Steam Deck without exiting the game, as is common wi??th other handheld gaming devices," Valve says in a new? blog post.

With Dynamic Cloud Sync, the progress should carry over when they move from one device to another. Suspend in one place, open in another. Dynamic Cloud Sync will automatically upload all modified save data to the cloud prior to entering sleep mode. Then, when opened on another platform, be it Steam Deck or other device, Steam will download the data and be?? ready to roll. It should also grab any cloud save data when the Steam Deck wakes up.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlWgZhMtlWo

The feature is free for developers to use, but they must manually tick it on in Steamworks and use some new APIs. Valve details the steps needed to implement it on their site here.

For PC to PC use, I can see some possible ways this could help, ??thoug?h I rarely suspend programs on my PC. On the Steam Deck though? I've definitely got in a habit of putting my Switch to sleep and docking it with games still open.

Since I'm thinking about picking up a Steam Deck, it's good to know I won't lose any XCOM or Baldur's Gate 3 saves when I hit suspend and drop it in the dock. Steam Decks should start rolling out in February.

The post Valve introduces Dynamic Cloud Sync?? to make moving saves between devices easier appeared first on Destructoid.

Looking to the skies to save me

Sega and Microsoft announced that they have entered a "strategic alliance" that will enable Sega to explore the development of major video games via Microsoft's cloud gaming platform, Azure. The alliance, which appears to form at least a part of Sega's recent "Super?? Game" initiative, will along the developer to explore new opportunities via its range of globally recognized IPs and franchises.

"With the world now more connected than ever following the widespread deployment of 5G and cloud services in recent years, consumers can more easily enjoy high-quality entertainment content at any time," said Sega said of the new endeavor. "Within this highly connec?ted environment, the ecosystem surrounding the games industry continues to evolve and expand as more sophisticated tools and technologies become available."

This partnership will see Sega experiment with the evolution of cloud gaming, or alternately "Always Online" gaming. Outside of mobile gaming, Sega has stayed relatively distant from subscription-based MMO titles, with the obvious exception being the popular Phantasy Star Online series, but this new alliance will open the door fo?r the developer to investigate the possibilities of online and streaming games via Microsoft's premier ?cloud gaming tools and services.

"Sega has played such an iconic role in the gamin??g industry and has been a tremendous partner over the years," said Microsoft CVP Sarah Bond of the collaboration. "We look forward to working together as they explore new w?ays to create unique gaming experiences for the future using Microsoft cloud technologies. Together we will reimagine how games get built, hosted, and operated, with a goal of adding more value to players and Sega alike."

No specific projects were announced. The partnership is expect?ed to roll out across the ninth gen and possibly beyond.

The post Sega partners with Microsoft for Azure cloud gaming initi?ative appeared first on Destructoid.

Sora's journey finally comes to Switch

Today, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai presented the final addition to the DLC roster: Sora from Kingdom Hearts. At the end of the presentation, he also confirmed that the Kingdom Hearts series is fina??lly coming to Switch, in cloud versions.

Announced on stream and confirmed by Nintendo, three Kingdom Hearts games are coming to Nintendo Switch through cloud gaming. They make up the bulk of Sora's journey, from Kingdom Hearts through several side games and journeys, all the way up to Kingdom Hearts III.

Here's the lineup:

• Kingdom Hearts - HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX - Cloud Version
• Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Cloud Version
• Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind Cloud Version

//twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1445397581215????973384

No date has been given yet for their arrival on the Switch. Nintendo says more information on these games, including their release dates, wil?l be announced later on.

Though the rhythm game Melody of Memory got a Switch release, this is the first time that the mainline series will be on the new Nintendo console. And while it's certainly exciting to see the Kingdom Hearts games make it to the Switch, it's a little strange that all of them are cloud versions. It's been a way to get more recent games, like Hitman 3, Control, and the upcoming Dying Light 2 on the platform.

It also seems like having some of the older games not require an internet connection would've been nice. I'm still interested to see how Kingdom Hearts runs on the Nintendo Switch's cloud streaming. The new OLED Switch ??launching this week will have a dock with a built-in ethernet port, so that should make streaming fairly easy.

The post Kingdom H?earts is coming to ??Nintendo Switch through the cloud appeared first on Destructoid.

Also, Microsoft Solitaire!

Xbox has announced the roster of g??ames coming to Game Pass this month, and it's a pretty varied and interesting lineup. This month, there are new games, old games, rem??asters, and also solitaire. Who doesn't like solitaire?

Skate is one of the notable additions; the first Skate joins the EA Play list for console on Aug. 5, bringing the original's city skating to modern consoles. Skate 3 is also arriving on the same day for cloud gaming users. While it's been mostly missing from recent EA news rounds—save one brief teaser earlier in the summer—this is a nice reminder of what's to come for the series' ret?urn.

Katamari Damacy Reroll hits Xbox Game Pass on Aug. 5 as well, to bring the heavenly rolling action onto cloud, console, and PC. And if you somehow haven't played Hades yet, it's coming to those three platforms as well on Aug. 13, so you've got very few excuses left to play this very, very good game.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr__hTXlDZk

The stylish Art of Rally also arrives on Xbox Game Pass this month, if you're in the mood for some top-down racing with chill vibes from the creator of Absolute Drift. And Dodgeball Academia, an indie sports RPG I've been keeping my eye on, is set for Aug. 5 as well. I've got to admit,?? this month's lineup may not be the flashiest, but it's a good and varied set of games I'm eager ??to test out.

Here's the full lineup announced by Xbox today:

• Curse of the Dead Gods (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 5
• Dodgeball Academia (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 5
• Katamari Damacy Reroll (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 5
• Lumines Remastered (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 5
• Skate  (Console) - Aug. 5
• Skate 3 (Cloud) - Aug. 5
• Starmancer (Game Preview on PC) - Aug. 5
• Art of Rally (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 12
• Hades (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 13
• Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Premium Edition (PC) - Aug. 17

The post Skateboards, Greek gods, and Kata?mari are coming to Xbox Gam?e Pass in August appeared first on Destructoid.

The power of Sans Undertale in the cloud

It's a new month, which means a new batch of games is coming to PlayStation Now, Sony's cloud gaming service. And for August 2021, it's a pretty solid lineup of games worth playing: Nier: Automata, Ghostrunner, and Undertale.

An obvious standout is Nier: Automata, the action-RPG and sci-fi follow-up to Nier. It follows androids 2B and 9S as they fight machines and deal with some hefty existential dread. Following the multiple endings through to their conclusion and seeing the true credits roll was a lot of fun with this one, and it?'s definitely worth some time to experience it for yourself.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJxNhJ8fjFk

Both Nier: Automata and Undertale, another game on this month's PlayStation Now lineup, are some of my favorites of the last five or so years. Undertale is the game that everyone has heard about, and so I won't beat you over the head with how incredible it is, or how deep its online community goes, or why Undyne rules. It's a game about a human that falls down a hole and finds themsel??ves in a world of monsters, and must choose to befriend them or annihilate them to get home. If that sounds good, give it a shot.

Ghostrunner is the one on here I haven't personally?? played, but ev??erything I've seen of it makes it look rad as heck. A first-person parkour game where you can dodge bullets and run on walls sounds like a fun time.

All three games will be available to play tomorrow, Aug. 3, on PlayStation Now-compatible devices. Sony also recently confirmed August's PlayStation Plus titles, after they leaked out a little bit early. Hunter's Arena: Legends is coming to both PlayStation 5 and PS4, while Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville and Tennis World Tour 2 are the PlayStation 4 PS Pl????us titles for the month.

The post Nier: Automata, Ghostrunner, and Undertale are August’s PlayStation Now games appeared first on Destructoid.

A new split and affiliate program are in the works too

Stadia is set ??to introduce a new revenue share model for Stadia. This new program would give partnered developers a share of the revenue generated by the cloud gaming ser??vice's Pro subscription.

Announced during today's Stadia keynote during the Google for Games Summit, and as reported by GamesIndustry.biz, 70% of all monthly revenue from the Pro service will be split between partners, depending on how many "session days" players spend playing the games. Stadia Pro provides sub?scribers with access to a library of games for a monthly f?ee, and the revenue share program for it is expected to go live by the end of July.

Google also plans to introduce a new split for games sold individually on the Stadia Store, with developers getting 85% of sales revenue up through the first $3 million. The split will take hold with any games from Octob??er through the end of 2023, after which it will roll back to the "current split."

Stadia will also introduce a new affiliate program for Stadia Pro partners in the first half of 2022, with developers re?ceiving $10 for every new user they conv??ert into a Stadia Pro subscriber. This will be tracked through each studios' Click To Play links, registering when users access Stadia through this link in a browser and then switch to a paid subscription after a free month of Pro.

It sounds like a way t??o get more developers not just putting games on Stadia, but partnering with the cloud service. A comment from Stadia product manager Alan Joyce to GIbiz noted how this could fuel future ventures for Stadia.

"Stadia Pro continues to be a focus for us to reward and incentivize partners who build great experiences for players," Joyce told GIbiz. "Which we're confident will translate into more exciting re??veals and content in the f?uture."

Google's Stadia service has had a rocky road of it, especially after it shut down its inte?rnal game development projects earlier t?his year and shifted to external efforts. Google has been saying the platform is "alive and well," and Stadia has some notable games on it. But with Microsoft offering its ow??n cloud gaming competitor with a sub??stantial subscription service tied in, it's easy to see why Stadia is trying to court mor?e developers and publishers towards its o??wn offering.

The post Google Stadia is adding revenue share from its Pro subscriptions for partnered develope??rs appeared first on Destructoid.

Plus some more cloud games

A new batch of games are coming to the Game Pass?? lineup, and on top of usual platforms, they're also bolstering the cl??oud.

Xbox announced some July arrivals for Game Pass today, ranging from Tropico 6 and the console version of UFC 4 to the fast action indie game Bloodroots.

What's interesting (for me, at least) are the games coming to the cloud service. Xbox o??fficially launched its Xbox Cloud Gaming service for all Game Pass Ultimate subscribers last week, and in Jordan's initial impressions of the service, it seems like a good ??way to spend a lunch break.

The lunch breaks are going to get breezier, as the builder-RPG Dragon Quest Builders 2 hits ??the cloud on July 8, and several other games are also coming to the se??rvice. I have lost many, many hours to building the perfect castle in this game.

//twitter.c??om/XboxGamePass/stat??us/1412396175769030666

Here's the full July Xbox Game ?Pass lineup, including ??platforms and the dates when they will arrive on the service:

• Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Cloud) - July 8
• Tropico 6 (Cloud, Console, PC) - July 8
• EA UFC 4 (Console) - July 8
• Bloodroots (Cloud, Console, PC) - July 15
• Farming Simulator 19 (Cloud, Console, PC) - July 15
• The Medium (Cloud) - July 15

The post Tropico 6, Bloodroots, and more are coming to Xbox Game ?Pass this month appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox Cloud Gaming has drawbacks even in the best of circumstances, but it can be an easy, low-friction way to try out a bunch of games

I'm not here to sell you on xCloud or the idea of cloud gam??ing in general �it's simply too early f??or a lot of folks given infrastructure and data-cap constraints �but I am here to tell you that the recent Xbox Cloud Gaming beta is pretty great, all things considered.

If you missed the news, it's possible to fire up Xbox Cloud Gaming in a browser (Edge, Chrome, or Safari) on a PC or phone, stream over 250 games on xbox.com/play, and not have to pay any?thing extra as an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber. I am one, and I finally upgraded to uncapped internet this year �so curiosity got t??he better of me.

With that p?otentially obscenely pricey concern out the window, I went a bit wild (like you do when you've got access to hundreds of games and your only real limit is time).

Being able to hop back into a classic game like Banjo-Kazooie in a web browser, wi??th my old 100% save file seamlessly showing up out of the ether, is pretty magical.

As was facing the AI punks in a round of Twisted System in Fuzion Frenzy, rolling through The Silent Cartographer in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and taking Gears 5 ?for a care-free spin without having to worry about storage or installations or much of anything?.

Here are screencaps of some of the games I tried, just to give you a snapshot of the Xbox Cloud Gaming beta.

(Don't sleep on Xeno Crisis. It's a modern-retro gem.)

Do games look as crisp as their non-streamed counterparts? No. There's compression. Do they have noticeable latency? Sometimes. But, and this will vary based on the game in question and your circumstances, I'd argue the experience is largely "good enough." That's how it was on my 275Mbps connection routed through a Powerline Adapter, anyway.

I can't speak to how the current 1080p/60fps "custom Xbox Series X hard?ware"-powered beta setup looks and feels compared to the older versions, but I've heard it's a noticeable step up. I've also only tested it on a PC, so no mobile phone imp??ressions yet.

After plugging in a wired Xbox controller, scrolling through the list of supported cloud games (which is not one-to-one with the overall Game Pass list), and clicking into Forza Horizon 4, it took about 20 seconds of waiting before the normal logo intro spiel popped up and I was ready to play. While not instantaneous, it's still "lunch br??eak" fast.

I also adore the that someone could chip away at Yakuza 0 through Yakuza: Like a Dragon usi??ng Xbox C??loud Gaming. Seeing the whole series lined up like that is out of this world.

I ??wouldn't normally subscribe to something ??like Xbox Cloud Gaming or PlayStation Now, but as a pack-in service for a monthly membership that already has a lot of value? Sure. When framed like that �as a perk more than anything else �it's got an easy in.

As it stands, I feel like I'm going ??to occasionally use Xbox Cloud Gaming to check out �but probably rarely if ever complete �a bunch of games I've been curio?us about. Maybe one day it'll come into play when I'm traveling, too. Some genres fare better than others.

While I don't see the cloud taking over as my dominant form of gaming anytime soon, I ??feel like w??e're collectively inching toward that future. The day will surely come.

The fact that it has even earned "now and then" status?? is a huge step up for me??.

The post Xbox Cloud Gaming ?alread??y seems great for lunch breaks appeared first on Destructoid.

It's getting cloudy

Xbox's Cloud Gaming is bringing in more potential players. Today, Xbox announced that Cloud Gaming will be available to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers with a PC or Apple phone or tablet, a?cross 22 countries.

Essentially, it's the rollout of the beta, now expanding out to the whole Game Pass Ultimate userbase. Detailed in today's Xbox blog, members can simply boot up Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome,? or Safari on a PC or mobile device and start playing cloud-enabled games from the Game Pass Library.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHDrZRd7cBc

Crucially, this doesn't require an Xbox console to use. It will be using some serious Xbox hardware on the server side though, as the company says its cloud gaming is now powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware. Some games even have custom touch controls, alongside existing support for Xbox controllers and other supporte??d accessories.

Even wilder is that game saves will also carry over. I've had Game Pass for a while now, mostly just so I can mess around in games I hear about on a whim. But being able to freely access, say, MLB The Show 21 in a browser window? Wild times we're living in. You can play the entire Yakuza series in a browser.

The post Xbox Cloud Gaming is now?? available on Apple and Windows 10 for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers appeared first on Destructoid.