Tag: cloud gaming

Vodafone Idea Launches Cloud Play, a Cloud Gaming Service for iOS and Android

Vodafone Idea has launched Cloud Play, a cloud gaming service for mobile platforms, promising premium mobile games like Asphalt 9, Modern Combat 5, Shadow Fight, and more. The service, introduced in partnership with Paris-based cloud gaming firm CareGame, will be subscription based, with prices starting at Rs. 100 per month. Cloud Play will be available on both iOS and Android devices and can be accessed via the Vi app or website.

Cloud Play service will offer triple-A mobile games across action, adventure, arcade, racing, sports and strategy genres, Vi said in a press release. The telecom operator confirmed that its launch catalogue will include titles like Asphalt 9, Modern Combat 5, Shadow Fight, Storm Blades, Riptide, Beach Buggy Racing, and Gravity Rider. Classic titles like Cut the Rope, Subway Surfers, and Jetpack Joyride will be available, too.

More games will be added to the service in the coming weeks, the company said. Cloud Play subscription starts at Rs. 100 per month, or Rs. 104 recharge for pre-paid users. Cloud Play, however, will be free to try out initially. Vi confirmed a “Try n Buy” model for the service, which will be accessible at no cost for the free trial period. While the telecom operator did not specify the duration of the trial period, users will eventually have to subscribe to play the games.

Cloud Play works like any other cloud-based games subscription model such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia’s GeForce Now, and JioGamesCloud. Once subscribed, users can access the library of games directly without the need to download the titles. Cloud gaming does, however, require a fast and stable internet connection. With cloud gaming, one would not need a high-end device to run graphically intensive games.

“Cloud Play will enable all gamers in India to enjoy true AAA mobile gaming without having to invest in a new mobile phone or a gamepad, thanks to the combination of CareGame technology, iconic mobile titles from our publishing partners, and Vi networks,” Philippe Wang, Co-founder and CEO of CareGame, said on the launch of the service.

Cloud Play can be accessed via both Vi Web and app platforms.

Reliance Jio, too, offers its own cloud gaming service, JioGamesCloud, in India. While Vi’s new service caters to mobile gamers, Jio’s cloud gaming service also offers PC games. The service is currently available to users in beta. JioGamesCloud offers PC games like Kingdom Come Deliverance, Lords of the Fallen, Blasmephous and more.

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Here’s What Microsoft Can Do in $69 Billion Activision Deal After UK Ban

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Wednesday blocked Microsoft’s $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,64,100 crore) acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard over concerns it would hinder cloud gaming.

The ruling was a shock after the regulator had already resolved its concerns about the consoles market, a sector dominated by Sony‘s PlayStation and Microsoft‘s Xbox, which dwarfs cloud gaming.

Is the deal dead?

Not necessarily. Microsoft said it remained fully committed and would appeal.

The regulator’s decision reflected a flawed understanding of the market, it said.

How does the appeal process work?

Microsoft can appeal to Britain’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), an independent judicial body, which will only examine the CMA’s decision-making process, not the merits of the merger.

Microsoft will not be able to offer new remedies at this stage, such as offering to keep Activision content off its Xbox Game Pass, a subscription service for Xbox users, in Britain, as some analysts suggest.

“The CAT will not engage with the merits of the CMA’s decision or conduct a wholesale review of the parties’ evidence,” said Edward Lane, senior associate at law firm Harbottle & Lewis, where his particular focus is on creative industries, including film, TV, video games and music.

What’s next?

Microsoft must appeal by May 24 and a decision may take many months.

“The CAT aims to deal with ‘straightforward’ cases in under nine months – and Microsoft/Activision is anything but straightforward,” Lane, said.

What happens if Microsoft wins?

The Tribunal will return the case to the regulator for further review. Microsoft can then offer new concessions.

“The likelihood is that without a material change in circumstances or new evidence, the CMA is most likely to reach the same conclusion as it did first time around,” said James Groves, a competition associate at European law firm Fieldfisher.

What about other regulators?

European regulators will rule on the world’s biggest gaming deal by May 22. The US Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint to block the deal, which Microsoft has indicated it will fight.

If either of those blocks the deal, it could be game over, Lane said.

If the EU goes against it, Microsoft would be fighting an increasingly uphill battle and could decide to cut its losses, even if that would mean paying Activision a hefty $3 billion (nearly Rs. 2,450) break fee.

What has happened to other CMA appeals?

Facebook-owner Meta appealed a 2021 decision by the CMA to block its acquisition of Giphy, seen as a test case for the British regulator’s resolve to take on “Big Tech”.

Meta succeeded on a single procedural ground, with the decision otherwise upheld. The CMA considered new submissions, but it came to the same view and Meta had to sell animated images platform Giphy.

Global financial services company FNZ appealed a block on its 2019 merger with rival GBST. The regulator then “identified certain potential errors” in its investigation chaired by Martin Coleman, who also oversaw the Microsoft-Activision case.

The CAT sent the case back to be reconsidered, and the CMA agreed to accept a new remedy whereby FNZ could sell GBST and then buy parts of it back.

© Thomson Reuters 2023

Smartphone companies have launched many compelling devices over the first quarter of 2023. What are some of the best phones launched in 2023 you can buy today? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.
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JioGamesCloud: Reliance’s New Cloud Gaming Service Now Available in Beta to Everyone

JioGamesCloud is now available for beta early access to everyone. Announced three years ago at a Reliance AGM event, the Indian cloud gaming service attempts to bring high-quality titles to its platform, including the likes of Saints Row IV, Kingdom Come Deliverance, and more. Though to be fair, most of its lineup is unheard of mobile titles. Interested users can sign up for the JioGamesCloud beta programme and test out games from its catalogue, across the JioGames Android app, their web browsers, and the JioFiber set-top box. Games are available to play instantly without the requirement for any downloads, installations, or updates.

Just like every other cloud gaming service, load times and performance are entirely dependent on your internet connection. Gadgets 360 tested it out on an Android phone, a Windows laptop, and a MacBook Air — and it ran fairly smooth at 16mbps with full-HD 1080p graphics. JioGamesCloud is currently available for free, even those with an Airtel or Vi phone number, we have discovered. Though later on, we would expect it to be locked behind a subscription. It might function on a recurring monthly subscription akin to Xbox Game Pass, which comes packaged with Cloud Gaming albeit not in India. Back in 2020, Reliance Jio confirmed that it was working with Microsoft to bring its Project xCloud gaming service to India, though it’s been mute on the matter ever since.

JioGamesCloud controller support

On an Android device, JioGamesCloud functions similarly to most phone-based titles, featuring on-screen controls that can be expanded via a Bluetooth controller. Meanwhile, the desktop version of JioGamesCloud relies on a keyboard-mouse setup, with additional support for controllers. Gadgets 360 tested both the PS5’s DualSense and the Xbox Wireless Controller shipped with an Xbox Series X. Both worked — though the D-pad didn’t function on either, and the DualSense’s controls setup was unusual and couldn’t be changed. The JioGamesCloud FAQ section on the official website notes that you “would need a gaming controller (Bluetooth or Wired) connected to your Set-Top-Box [and the JioGamesNow app to play on your television].”

How to play games on JioGamesCloud

Logging into the platform requires a phone number, and there’s no need for it to be a Jio SIM card, as we noted before. Hardware specifications are limited as well, simply demanding a “stable internet connection,” though it does recommend running titles on Google Chrome for the “best gaming experience.”

Games on Android would run on a 5G connection or Wi-Fi, with support running on devices ranging between versions Android 5.0 to Android 12.0. On mobile, JioGamesCloud is included as a new tab on the JioGames app, listing its limited library, sorted by genres. My brief playtime with Kingdom Come Deliverance and Saints Row IV on Android was plagued with screen freezes and crashes when a new animation loaded in. Games seem to be running at the lowest possible settings — as expected — and were riddled with hindrances such as screen flickers and sound cutting out. However, this only seems to be the case with heavier AAA titles, as I found less intensive games such as Ben 10 running buttery smooth. It’s also worth noting that JioGamesCloud is currently in beta.

On PC, however, performance was far better, though not considerably. On Saints Row IV, I encountered some input delays and a mild stutter that became super noticeable when moving the camera around. The game was evidently running on the lowest possible settings — and the graphics settings are inaccessible on both Android and PC, prohibiting you from tinkering with the presets to get the best possible framerate. Kingdom Come Deliverance, on the other hand, combats the lag issue by incorporating motion blur, which was quite nauseating for my liking. Would’ve been great if I could reduce it just a tiny bit.

JioGamesCloud to bring Nvidia GeForce Now

For now, the games library on JioGamesCloud is quite limited, though it plans to “keep on enriching” over time. Reliance has also apparently tied up with Nvidia to bring GeForce Now via JioGamesCloud, as confirmed by a support team member in the official Discord channel. The claim is strengthened by a leaked screenshot from the set-top box version, which features a GeForce tab that lists titles such as Watch Dogs 2, Destiny 2, and Trackmania.

JioGamesCloud games library

As of now, there aren’t many AAA or known options, save for the few listed below:

JioGamesPlay is now available free in early access on a desktop browser, the JioGames Android app, and the JioFiber set-top box. It’s expected to be a subscription-based offering once it leaves beta testing. Though there’s no word on a full-scale launch, a Discord support team member hinted that it might happen in January 2023.

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Google Search Reportedly Updated to Show Games Available on Cloud Streaming Services

Google Search has begun showing users which video games can be streamed through a particular cloud gaming service, according to a report. The search results do not lead to gaming consoles’ storefronts or to PC game stores — instead, the search giant shows results related to cloud gaming. The report suggested that this could be due to the company’s Stadia streaming service. The list of services are also said to differ between desktop and mobile. Earlier this month, Google begam testing a row of square cards on its homepage, on desktop browsers, to show information related to markets, trending, weather, what to watch, and more.

According to a recent report by 9to5Google, Google Search will show what cloud streaming services provide access to video games you are searching for. Google already offers this service for movies, music, and TV, surfacing links to stream content on specific services. As mentioned earlier, the list of services are also said to differ between desktop and mobile. For example, searching for Destiny 2 on Android reportedly showed a link for Stadia, while searching for the same on a desktop browser displayed Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Stadia.

The report noted that the results being shown are restricted to cloud gaming and don’t lead to stores for console games or PC game retailers. As mentioned earlier, this could be because of Google’s game streaming services. Meanwhile, gamers can also see which games provide access to a free trial on Stadia — the title for these games will switch to green, according to the report.

According to an earlier report Google Search for Web began testing a row of square cards on its homepage to show the information related to stocks and markets, trending news, weather, and what to watch. A few users tweeted regarding the change saying that logging back into Google.com after clearing browsing history showed the homepage with the square cards.

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