Downloading digital titles

Buying and renting games online is so common these days that many gamers will not even remember that it was ever not the default place to buy games.  However, while many people still like to have a physical copy of the games they play, the chances are that, before too long, games will forgo the physical format. The trend for no more discs and cartridges is expected to accelerate so that by 2028, games will only be available in digital format. Some game developers have already adopted this business model, while others are holding out and supplying digital and physical products.

Cloud gaming is still a minority choice

It is somewhat ironic that an industry and entertainment form that was born from technology is a relatively late adopter of cloud-based streaming. According to the latest statistics, only 43 percent of online users in the United States were aware of cloud gaming, up from 14 percent in 2020. However, the share of gamers who subscribe to cloud gaming services is lower than those who pay for video gaming subscriptions in general.

What is the difference between streaming and downloading?

Cloud gaming is video game streaming that allows players to play their favorite games on various devices without the need for dedicated gaming hardware or local installation of the game they are playing. It is expected to be a game changer for people who choose not to upgrade their gaming hardware and still want to keep up with the latest gaming releases. Cloud gaming is all about speedy access and the ability to play together or alone, regardless of location.

Many die-hard gamers consider it a lightweight option and prefer physical games and powerful gaming machines. However, cloud gaming lets you start playing almost immediately without waiting for a download and does not take up space on your console or hard drive.

iGaming has fully embraced streaming

Pure video gaming has been relatively slow to move to cloud streaming, iGamers have fully embraced the concept and would be somewhat taken aback if someone told them that they needed to download the casino to play the slots or an array of table games. Online casinos are so sophisticated that you can stream and play games with a human dealer and place bets in real-time. Live dealer games demonstrate that cloud-based gaming does not set limitations on innovation.

Hot competition

While there are a limited number of gaming streaming platforms, there are hundreds of iGaming options. These online casinos and betting platforms offer real money and social gambling options depending on the state in which you reside. In fact, competition to attract players is so fierce in the online casino industry that online casinos create incredibly attractive promotions to encourage players to try out their site over a similar one. Along with an enormous choice of games and tempting jackpots, the casinos offer promo codes for games that provide casino bonuses like deposit matches, free spins, and extended play. Sometimes, these are for a specific game, but they can be used across the site.
 

Casino games for all

It is not only the real money casino sites that offer attractive bonuses either. While real-money slots and table games can only be played by Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia residents, social casinos can be enjoyed nationwide. Most states allow residents to play at sweepstakes casinos, where players use virtual currency to power the online slots and table games. Sweeps casinos also allow players to turn their virtual winnings into physical prizes. So these are not only great fun but also offer the extra incentive of maybe cashing out a prize. These sweeps casinos are also always looking to attract new players with attractive bonuses and prizes.

Streaming video games

Cloud-based gamers who want to stick to more traditional video games can either play on hugely successful global platforms like Roblox, Minecraft and Among Us or use cloud gaming services to create a much wider choice of titles more akin to download services.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is regarded as the best video streaming service around. The Ultimate tier offers a massive library of Xbox and Windows PC games together with a streaming option thrown in. The streaming option lets you play on all kinds of devices, from older consoles to smartphones, tablets, desktop, and laptop computers. Many games can be played with touchscreen controls or an Xbox controller, which adds a whole other dimension.

Nvidia GeForce Now

This platform is a kind of hybrid mash-up as rather than offering you a curated library, it lets you play games you already own on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect via the cloud.

PlayStation Plus Premium

PlayStation Plus Premium lets you access over 300 streaming titles and play them on your PC or console. You can access loads of games you could not stream elsewhere as it features titles from the PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, and PSP libraries. 

Amazon Luna

Amazon’s Luna has been described as one of the more uneven streaming services. However, for people heavily invested in the Amazon ecosystem, Luna grants access to over 100 games that can be streamed on various systems, including Amazon Fire tablets and Fire TV streaming devices.
 

Holding on to physical games

There is a belief that, much as with the music industry, while people enjoy online gaming, they also like to have the game or LP in physical format. While this is a great option for when you do not have an internet connection or just love your console, as most PCs no longer have built-in disc drives, it will become increasingly popular. However, as music CDs have recently staged a comeback, it is possible that the trend in digital gaming might also be reversed in the future.