Cloud Gaming in 2025: Is It Time to Ditch Your Console?

Last Updated on 24 July 2025

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Cloud gaming allows players to connect to a gaming server and play using any compatible device. You can simply access the game server with a tablet, mobile, laptop or even a smart TV. You don’t need to buy the actual game and load it first before connecting. You also don’t need to download anything. Everything you need to play the game is there for you – you just need to log in and play. Think of it as the equivalent of streaming services like Netflix. It’s the same model. Instead of buying a DVD or downloading a movie, you watch online on any device.

Cloud computing has transformed every industry, from large corporations to the personal Google Drive that many of us use. So it’s hardly a surprise that gaming platforms have adopted the model. Insights via CasinoBeats show that cloud play has influenced the gambling industry too. Many online casinos don’t require players to download software anymore. Instead, the software is all in the cloud, ready for players to log on and bet. Players use aggregation websites to discover the most trustworthy iGaming platforms. They also provide up-to-date information on the latest promotions that the casinos offer. These directories really help players to find safe and convenient places to play without having to install any software.

The Advantages of Cloud Gaming

There are plenty of benefits to cloud gaming. It is more affordable, offers anytime convenience, and the gameplay is smooth. You don’t need a particularly powerful machine for high-definition, immersive visuals. Contrast this with a PC game, where you’ll often need to buy and install a high-end graphics card to get the full experience. Let alone a Mac, where you can’t replace the graphics card at all.

Affordability

The biggest advantage is that you don’t need to buy an expensive gaming console to play against others or practice against NPCs. Gone are the days of shelling out your hard-earned cash before you can even start playing. You don’t even need a very sophisticated laptop. These games are designed and optimized to run on virtually any kind of device. Older smartphones may struggle a bit, and older operating systems might not be compatible, but you can usually play quite happily on a computer or mobile that’s a few years old.

Fewer Resource Requirements

Another really big advantage of cloud gaming is that you don’t need a particularly powerful machine for the graphics to display as they should. This doesn’t apply to consoles, but the many PC gamers out there will be all too familiar with all the hardware and software requirements you require to get the true experience of the games you buy. That’s because all of the necessary processing and graphics rendering is done by your machine, and if it doesn’t have the specs to do it, the game won’t play properly. With cloud gaming, the hosting server does this kind of heavy lifting, known as server-side processing. All your device needs to do is exchange packets of code with the server for you to enjoy the latest high-definition games.

Multiple Games on One Subscription

You typically pay a monthly subscription fee to play on one of these cloud gaming platforms, and when a new game is released, you get instant access. Contrast this with the home console model, where you have to buy each game separately. Cloud gaming sites contain many dozens of games, too, so when you sign up, you immediately have a wide range of titles to choose from. These aren’t second-rate games either. These are top-tier titles and major releases. You can try them all out if you like, and discover games you didn’t want to buy because you weren’t sure whether you’d enjoy them or not. Imagine how much it would cost you to buy each of these games separately to try out on your console. The cloud play model is far more affordable and offers a lot more value for money than the traditional game buying method.

Latency Still an Issue with Cloud Gaming

It’s not all gravy with cloud gaming – that would be too good to be true. There are always trade-offs. As with all multi-gaming, whether using a console, a PC or a cloud game, latency is still an issue. This is a short yet critical delay between when a player inputs a command and when it gets executed in the game on the server. It can be caused by a connection that’s a bit too slow or by intermittent lagging from time to time. It’s especially frustrating with fast-moving action games like first-person shooters.

Almost everyone has experienced these effects, known as “rubber-banding” in the gaming community. You’ll get the drop on another player and fire your shot before they do, only to end up being fragged yourself. The truth is that you should have scored the kill because you fired first, but because of latency, your command reached the server after the other player’s did, so his shot was processed before yours, leading to your demise.

Conclusion

So, should you leave consoles behind in these days of cloud gaming? The answer right now is a clear No. Why? Because console makers have created their own cloud gaming spaces, where you connect your console for streaming gameplay. The most prominent examples are Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Premium. You’re free to use whatever device you like for cloud gaming.