I’m excited to share insights on the future growth of cloud gaming enabled by 5G networks. Analysts predict cloud gaming services will surpass native gaming platforms by 2025 as 5G networks expand globally. This shift promises to revolutionize the video game industry and change how we play games.
The Promise of 5G for Cloud Gaming
5G networks provide the high bandwidth, low latency connectivity cloud gaming demands. 5G enables game streaming without lags, jitter or graphic degradation. With 5G’s multi-gigabit speeds, game visuals rendered in the cloud can now be streamed to devices closer to real-time.
Reduced lag and uninterrupted streaming will vastly improve player experiences. Borderlands 3 gameplay over 5G demonstrates extremely responsive controls, smooth graphics and no noticeable input lag. This matches or exceeds native gameplay. 5G could be the tipping point that brings cloud gaming mainstream.
Analysts Forecast Exponential Growth
According to ABI Research, the cloud gaming user base will grow from just under 3 million in 2019 to nearly 300 million by 2024. Revenue is projected to surge from $387 million to $4.5 billion in the same timeframe.
By 2025, cloud gaming revenue could eclipse $5 billion compared to global console game revenue of $29 billion in 2019 according to Jon Peddie Research. This rapid adoption will be fueled by 5G deployments, cloud gaming services from Microsoft, Nvidia, Amazon and Google and integration into smart TVs and streaming devices.
The ease and convenience of cloud gaming on any screen with no costly hardware purchases will attract casual, mass market gamers. Hardcore gamers may still prefer native platforms for optimal performance and ownership. But for most gamers, convenience and accessibility will outweigh these factors.
The Future of Gaming is Streaming
It’s an exciting time for cloud gaming. 5G networks are poised to transform real-time game streaming and expand the reach of gaming. Based on projected growth trends, cloud gaming services may surpass native console and PC game revenue by 2025.
The convenience of instantly playing games on any device without expensive hardware barriers will be a game changer. While native platforms won’t disappear given their performance advantages, cloud gaming will likely dominate the casual gaming market in the coming years. The future of gaming is streaming. 5G connectivity will fuel this revolution and bring immersive, real-time game worlds to the masses.
