Interest in cloud gaming has increased following COVID-19

Though many industries have suffered in the wake of COVID-19 and the global pandemic, one industry which has seemed to benefit in some ways is the gaming industry. While the proportion of games bought digitally have increased over the course of 2020, it would appear as though interest in cloud gaming has also seen a boom thanks to the pandemic.

In a report by global consumer insights platform Piplsay, the research firm surveyed over 12,000 UK-based individuals over the age of 18, with a primary focus on cloud gaming.

The responses indicated that COVID-19 and the nationwide lockdown has led to an increasing interest in cloud gaming, with 43% of respondents claiming this to be the case (with 42% disagreeing and 15% remaining neutral on the matter).

Interestingly, of those who are subscribed to streaming services, it would appear as though PlayStation Now takes the lead, obtaining 41% of the vote, with Google’s Stadia in far second at 15%, and Apple Arcade taking third with 11%.

It is worth noting however that PlayStation Now, while initially launching as a streaming-only service, later added support to download PS4 and PS2 games (though PS3 titles can still only be streamed). Furthermore, Apple Arcade is listed as a streaming service in the report, despite requiring games to be downloaded.

Lastly, despite the increased interest in game streaming, it is clear that the alternative service is unlikely to usurp traditional gaming any time soon, with 38% of respondents believing the two can co-exist, 27% remaining unsure, 19% thinking cloud gaming will overtake the industry “very soon”, and 16% believing that it will one day, but not for the foreseeable future.

The full report by Piplsay can be found HERE.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the report? Will cloud gaming become the primary way to game? Is the infrastructure currently stable enough for an all-cloud future? Let us know down below.

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