The PlayStation vs Xbox war has raged on for over two decades. The companies have long vied to claim the crown as the king of the video gaming world, and each console boasts legions of loyal fans who are steadfast in their commitment to their gaming platform of choice.
Today’s gaming consoles are incredibly advanced, and this has only worked to make the rivalry between the two tech giants even more intense. Cloud gaming is tipped to be the next big thing in the video game world, how will PlayStation exclusives work to set the platform’s cloud service apart from Xbox’s? Let’s find out.
What is Cloud Gaming?
In days gone by, gaming required the purchase of physical games in the form of discs or cartridges. Today, things couldn’t be more different. Now, the vast majority of games are downloaded from online stores and marketplaces. Or, rather than a disc or a cartridge, consumers are given a special code that allows them to download their game.
However, today’s games are absolutely massive. The enormous maps, features, and state-of-the-art graphics make for colossal file sizes, which in turn means downloading games can be a lengthy process and storing them requires a lot of memory.
This is where cloud gaming comes in. With cloud gaming services, players can access games without ever having to fully download them. Instead, these games are hosted on the cloud and streamed to the player’s console.
Cloud technology is becoming more and more widespread. Whether you are playing games or visiting an online casino for a few hands of poker or blackjack, you will certainly have come across cloud technology. It can offer creators and consumers alike a number of benefits.
PlayStation vs Xbox
PlayStation’s cloud service comes under its PlayStation Plus subscription service. It gives players access to a catalogue of hundreds of games from across all of the brand’s consoles. The service is tiered, with higher tiers offering a greater number of games, but all tiers offer access to cloud gaming services. The PS Plus basic subscription costs a monthly fee of $9.99, while the Premium service incurs a monthly charge of $17.99.
The Xbox Cloud Gaming service comes as part of its Xbox Game Pass subscription package. Unlike PS Plus, only subscribers to the premium service, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, can access Xbox Cloud Gaming. However, this premium service is less expensive than the top tier of PS Plus, costing $14.99 a month.
Will PlayStation Exclusives Make the Difference?
In the long-standing and hotly contested battle between PlayStation and Xbox, the games available on each platform have often been used in attempts to establish one as the superior console.
PlayStation has often had the edge, the platform has a range of exclusive titles that set it apart from Xbox. These include blockbuster games like Bloodborne, Spider-Man, The Last of Us, and Uncharted, all of which are available on the PS Plus cloud gaming service.
While PlayStation’s cloud subscription may cost more than Xbox’s, the fact that the exclusive titles are available may just tip the balance in PlayStation’s favour.