Will game streaming replace dedicated gaming? Not any time soon, at least that’s what former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden believes. The “Netflix of gaming” isn’t expected in his lifetime.
Back in 2019, game streaming was all the rage. Google made a big splash into streaming with Stadia, the failed game client-and-storefront package that attempted to sell AAA games at big $60 prices. Microsoft also furthered streaming with xCloud, wrapping it in a convenient and well-managed package with its Game Pass subscription. Sony had established streaming years ago after its purchase of Gaikai, transforming the service into PlayStation Now, and further evolved it into PS Plus Premium. NVIDIA likewise has dominated PC game cloud streaming with its GeForce Now service.
Despite these big, expansive (and expensive) efforts from some of the biggest names in tech, game streaming hasn’t taken off according to plan. Google shut down Stadia, and both xCloud and …