June 27, 2025
Gaming's Great Divide: Cloud Streaming or Traditional Hardware?
Send us a text We explore the evolving debate between cloud gaming and traditional consoles, examining how streaming technology is changing access while challenging our relationship with physical hardware. • Cloud gaming works by streaming games from server farms rather than processing on local hardware • Services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and NVIDIA GeForce Now allow high-end gaming on basic devices • Latency remains the biggest technical challenge for cloud gaming, especially for compet...
We explore the evolving debate between cloud gaming and traditional consoles, examining how streaming technology is changing access while challenging our relationship with physical hardware.
• Cloud gaming works by streaming games from server farms rather than processing on local hardware
• Services like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and NVIDIA GeForce Now allow high-end gaming on basic devices
• Latency remains the biggest technical challenge for cloud gaming, especially for competitive games
• Physical consoles offer tangible ownership and cultural experiences like midnight launches
• Digital game libraries raise concerns about ownership when services shut down (like Google Stadia)
• Hybrid approaches combine console hardware with cloud flexibility through features like remote play
• Cloud gaming could dramatically expand gaming access in regions where consoles are prohibitively expensive
• The debate often splits along generational lines and technological preferences
• Infrastructure limitations will slow cloud gaming adoption until high-speed internet becomes more universal
Don't forget to back up your saves and your expectations.
00:00 - Introduction to Cloud vs Console
01:05 - How Cloud Gaming Actually Works
02:16 - Console Culture and Physical Hardware
03:26 - Latency: Cloud Gaming's Final Boss
04:33 - Ownership vs Access Debate
06:12 - Future of Gaming and Accessibility
07:39 - Closing Thoughts and Sign-Off
WEBVTT
00:00:00.179 --> 00:00:01.602
Alright, welcome back to Tech.
00:00:01.602 --> 00:00:06.573
Between the Lines, I'm Between Two Pixels and, as always, I'm here with the one and only Finn Circuit.
00:00:06.573 --> 00:00:11.932
Today we're diving into the ultimate gamer debate cloud gaming versus traditional consoles.
00:00:11.932 --> 00:00:13.425
Finn, are you ready for this?
00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:23.347
Ready as I'll ever be, Though I gotta say every time someone says cloud gaming, I picture my old Atari cartridges weeping in a drawer somewhere cartridges weeping in a drawer somewhere.
00:00:23.367 --> 00:00:25.609
Ha, I mean, it's wild how the lines are blurring right.
00:00:25.609 --> 00:00:30.753
Xbox is pushing this play-anywhere thing TVs, handhelds, even VR headsets.
00:00:30.753 --> 00:00:35.476
It's not just about the box under your TV anymore, we've got Google Stadia.
00:00:35.476 --> 00:00:42.524
Well, had Xbox, cloud, gaming, playstation.
00:00:42.545 --> 00:00:44.173
Streaming and, of course, nintendo Switch doing its own hybrid thing.
00:00:44.173 --> 00:00:50.070
Yeah and don't forget, back in my day a LAN party meant lugging a CRT monitor the size of a microwave to your buddy's basement.
00:00:50.070 --> 00:00:51.960
Now you just log in from your phone.
00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:53.084
Progress, I guess.
00:00:53.604 --> 00:00:56.753
Dude, my first LAN party was Halo 2 in a friend's garage.
00:00:56.753 --> 00:01:04.167
Extension cords everywhere, pizza boxes stacked to the ceiling, but now you can literally play with anyone anywhere, no cables required.
00:01:04.167 --> 00:01:05.411
It's a whole new battlefield.
00:01:05.411 --> 00:01:08.810
So let's break down how cloud gaming actually works.
00:01:08.810 --> 00:01:16.950
Instead of running the game on your console or PC, you're streaming it from a server farm, somewhere like racks of GPUs doing all the heavy lifting.
00:01:16.950 --> 00:01:20.870
Your device just decodes the video stream and sends your inputs back.
00:01:20.870 --> 00:01:23.108
It's kind of like Netflix, but for games.
00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:27.021
Yeah, except if your internet hiccups, you're toast.
00:01:27.021 --> 00:01:31.612
I mean, it's great in theory, no need for a thousand dollar graphics card.
00:01:31.612 --> 00:01:35.531
But you better hope your Wi-Fi isn't fighting with your neighbor's microwave.
00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:45.269
Totally, but when it works, it's magic, like NVIDIA GeForce Now lets you run Cyberpunk 2077 on a Chromebook A Chromebook that's bonkers.
00:01:45.269 --> 00:01:48.745
You don't need a gaming rig, just a decent connection and you're in Night City.
00:01:49.227 --> 00:01:52.403
Yeah, decent connection being the operative phrase.
00:01:52.403 --> 00:01:56.033
I tried streaming a game once on hotel Wi-Fi.
00:01:56.033 --> 00:02:00.489
Let's just say my character spent more time rubberbanding than actually moving.
00:02:00.489 --> 00:02:10.052
But you know there's something about consoles that cloud gaming just can't touch the feel of a controller, the click of a cartridge, even the smell of a new game manual.
00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:18.324
Yeah, I'm old, sue me, there's a reason people still line up for PlayStation 5s and Xbox Series Xs.
00:02:18.324 --> 00:02:20.449
Oh for sure, the hype around those launches was insane.
00:02:20.449 --> 00:02:25.128
I mean people camping out overnight tracking restocks on Twitter, the whole nine yards.
00:02:25.128 --> 00:02:26.986
It's like a rite of passage for gamers.
00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:34.653
I remember lining up for the original Xbox in 2001, freezing cold coffee in hand, arguing with some kid about Halo.
00:02:34.653 --> 00:02:36.546
There's a community aspect to it.
00:02:36.546 --> 00:02:39.508
You don't get that with a download code and a progress bar.
00:02:40.020 --> 00:02:42.467
Yeah, and there's just something about holding the hardware.
00:02:42.467 --> 00:02:43.864
You know, like it's yours.
00:02:43.864 --> 00:02:47.750
It's real, even if it's just a plastic box with RGB lights.
00:02:47.750 --> 00:02:50.407
But here's where cloud gaming really shines.
00:02:50.407 --> 00:02:55.170
Access you can play anywhere, anytime, on basically any device.
00:02:55.170 --> 00:02:57.949
No need to drop 500 bucks on a new console.
00:02:57.949 --> 00:03:00.609
Just grab your phone, tablet, whatever and you're good.
00:03:01.091 --> 00:03:01.894
Yeah, I'll give you that.
00:03:01.894 --> 00:03:03.842
The entry cost is way lower.
00:03:03.842 --> 00:03:07.104
You don't have to sell a kidney to keep up with the latest hardware.
00:03:07.104 --> 00:03:12.287
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, for example, lets you stream games to your smartphone.
00:03:12.287 --> 00:03:17.187
That's a big deal for folks who can't or don't want to buy a new box every few years.
00:03:17.835 --> 00:03:25.503
Exactly, it's democratizing gaming in a way you don't need the latest console to play the latest games, just a subscription and a halfway decent screen.
00:03:25.995 --> 00:03:28.900
But let's talk about the elephant in the room Latency.
00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:32.486
Cloud gaming lives and dies by your internet speed.
00:03:32.486 --> 00:03:38.847
If there's lag, you're done, especially in fighting games or anything that needs split-second timing.
00:03:38.847 --> 00:03:42.320
I tried playing Mortal Kombat on Stadia once.
00:03:42.320 --> 00:03:44.406
Felt like I was fighting underwater.
00:03:44.907 --> 00:03:52.088
Yeah, latency is the final boss, but there's some cool tech trying to solve it, like low-latency protocols, edge computing, all that jazz.
00:03:52.088 --> 00:03:53.741
I geek out over this stuff.
00:03:53.741 --> 00:04:00.685
The difference between 30Ms and 100M can make or break a match, but not everyone has fiber in their neighborhood, right.
00:04:01.194 --> 00:04:01.957
Not even close.
00:04:01.957 --> 00:04:06.556
I'm still on DSL half the time, and don't get me started on hotel Wi-Fi.
00:04:06.556 --> 00:04:11.181
Until everyone's got gigabit speeds, cloud gaming's always gonna be a little iffy.
00:04:11.662 --> 00:04:15.504
Yeah, it's like the tech is there but the infrastructure isn't always keeping up.
00:04:15.504 --> 00:04:19.288
It's a classic futures here, but not evenly distributed thing.
00:04:19.288 --> 00:04:20.649
Okay, here's a big one.
00:04:20.649 --> 00:04:25.076
Do you actually own your games in the cloud or are you just renting access?
00:04:25.076 --> 00:04:27.504
With consoles, you've got the disc, the cartridge, whatever.
00:04:27.504 --> 00:04:30.365
But with cloud gaming, it's all DRM and licenses.
00:04:30.365 --> 00:04:32.884
If the service goes down, so does your library.
00:04:33.394 --> 00:04:39.362
Yeah, just ask anyone who bought games on Google Stadia when they pulled the plug, poof, your games are gone.
00:04:39.362 --> 00:04:40.245
That's the risk.
00:04:40.245 --> 00:04:42.141
You're at the mercy of the platform.
00:04:42.141 --> 00:04:45.617
If they lose a license or decide to shut down, you're out of luck.
00:04:46.177 --> 00:04:51.000
It's kind of scary, honestly, Like you could spend hundreds on a digital library and have nothing to show for it.
00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:57.906
If the servers go dark, At least with a console you can dust off your old games and play them years later, assuming the hardware still works.
00:04:58.446 --> 00:05:00.487
Yeah, and don't get me started on DRM.
00:05:00.487 --> 00:05:07.192
I miss the days when ownership meant you actually owned something, not just a license that could vanish overnight.
00:05:12.475 --> 00:05:13.499
So what about hybrid approaches?
00:05:13.499 --> 00:05:14.062
We're seeing more of this.
00:05:14.062 --> 00:05:16.612
Like you can play on your console at home, then pick up where you left off on your phone via cloud Remote play.
00:05:16.612 --> 00:05:18.579
Cloud saves cross-platform stuff.
00:05:18.579 --> 00:05:20.086
It's not all or nothing anymore.
00:05:20.567 --> 00:05:23.398
Yeah, but some of these hybrid features feel half-baked.
00:05:23.398 --> 00:05:25.906
Remember the Sega Dreamcast modem?
00:05:25.906 --> 00:05:29.317
That thing was supposed to bring online gaming to the masses.
00:05:29.317 --> 00:05:33.026
Instead, it mostly brought busy signals and headaches.
00:05:33.654 --> 00:05:36.142
Ha fair, but I think we're getting closer.
00:05:36.142 --> 00:05:40.435
Like, cross-save between Xbox and PC is actually pretty slick.
00:05:40.435 --> 00:05:44.105
You can start a game on your Series X, then finish it on your laptop.
00:05:44.105 --> 00:05:46.218
That's the kind of flexibility people want.
00:05:46.678 --> 00:05:52.918
Yeah, as long as it works, I'll believe it when I see it or, you know, when it doesn't crash halfway through a boss fight.
00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:58.821
One thing that's super exciting is how cloud gaming could reach billions of people who never owned a console.
00:05:58.821 --> 00:06:01.668
No hardware limits, just a phone and a connection.
00:06:01.668 --> 00:06:10.764
Industry folks are predicting huge growth, especially in places like Southeast Asia, africa and South America, where consoles are expensive or hard to get.
00:06:11.225 --> 00:06:16.562
Yeah, that's a big deal If you don't have to import a PlayStation or pay a fortune for a gaming PC.
00:06:16.562 --> 00:06:19.209
Suddenly gaming's open to a whole new audience.
00:06:19.209 --> 00:06:23.706
That's good for the industry and for players, assuming again the Internet holds up.
00:06:24.254 --> 00:06:27.665
Right, and as infrastructure improves, the market just explodes.
00:06:27.665 --> 00:06:30.240
It's not just about selling boxes anymore.
00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.747
It's about subscriptions, access and reach.
00:06:33.375 --> 00:06:39.199
But at the end of the day, some folks are always going to stick with consoles, others are all in on the cloud.
00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.057
It comes down to what you value Nostalgia, convenience, maybe just what you grew up with.
00:06:45.057 --> 00:06:49.026
I see younger gamers who don't care about physical media at all.
00:06:49.026 --> 00:06:51.884
Me, I still like a good cartridge.
00:06:52.495 --> 00:06:55.324
Yeah, I saw this Reddit thread the other day Total war zone.
00:06:55.324 --> 00:06:58.064
Some people were like I'll never give up my PS5.
00:06:58.064 --> 00:07:00.723
Others were flexing their cloud setups on a tablet.
00:07:00.723 --> 00:07:04.105
It's a generational thing, but also geography and tech comfort.
00:07:04.105 --> 00:07:06.235
Some people just want to play wherever.
00:07:06.235 --> 00:07:10.098
However, others want the ritual, the collection, the shelf full of games.
00:07:10.619 --> 00:07:11.899
Yeah, and that's fine.
00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:13.440
There's room for both.
00:07:13.440 --> 00:07:17.002
Just don't try to take away my old-school hardware, alright.
00:07:17.463 --> 00:07:18.684
So where's all this headed?
00:07:18.684 --> 00:07:24.267
I mean, with 5G, fiber optics, edge computing, gaming's only gonna get more accessible, more seamless.
00:07:24.267 --> 00:07:28.711
Maybe one day latency won't even be a thing, you'll just play anywhere instantly.
00:07:29.271 --> 00:07:31.413
Wake me up when I can play Doom on my toaster.
00:07:31.413 --> 00:07:35.175
Until then, I'll keep my expectations in check.
00:07:35.175 --> 00:07:38.220
Tech moves fast, but people and infrastructure move slow.
00:07:38.220 --> 00:07:39.182
Fair enough.
00:07:39.601 --> 00:07:45.290
But hey, whether you're a cloud convert or a console diehard, it's a good time to be a gamer, and that's what matters.
00:07:47.475 --> 00:07:48.076
Yeah, I'll drink to that.
00:07:48.076 --> 00:07:49.480
All right, that's it for this week Between.
00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:51.045
Always a pleasure arguing with you.
00:07:51.555 --> 00:07:52.076
Same Finn.
00:07:52.076 --> 00:07:53.439
Thanks for tuning in everyone.
00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:54.843
We'll catch you next time on Tech.
00:07:54.863 --> 00:07:57.240
Between the Lines Later See you folks.
00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:00.334
Don't forget to back up your saves and your expectations.
00:00:00.179 --> 00:00:01.602
00:00:01.602 --> 00:00:06.573
00:00:06.573 --> 00:00:11.932
00:00:11.932 --> 00:00:13.425
00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:23.347
00:00:23.367 --> 00:00:25.609
00:00:25.609 --> 00:00:30.753
00:00:30.753 --> 00:00:35.476
00:00:35.476 --> 00:00:42.524
00:00:42.545 --> 00:00:44.173
00:00:44.173 --> 00:00:50.070
00:00:50.070 --> 00:00:51.960
00:00:51.960 --> 00:00:53.084
00:00:53.604 --> 00:00:56.753
00:00:56.753 --> 00:01:04.167
00:01:04.167 --> 00:01:05.411
00:01:05.411 --> 00:01:08.810
00:01:08.810 --> 00:01:16.950
00:01:16.950 --> 00:01:20.870
00:01:20.870 --> 00:01:23.108
00:01:23.700 --> 00:01:27.021
00:01:27.021 --> 00:01:31.612
00:01:31.612 --> 00:01:35.531
00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:45.269
00:01:45.269 --> 00:01:48.745
00:01:49.227 --> 00:01:52.403
00:01:52.403 --> 00:01:56.033
00:01:56.033 --> 00:02:00.489
00:02:00.489 --> 00:02:10.052
00:02:16.219 --> 00:02:18.324
00:02:18.324 --> 00:02:20.449
00:02:20.449 --> 00:02:25.128
00:02:25.128 --> 00:02:26.986
00:02:27.539 --> 00:02:34.653
00:02:34.653 --> 00:02:36.546
00:02:36.546 --> 00:02:39.508
00:02:40.020 --> 00:02:42.467
00:02:42.467 --> 00:02:43.864
00:02:43.864 --> 00:02:47.750
00:02:47.750 --> 00:02:50.407
00:02:50.407 --> 00:02:55.170
00:02:55.170 --> 00:02:57.949
00:02:57.949 --> 00:03:00.609
00:03:01.091 --> 00:03:01.894
00:03:01.894 --> 00:03:03.842
00:03:03.842 --> 00:03:07.104
00:03:07.104 --> 00:03:12.287
00:03:12.287 --> 00:03:17.187
00:03:17.835 --> 00:03:25.503
00:03:25.995 --> 00:03:28.900
00:03:28.900 --> 00:03:32.486
00:03:32.486 --> 00:03:38.847
00:03:38.847 --> 00:03:42.320
00:03:42.320 --> 00:03:44.406
00:03:44.907 --> 00:03:52.088
00:03:52.088 --> 00:03:53.741
00:03:53.741 --> 00:04:00.685
00:04:01.194 --> 00:04:01.957
00:04:01.957 --> 00:04:06.556
00:04:06.556 --> 00:04:11.181
00:04:11.662 --> 00:04:15.504
00:04:15.504 --> 00:04:19.288
00:04:19.288 --> 00:04:20.649
00:04:20.649 --> 00:04:25.076
00:04:25.076 --> 00:04:27.504
00:04:27.504 --> 00:04:30.365
00:04:30.365 --> 00:04:32.884
00:04:33.394 --> 00:04:39.362
00:04:39.362 --> 00:04:40.245
00:04:40.245 --> 00:04:42.141
00:04:42.141 --> 00:04:45.617
00:04:46.177 --> 00:04:51.000
00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:57.906
00:04:58.446 --> 00:05:00.487
00:05:00.487 --> 00:05:07.192
00:05:12.475 --> 00:05:13.499
00:05:13.499 --> 00:05:14.062
00:05:14.062 --> 00:05:16.612
00:05:16.612 --> 00:05:18.579
00:05:18.579 --> 00:05:20.086
00:05:20.567 --> 00:05:23.398
00:05:23.398 --> 00:05:25.906
00:05:25.906 --> 00:05:29.317
00:05:29.317 --> 00:05:33.026
00:05:33.654 --> 00:05:36.142
00:05:36.142 --> 00:05:40.435
00:05:40.435 --> 00:05:44.105
00:05:44.105 --> 00:05:46.218
00:05:46.678 --> 00:05:52.918
00:05:53.360 --> 00:05:58.821
00:05:58.821 --> 00:06:01.668
00:06:01.668 --> 00:06:10.764
00:06:11.225 --> 00:06:16.562
00:06:16.562 --> 00:06:19.209
00:06:19.209 --> 00:06:23.706
00:06:24.254 --> 00:06:27.665
00:06:27.665 --> 00:06:30.240
00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.747
00:06:33.375 --> 00:06:39.199
00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.057
00:06:45.057 --> 00:06:49.026
00:06:49.026 --> 00:06:51.884
00:06:52.495 --> 00:06:55.324
00:06:55.324 --> 00:06:58.064
00:06:58.064 --> 00:07:00.723
00:07:00.723 --> 00:07:04.105
00:07:04.105 --> 00:07:06.235
00:07:06.235 --> 00:07:10.098
00:07:10.619 --> 00:07:11.899
00:07:11.899 --> 00:07:13.440
00:07:13.440 --> 00:07:17.002
00:07:17.463 --> 00:07:18.684
00:07:18.684 --> 00:07:24.267
00:07:24.267 --> 00:07:28.711
00:07:29.271 --> 00:07:31.413
00:07:31.413 --> 00:07:35.175
00:07:35.175 --> 00:07:38.220
00:07:38.220 --> 00:07:39.182
00:07:39.601 --> 00:07:45.290
00:07:47.475 --> 00:07:48.076
00:07:48.076 --> 00:07:49.480
00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:51.045
00:07:51.555 --> 00:07:52.076
00:07:52.076 --> 00:07:53.439
00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:54.843
00:07:54.863 --> 00:07:57.240
00:07:57.240 --> 00:08:00.334
