What will cloud gaming look like in 2024?

Key findings

  • For cloud gaming, there is Google Stadia, but Xbox Cloud Gaming and PlayStation Plus Premium also offer excellent deals.
  • The rapidly increasing number of subscribers proves that cloud gaming is here to stay, offering convenience, affordability and accessibility.
  • Thanks to Game Pass, strategic deals, and a focus on value, Microsoft is poised to lead the market with Xbox Cloud Gaming.



Cloud gaming was marketed in its early history as a console killer, a PC killer, and “the future of gaming.” While the concept of playing a game in the cloud without owning a high-end device is enticing, the execution of some cloud gaming services has been less than stellar. (Anyone fancy Stadia?)

On the other hand, competing services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Plus Premium, and Nvidia GeForce Now are still going strong and growing their subscriber base every year. Regardless of fundamental challenges, cloud gaming is in a great position in 2024, and the future only looks brighter for the market.


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What’s holding back cloud gaming?

Learning from past mistakes

The promise of cloud gaming is essentially to “play anything you want, anywhere, on any device.” The underlying infrastructure necessary to make all three of these core principles a reality consists of solid Game support, performance and device compatibilityy. If we look at one of the biggest “failures” in cloud gaming, Google Stadia, we can see some of its flaws that are directly related to these factors.


Google had big plans to revolutionize cloud gaming with the launch of Stadia, and for a while, everything seemed to be going well. However, due to the lack of availability of AAA titles or even popular games that could have attracted players to the service in droves, Stadia failed to make a major impact on the market. Estimates put the player base at around 750,000 in 2020.

Another reason for Stadia's failure was that it forced players to purchase games rather than accessing them through a subscription.


Compare that to Xbox Cloud Gaming, which already had around 15-18 million players in 2020. This was thanks in large part to Microsoft's excellent library of content, distributed seamlessly through the affordable Game Pass. Another reason Stadia failed was that it forced players to buy games rather than accessing them as part of a subscription. This became a major deterrent for gamers, especially those who already owned those games on other platforms and were understandably hesitant to buy them again.

Performance and latency issues persist across all services, with your internet speed being the biggest obstacle. Even on a 150 Mbps connection, you'll likely experience unplayable frame rates, choppy textures, and high latency. As for device compatibility, almost everything except PlayStation Plus Premium supports a wide range of devices, including your phone, Steam Deck, and Mac.


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Should cloud gaming matter to you in 2024?

Definitely, if it meets all your requirements

Cloud gaming is no longer a passing fad, that much is clear. Actual numbers on cloud gaming are always hard to come by, but if you add up the subscriber numbers of all the major players, it is safe to say that At least 70 to 80 million gamers are cloud gamers in 2024. Many reports even claim that the actual number is twice as high, but I have serious doubts about that. Almost 100 million is certainly not a small number.


So, cloud gaming has definitely found a market – people who appreciate the convenience and affordability of playing their favorite games on older or portable hardware at a fraction of the cost of a gaming PC. If you are also one of those gamers who cannot afford an expensive high-end PC but still want to enjoy a respectable gaming experience on their preferred devices, then cloud gaming is a great option for you.

Given their great libraries and relatively affordable prices, I consider both Xbox Cloud Gaming and PlayStation Plus Premium to be worthy competitors.


Of course you need a really powerful internet connection (300-400 Mbps, according to some) to get a decent, lag-free experience. Your proximity to the cloud server you're connecting to is also a factor, so consider that as well, based on your location. As for which service is worth your money, I consider both Xbox Cloud Gaming and PlayStation Plus Premium to be worthy contenders, thanks to their great libraries and relatively affordable prices.

GeForce Now lets you easily stream games you already own to your phone or a low-end PC or laptop, so the target market is a bit narrow. As for Amazon Luna, the overall cost is unnecessarily high given the limited game selection and inferior performance compared to the competition.


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Who will win in cloud gaming?

All eyes on Microsoft

The Xbox Game Pass pricing plan

When we look to the future, it's not always easy to make informed predictions, but in the cloud gaming space, Microsoft seems to be comfortably in the lead. Moreover, the company has the greatest opportunity to become the dominant force in this niche. The company is not lacking in resources, it seems determined to grow its cloud gaming efforts, and it excels in the content and performance parameters mentioned above.

The Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which includes the cloud gaming service as standard, is a seamless entry point for newcomers and continues to offer top-notch value despite the recent price increase.


With more deals like the one with Epic Games that brought Fortnite to the game, Microsoft could benefit hugely from the fast-growing cloud gaming market. The Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which includes the cloud gaming service as standard, is a seamless entry point for newcomers and continues to offer top-notch value despite the recent price hike.

Other players like PlayStation Plus Premium and Shadow, while great options, don't seem to enjoy the huge popularity of Xbox due to the combined power of PC and console gamers. Sony will undoubtedly remain a top player in the cloud gaming space, but I believe Xbox Cloud Gaming will lead the way into the next era of “anytime, anywhere, on anything” play.


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Cloud gaming will coexist seamlessly with PC gaming

The predicted rapid rise of cloud gaming in the coming years doesn't mean that PC gaming will suddenly experience a decline. Those who value the superior experience of a dedicated device will continue to invest in high-end gaming PCs, laptops, and handhelds, but cloud gaming doesn't compete with those devices anyway. It simply offers an alternative way to experience your favorite games, as long as the benefits outweigh the drawbacks for you.

Cloud gaming will always have some drawbacks, from performance and game availability to device incompatibility and service outages. But if you have the ability to stream AAA titles you otherwise don't have access to (either due to exclusivity or hardware concerns) on your phone, work laptop, or even a handheld, isn't that pretty cool? Plus, even with the monthly subscription, it'll be years before the fees reach that of a high-end PC.


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