U.S. Cables Companies Preparing to Allow Game Streaming

By Catherine Cai
published

With the ample number of streaming services that consoles now offer (particularly the entertainment-powerhouse Xbox 360), cable boxes are uncomfortably in danger of being replaced.

However, cable companies have finally rolled out their answer to such streaming services: streaming videogames… and it's oddly appropriate.

U.S. cable providers Time Warner, AT&T, and Verizon are all currently attempting a push to offer streaming games directly from cable boxes, which are set to go on trial sometime in 2013.

And make no mistake: these games won't be casual experiences like Angry Birds. The trio of cable providers wants to offer full-blown triple-A affairs, though controllers for these games are still up in the air. The cable companies are said to be debating using smartphones as controllers, but it seems more likely that they'll offer a physical gamepad.

Details on the streaming service are still scant. Nothing has been said in terms of pricing or plans, but such a streaming service isn't something easily blown off. Cable providers already have the infrastructure of a cable box in place and the capital to pull such a streaming service off to rival consoles.

Catherine Cai
Topics
Gaming
Verizon
31 Comments Comment from the forums
  • dudemcduderson
    Wake me up when we can do this with 3 monitor 2560x1440. Seriously though I have played streaming games already at what they call 720p but it looks like complete cabbage (even for 720).
    Reply
  • gerchokas
    How about streaming educational software? For kids and adults alike? TV is such crap nowadays it needs less "entertainment" (read: diversion) and more curiosity-inspiring programs. Even current "educational" channels are filled with realities and science fiction.
    Reply
  • A Bad Day
    Call me when they bring latency and packet loss down to acceptable levels. The only time I can play multiplayer games is when nobody else is using the '20 Mb/s down 8 Mb/s up' broadband.
    Reply
  • dalethepcman
    A Bad DayCall me when they bring latency and packet loss down to acceptable levels. The only time I can play multiplayer games is when nobody else is using the '20 Mb/s down 8 Mb/s up' broadband.
    Sounds like your ISP needs to implement QoS. Any ISP that also offers digital phone service already has the QoS hardware (federal requirement to keep the torrenter down the road from making your 911 call disconnect), they just need to add additional ports/protocols in the priority list other than voice.

    I see this as BigCable trying to choke the competition. Since Gaming has put a hurt on their profits, its time for a turnaround and BigCable to compete against them directly. And honestly if they can do it better then good. Super game companies like Craptivision and sh-EA-t need to die and the sooner the better.
    Reply
  • bllue
    Great, more "features" to make you pay more
    Reply
  • bison88
    Call me when they quit with the bullshit bandwidth caps. Then we can continue the possibilities of streaming and "future gaming".
    Reply
  • DRosencraft
    Not excited at all, but I'll wait and see what they pull off. They do have the infrastructure and capital to pull it off, the only question is if they have the will to levy their resources on such a gamble. It could work, it could fail. They needed a new way to compete, and this seems to be their best shot. Let's see what they can do.
    Reply
  • artemisclydefrog
    Kill the boss, turn in quest item. "Thank you Hero, you saved the town!!! Please return on Thursday between 2 and 6pm for you reward!"
    Reply
  • edogawa
    I remember using Onlive, I wasn't very thrilled, although the tech behind it was pretty cool; assassins creed was very playable.

    Honestly, can't really see myself liking the idea of not having the game data on my PC. Steam is kind of perfect with a fast internet connection, any game downloads in less than an hour and I can mod, customize, and get many other great benefits.

    What would be very awesome if console replacing set top boxes, just set it up so you just receive the data over a uncapped fast connection; I hate the slow DVR boxes.
    Reply
  • A Bad Day
    bison88Call me when they quit with the bullshit bandwidth caps. Then we can continue the possibilities of streaming and "future gaming".*You have exceeded your 10 GB cap, now auto-disconnecting your game.*
    OR, more likely...

    *You have exceeded your 10 GB cap, and from now on until the end of the month, we'll bill you $10 for every 1 GB over the limit. WITHOUT TELLING YOU UNTIL THE BILL ARRIVES IN THE MAIL."
    Reply