Can Google finally solve the thorny problem of laggy game streaming? That’s what their upcoming cloud gaming announcement is all about, so let’s tune in.
The livestream will officially begin at 0400 AEDT / 0300 AQST / 0330 ACST / 0600 NZDT / 0100 AWST on Wednesday, March 20. We don’t know precisely how long the livestream will run for, but what we have heard is that the company will show off a controller of their own, as well as the streaming platform that will be playable on any console, PC, mobile, TVs and even Macbooks.
[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/03/heres-what-were-hearing-about-googles-plans-for-gaming/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/ud5k6lmni3o2ub1fgsd4.jpg” title=”Here’s What We’re Hearing About Google’s Plans For Gaming” excerpt=”Tomorrow, the tech giant Google will reveal its newest plans for entering the video game world. What we’re hearing suggests that the main focus isn’t on a console, as has been speculated, but instead a streaming platform with all sorts of bells and whistles. And a fancy new controller that you can use to play it.”]
Google’s gaming platform has been on the books for a while. There was the Google Nexus Player in 2014, and last year it was revealed that Google’s Yeti project – which described a game streaming service like the one we’ll hear about tomorrow – was originally scheduled to launch in 2017. The Information reported that various options had been trialled, including a separate gaming console to run the Yeti service, as well as an early variation that ran through Chromecast TV.
There’s an interesting idea being floated about allowing spectators to watch streamers play their favourite game, and being able to drop into a match with them if the game (and streamer) supports it. Another alternative of being able to pick up from the save file that the streamer is playing on – again, if the game supports it – also sounds cool, and it also sounds like something that really only Google could pull off.
On the controller side, we know for sure that Google is planning on supporting pads other than their own. A commit was added to Chromium recently patching in support for the Switch Pro Controller, JoyCons (individually or as a pair), and the charging grip over USB:
A reminder ahead of tomorrow’s Google #GDC2019 reveal that Chrome now has improved support for the Switch Pro Controller, the JoyCons and the JoyCon Charging Grip pic.twitter.com/xrXdCd977F
— Alex Walker (@dippizuka) March 19, 2019
But all of this is moot if there’s too much latency to enjoy the game in the first place.
The whole livestream is being broadcast through YouTube, so you can watch that via the embed below. Again, it all kicks off from 0400 AEDT.
What are you hoping to see from tomorrow’s announcement?
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