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1. Don't mock Google's gaming hardware, it's only a mockup
We know Google is hard at work on Project Stream. But the latest news might be more fake news than anything else.
First, let's take a look:
The news:
- The above renders of Google's Project Stream game controller were published over the weekend, the perfect time to lead a frenzy of pretty underwhelmed reactions that spread like wildfire.
- Ugly/bad/painful/uninspiring were the general themes. And fair enough, it ain't pretty. That controller does not spark joy.
- But but but… this isn't the coming Google controller at all, just mocked-up renders based on Google patent filings.
- That patent was a recently published game controller patent from Google, which actually boils down to a patent on a gaming notification system, working between a gaming controller and a gaming system.
- The 2019 patent filing extends from a 2014 patent, and did come with some interesting images attached, such as the below design:
- So that diagram led to the "reveal" of the renders which then led to the vortex of news and views ahead of time.
- We know by now that just about all patents featured technical images rather than anything based on true industrial design or materials.
- And I mean, Google might still release an awful game controller. That is its prerogative. The internet and everyone can react when that happens.
- But we haven't really seen what might be coming from Project Stream. Just diagrams. (And the diagram is somehow much nicer than the render anyway?)
- Moving on!
Project Stream and the coming revolution in gaming:
- While we're here, a refresher and quick dive into the future: we're on the cusp of the next major disruption in entertainment.
- And, therefore, a disruption in attention, money, hardware, software, platforms, game controllers…
- Project Stream is Google's not-so-secret service that it hopes will lead it to successfully disrupt gaming by creating a device that can play games via streams, rather than via local hardware.
- It works by allowing you to play any game on any platform via cloud servers, near your location, via a single hardware device.
- Rather than playing on your own device, such as your classic LED-lit gaming PC, your gaming device is a connection to the cloud, which is running dedicated hardware.
- You pay a subscription each month for this access, rather than own depreciating hardware, and stream at high-quality 1080p/60fps.
- It relies on fast transfers of data with almost zero latency, which seems extremely unlikely if you recall dial-up modem days weren't that long ago.
- But it's already working, although it won't work for the entire population just yet, given it relies on network infrastructure.
- We saw a Project Stream technical test that ran for several months, allowing tested to play Assassin's Creed Odyssey in a Chrome browser tab.
The competition is fierce already:
- Now, this is already a thing and companies are arming up in the space, fighting to become the "Netflix for gaming" winner.
- The cost for entry is strong software and a link to speedy hardware. (And starting a data center is not cheap – as Hemant Mohapatra recently explained).
- So who's on the playing field?
- Sony's PlayStation Now is live for 650+ older games but is a more average experience, despite Sony's early moves here with acquisitions of Gaikai (2012) and OnLive (2015).
- (It's about where I thought gaming-on-demand would get to before we had a major 5G rollout for both wireless and fixed data.)
- Other offerings have been much smoother.
- GeForce Now from NVIDIA supports more than 400 games and is surprisingly good.
- Microsoft, the home of Xbox, has Project xCloud announced, aiming for a 2020 release.
- Nintendo has an offering on the Switch already, but only in Japan for now.
- Amazon, which owns gaming powerhouse Twitch, is working on a service due in 2020, and has the benefit of its AWS infrastructure.
- Verizon has Verizon Gaming in the works.
- EA is working on helping developers create games for a streaming-first world.
- There's also the Shadow device from Blade which offers a full PC device, streamed from the cloud, with gaming.
What's next?
- Google's Game Developer Conference is happening from March 18th, with a "Google reveal" scheduled for March 19th.
- We'll know more – including, potentially, what the actual controller might look like – then!
2. Android Q's first developer preview could arrive later today (Android Authority).
3. Hold onto your hats: Tesla announces it won't close retail stores and will go back and raise prices on its cars that it slashed (Tesla). (No change to $35,000 Model 3, no price hike until March 18th. Chaos! All ahead of the big March 14th Model Y reveal.)
4. Foursquare wants to know how creepy you think its new 'Hypertrending' feature is (9to5Mac)
5. The other smartphone business: Out of the shadow of Android (TechCrunch).
6. How the internet travels across oceans: 'People think that data is in the cloud, but it's not. It's in the ocean.' (NYTimes) – A very nice interactive feature.
7. Over a quarter of US adults now own a smart speaker, with 60% owning an Amazon Echo (Voicebot.ai).
8. ICYMI: Elizabeth Warren proposes breaking up tech giants (NYTimes)
9. Quantum radio! A new quantum circuit picks up infinitesimal radio signals, may open up new opportunities in radio astronomy and medical imaging (TUDelft).
10. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed again in a tragedy that poses serious questions for Boeing (Reuters). China's aviation regulator has grounded nearly 100 Boeing Co 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by its airlines.
11. Twitter account asks the all-important video game question: Can you pet the dog? (Kotaku).
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