EA Representative: Game Streaming Is the Future and Simply a Matter of "When"

[Raevenlord]

EA's Executive VP of Strategic Growth Matt Bilbey said in an interview to gamesindustry.biz that he expects game streaming to be an unavoidable fact of our lives, replacing traditional consoles and gaming-specific devices with smartphone-based solutions or Smart TV apps. Matt Bilbey spoke on how scaling bandwidth and latency is paramount to this streaming future, and likely one of the reasons streaming services up to now have struggled for acceptance - and even survival.

"(...) today, that [bandwidth and latency issues] is still a challenge. But I think over the next year to two years, that barrier will drop. Not for everyone, but for a lot of people. Bandwidth capabilities will go up so the business model around streaming a game becomes more viable. If you buy into a streaming solution and the experience is laggy half the time, you're going to stop and not do it again, which is the challenge some of the companies previously had. I think there's now a solution where we can deliver on the promise, and we're working with a lot of the companies who create the server infrastructure, and there are a lot of innovative solutions from a lot of big companies we're working with that will actually allow us to bring this to life."



It all goes back to telemetry, data, and exploration of users' interests and gaming profiles though, and Matt bilbey says that is an integral part of any new investment. trying to bring the investment/profit ratio as high as it can possibly go is the goal of many companies - and EA is certainly not the exception. Matt Bilbey said that being able to collect these telemetry tidbits is paramount to future experiences:

"By having this across our entire catalog, it allows us to curate their experience, to not start offering them trials when they're deep into a single-player mode on something else. So that's a big part of what we talk about internally as our 'player network.' It's the value proposition we can use to ensure they get the most value out of the game they're playing."

And your next-gen games might be made entirely by algorithm, much like Netflix's approach:

There's definitely an opportunity we have there that we don't talk about, about how we could create your entertainment experience. I'd like to think as well there's insight we will get out of how those people are playing games, when they're playing, how long they're playing for, who they're playing with, that will arguably write the concept for your next game.

That last part brings back memories of this one little piece that used images of Bioware's upcoming Anthem video game...



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Frick]

I very much want to create a botnet with the sole purpose of really corrupting their data.

OTOH, a game made entirely by an algorithm based on players actions in multiplayer games would be really interesting. Remember Tay?

 

[StrayKAT]

I

I very much want to create a botnet with the sole purpose of really corrupting their data.

OTOH, a game made entirely by an algorithm based on players actions in multiplayer games would be really interesting. Remember Tay?

I felt instantly malicious just glancing at this article. And I'm not a malicious person!

 

[Readlight]

They making Smart TV game streaming app.

 

[StrayKAT]

They making Smart TV game streaming app.

Funnily, I just saw a notice a few days ago that Gamefly was shutting down it's service on my Samsung TV. Not that I ever used it. It just seemed too retarded to begin with.. I'm surprised anyone ever did.

 

[neatfeatguy]

Funnily, I just saw a notice a few days ago that Gamefly was shutting down it's service on my Samsung TV. Not that I ever used it. It just seemed too retarded to begin with.. I'm surprised anyone ever did.

"Electronic Arts took over Gamefly’s cloud streaming technology and personnel earlier this year, according toVariety. EA also announced its own all-inclusive streaming subscription package for its own games called Origin Access Premiere at E3 in June. "

'“We acquired the team in Israel and the technology they’ve developed, we did not acquire the Gamefly streaming service. We have not been involved in any decisions around the service,” an EA spokesperson told Variety, which also reported that Gamefly chose to end its streaming service prior to the sale to EA.'

( http://fortune.com/2018/08/04/gamefly-streaming-shutting-down/ )

 

[Easo]

Whyyy.....
Who actually wants it outside of EA? Sure, business is business and you have to make money, but... this kind of greed is too much.

 

[Vayra86]

Hahahahahaa Yes, EA. Yes.

Dream on

 

[phanbuey]

next headline

EA's Executive VP of Strategic Growth Matt Bilbey steps down after wasting millions trying to stream badly ported games to PC users.

 

[StrayKAT]

Whyyy.....
Who actually wants it outside of EA?

They're not known for asking that question.

I mean, these are the people who bought the creators of Baldur's Gate... and then insisted on Online and Multiplayer features everywhere.

 

[dorsetknob]

if i was to think of EA and Streaming you would probably find me in the Toilet holding my joystic k

 

[kastriot]

I call this bullshit

 

[noel_fs]

No its not, light years of input lag isnt a matter of time. Maybe for normies in consoles or just single player game's could be an option

 

[londiste]

Whyyy.....
Who actually wants it outside of EA? Sure, business is business and you have to make money, but... this kind of greed is too much.

If it is made user-friendly and slick enough - a lot of people.

No its not, light years of input lag isnt a matter of time. Maybe for normies in consoles or just single player game's could be an option

Input lag has not been light years for a long while now. 100-150 ms or lower is not that much. Most console games are designed with input lag in that range, faster shooters excluded. I have tried pretty much every game steaming solution there is (from Onlive back when it came out to Geforce Now only recently) and while I do not see these as solutions for myself (not that I am too hardcore but I've just been playing for too long) but it will definitely be a strong contender to normies and console crowd.

EA or not, the guy is not wrong.

 

[Vayra86]

If it is made user-friendly and slick enough - a lot of people.

Input lag has not been light years for a long while now. 100-150 ms or lower is not that much. Most console games are designed with input lag in that range, faster shooters excluded. I have tried pretty much every game steaming solution there is and while I do not see these as solutions for myself (not that I am too hardcore but I've just been playing for too long) but it will definitely be a strong contender to normies and console crowd.

That's what he said though - normies in consoles I mean, many PC gamers feel the sluggishness of a console. And some don't care.

 

[AltCapwn]

Ea is like the stupid kid in the group.

Yes Game streaming will be mainstream one day, but I don't think it will be the future.

Steam Link is a good use of LOCAL Stream, WAN Stream will and always will be shit because you depend of the internet / ISP.

 

[RejZoR]

They want this because they want to run games "as service" instead of "as product". Just look at the direction they are pushing Origin. Service. No thanks. If that happens I'll just stick with GOG till I get old and die.

I really have no clue how they expect online gaming to function as a streaming service when it runs like crap on FTTH being run locally on high end hardware. As streaming, it would be 10 times worse. Not only you'd have distance from their servers which would add stupid input lag plus all the lag from you to other players. It just can't possibly work. But they'll make it work coz they are greedy bastards.

 

[AltCapwn]

They want this because they want to run games "as service" instead of "as product". Just look at the direction they are pushing Origin. Service. No thanks. If that happens I'll just stick with GOG till I get old and die.

I really have no clue how they expect online gaming to function as a streaming service when it runs like crap on FTTH being run locally on high end hardware. As streaming, it would be 10 times worse. Not only you'd have distance from their servers which would add stupid input lag plus all the lag from you to other players. It just can't possibly work. But they'll make it work coz they are greedy bastards.

Each time EA says something, we all know they're speaking for the greater good of their wallets.

 

[StrayKAT]

What's really needed is other game publishers to speak out against their stupidity. Not just gamers. As unprofessional as that sounds. For some reason EA is still seen as a big leader in the industry.. when they should be put in the corner and publicly shamed.

 

[Nkd]

Fuck this! I mean what is the point, you download a damn game on your console or PC and then why use your damn bandwidth to stream? Its a better experience and you are not wasting disks. Does EA think there is unlimited bandwidth available in the U.S? You will chew through 1tb if you stream games on top of other streaming. I mean what will likely go is hard copies. They don't even have that many hard copies of games these days. Most places have download codes. That is all we need. Why stream when you can download that shit. They just want to be able to take your money no matter how shitty games they make on monthly reoccurring charges. That seems to be their goal.

 

[Bill Cliny]

Streaming is a crap business model. You don't own the game but have to pay trucks of money to play. How they will monetize the small producers? Even the big ones will have problems having their investment back with streaming.

 

[windwhirl]

Hah! After Trump's administration decided to destroy net neutrality, forget about game streaming being common in, say, a couple of years. The biggest ISPs are probably going to strike deals with the streaming services to provide bandwidth and prioritization. Otherwise, they will get stuck with crappy connections and lag. Which will raise the cost of games, which will lower adoption. And that's considering the infrastructure is good enough as it is, which it probably isn't.

And honestly, not owning a game I paid for? Screw EA and everyone else that tries that. I still play X-Wing vs TIE Fighter from time to time, a 1997 game... With streaming, it would be impossible to play today.

 

[TheGuruStud]

I'm calling it years ahead. If you want less lag, then that'll be a premium service at additional cost.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Hah! After Trump's administration decided to destroy net neutrality, forget about game streaming being common in, say, a couple of years. The biggest ISPs are probably going to strike deals with the streaming services to provide bandwidth and prioritization. Otherwise, they will get stuck with crappy connections and lag. Which will raise the cost of games, which will lower adoption. And that's considering the infrastructure is good enough as it is, which it probably isn't.

And honestly, not owning a game I paid for? Screw EA and everyone else that tries that. I still play X-Wing vs TIE Fighter from time to time, a 1997 game... With streaming, it would be impossible to play today.

I am with you, the .nets just not upto it.

 

[dorsetknob]

By the time Every one has Gigabit connections and pay thru the nose for the privilege of said connection who wuold be able to afford this proposed service (and no doubt in game purchaces/loot boxes/upgrades)