OPINION: How cloud games and apps are the future

Photo by Ryland Dean on Unsplash

Smartphones may rely less on storage and memory space for cloud software applications in the future.

MANILA, Philippines — With the growth of smartphones and technology, we can be certain that a cloud-based approach to the mobile market is not far off.

The year 2020 saw the rise of cloud applications, with a fast internet connection and a mobile device being the only two key requirements to run. This shift in the software industry changed how applications work, from a single to a variety of mobile devices, without compromising a lot of time in the process (on how each app is ported).

For instance, PC Games can now be played on mobile devices, with the help of cloud streaming platforms like GeForce NOW (and the now-defunct Xbox Game Pass for mobile) — these do not require a high-spec device to play any high-end PC game, although there is a caveat: you have to get a really, really fast internet connection, otherwise your session wouldn't be as much as one would call "playable".

But it doesn't have to be like that all the time. There are times when you get to have a playable in-game session with stable frame-rates, even on an average internet speed, but that can only be achieved when you avoid peak hours. 

This change also allowed independent developers on the Google Play Store, to bring cloud-centric software to mobile devices. While most of them are locked behind a paywall, some do offer free-tier options, giving you the ability to run PC apps (not just games) on the cloud with a time-based session.

Video game giants like COGNOSPHERE (miHoYo) utilized that potential, prompting a cloud release of its popular open-world game Genshin Impact, which has allowed countless mobile devices to run the game without the need for an expensive handset. Genshin typically relies on powerful hardware to run properly, and releasing a cloud client has made the game more accessible to more users, even for those with low-end devices.

The way how cloud works is that: you have a powerful machine on the cloud — that's basically the internet (hence why it requires a good internet speed) — and you get to play a game on it. Cloud services are typically paid, but there are free options that users can opt for.

As cloud services evolve, a cloud-based future — one that could completely change the game — is not too far off a possibility. There will be a time when smartphones will rely less on storage and memory space and opt for cloud-based solutions instead. Of course, this shift will depend on more consistent internet speeds than we have today: fast and stable enough to run cloud apps seamlessly.

If this happens, this will also change the way apps and games are ported. Developers usually spend a significant amount of time optimizing their apps to work on specific models. Adding the cloud to the picture is like removing the burden of compromising a huge time frame to get their apps to work natively: developers will switch to the cloud-based approach, where their apps run on the cloud and can be accessed by a wide variety of devices through an internet connection — opening up new possibilities for users and developers alike.