Jio launches beta of cloud gaming platform JioGamesCloud
Jio launched a beta of its cloud gaming platform JioGamesCloud last week. The launch surfaced as users on sites like Reddit pointed out that they were now able to access GeForce Now games on their Jio set-top boxes. GeForce Now is a cloud gaming platform developed by Nvidia, which it appears Jio has licensed for its own platform. Cloud gaming allows games to be streamed directly from a server to users’ devices, like PCs, phones, tablets, and set-top boxes.
tried out the beta from Bengaluru on a Windows PC connected to a Wi-Fi connection and from an Android device connected to Jio’s 4G network. Deliver Us to The Moon, a reasonably graphics-intensive game, ran fairly well on Jio’s network, with mixed results on the Wi-Fi network. The game catalog is currently limited, with many hyper-casual indie games but few AAA big-budget games.
The web app and the JioGames app suggest connecting to a strong Wi-Fi connection or a 5G connection. Jio’s 5G launch is happening gradually, but several large cities like Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata are included already, with a few users being eligible to start being able to connect to the 5G networks. But it is unclear to what extent coverage exists within those cities for 5G.
In any case, as Entrackr pointed out in August, cloud gaming is already happening in India without 5G, with services like The Gaming Project enrolling thousands of gamers for a subscription fee in various Indian cities, with the games running fairly well on a Wi-Fi connection alone.
That said, bringing intensive high-quality gaming to devices that may not be able to run them locally is a key selling point for 5G networks, and likely why Jio has moved fast to deploy its cloud gaming service. (One hopes the rollout works well at scale, unlike JioCinema’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stream for the first two days.)
Jio’s plans to roll out the service on its set-top box are also interesting, as STBs are not out of reach for customers in the way that a 5G phone or a decent PC may be at the moment. The company last year obtained clearance for a gaming controller it licensed from Korean firm Aksys, according to a filing with the Bureau of Indian Standards. The company sells this controller on its website now.
Other telcos are trying to get in on the cloud gaming frenzy too, now that their 5G networks are getting deployed around the country. Vi demoed its solution, in partnership with the card game, at the India Mobile Congress 2022 in October. Previously, Airtel had demonstrated its own cloud gaming service in September. Neither telco’s solution is in a public beta at the moment, and no telco has done a full launch.
Reliance Group’s Jio has launched its new cloud gaming platform JioGamesCloud in beta mode on its JioGames app. JioGamesCloud is currently allowing users with stable internet connections to stream games directly to any compatible device without installing, downloading, or updating the games.
In a tweet, Jio Games said that the gaming platform can be accessed via smartphones, web browsers, and Jio Set Top Box.
Jio Games Cloud has over 50 games in its library, including Victor Vran, Shadow Tactics, Beholder, Saints Row, Redout, Deliver Us The Moon, and Kingdom Come Deliverance. From AAA titles to hyper-casual games, JioGamesCloud claims to offer its service in a stable 20 Mbps wired/wireless connection for a smooth experience.
The games on the cloud platform can be played on a computer with basic equipment like keyboards, mice, or controllers. Android phone users would need to install the JioGames app from the Play Store, while gaming controllers connected to Jio Set Top Boxes would allow playing games on television.
The beta version is currently free for all and also allows users with cellular connections other than that of Jio to sign in and access the service.
You must be logged in to post a comment.