Sony wants to improve cloud gaming, but admits the tech is tricky

Admits to “very tricky” technology

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SonyCEO Kenichiro Yoshida has expressed much interest in growing cloud gaming on PS5 and future hardware.

While Sony has arguably been a slow starter in the cloud gaming race, at least onPS5, Yoshida recognized it as “an amazing business model” in an interview with theFinancial Times. However, he seemed keenly aware of the hurdles involved in such relatively young tech.

Yoshida recognized latency (controller input delay inherent to an online connection) as the key difficulty to overcome. “I think cloud itself is an amazing business model, but when it comes to games, the technical difficulties are high,” he said.

“So there will be challenges to cloud gaming, but we want to take on those challenges.” (viaVGC)

It’s true that Sony got the cloud gaming ball rolling early with PlayStation Now, a paid service that allowed players to stream games to their console with no downloads required. It wasn’t the most reliable service back in the day, with frequent disconnects and rampant input delay being a problem with even moderately quick internet speeds.

PlayStation Now has since been rolled intoPS Plus, with game streaming an optional alternative to downloads. However,PS3games on the service still only have cloud streaming as the only available option. Overall, though, Sony’s streaming solution has improved since its earliest days, though still can’t quite hold a candle to playing thebest PS5 gamesnatively on the system.

So far, onlyXbox Cloud Gaminghas been able to present a competent game streaming solution in the console space, but as it’s only available as part of anXbox Game Pass Ultimatesubscription, the cost of entry is quite high. Sony may want to look at a more affordable solution if it’s interested in growing the appeal of cloud gaming.

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It likely won’t do so with the recently announcedProject Qhandheld. Designed with PS Remote Play in mind, the 1080p60-capable display of the device likely won’t mesh well with cloud-streamed titles. Largely because remote play already has its own issues with input delay.

Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.

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