5G takes gamers to the cloud

The game is on. With 5G rolling out and mobile and cloud gaming on the rise, 5G ‘gaming on the go’ is becoming a reality. Last week saw exciting news for all our gamers out there as Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta version) officially launched in New Zealand.  This means you can play 100+ high-quality console games on the devices you already have with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. 

To play Xbox console games from the cloud on your device, you’ll need a high-speed internet connection. With the higher throughput and, in the future, improved latency of 5G, we’ve never been closer to truly immersive mobile experiences.  5G should support more accurate gameplay and empower developers to deliver a new generation of immersive, dynamic experiences.

Find out more about Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming

5G offloads heavy computational power, offering gamers speeds of up to ten times the average of 4G. The next evolution of 5G also reduces latency from 20 milliseconds to 5 milliseconds. This means in-game action will be smoother than ever, with minimal lag between a gamer's input and the game's response; whether it’s for a single VR player at home, or an esports gaming community.  Alongside cloud and mobile edge computing, gamers will finally be able to experience seamless Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR) capabilities that are free from lag and cables.

What does the future hold for 5G gamers? 

With low latency, lag and jitter greatly reduced, 5G gaming promises to transform the mobile gaming space and empowers developers to create immersive new worlds for players to enjoy. Here are just a few examples: 

• 5G gaming could enable users to try games on the cloud before they download/buy, enhancing discoverability in a market flooded with titles.
• Games requiring low latency should become more consistent (regarding user input), driving greater loyalty from gamers.
• Mass participation multiplayer games/events should be easier to support.
• Augmented reality (AR) becomes more attractive, as device battery power is conserved and powerful functionality is processed at the edge to support enhanced experiences.
• High-definition, wireless virtual reality (VR) is also feasible with 5G, offering further opportunities for developers to innovate. 
• Companies are also building entire "experiential venues" to deliver even more immersive experiences through AR and VR, 5G and wearable technology.