About three weeks ago I read about Google’s new closed beta (United States only, sadly) game streaming technology. I find these new technologies fascinating, but what got me even more interested was the offer of full and free access to the latest Assassin’s Creed game for all beta participants (access ends January 2019)!
Never one to turn down free games and interesting new tech, I applied recently and got the acceptance email just the other day. Now, I’d like to share my experience with all of you!
The Streaming Setup Process
Upon getting my code via email, I simply had to use the Chrome browser and head to the Project Stream website. Entering my code gave me full access to the new AC: Odyssey (which Kyle is currently reviewing for us, by the way). Before I could play, I had to pass the bandwidth test pictured below.
Once I passed the test (my Comcast Cable 60 Mbps is plenty), I did have to sign in via my existing UPlay account. After signing in to my UPlay account through the browser, I was watching the actual game load within seconds!
After hitting Play, there was about a 5 second load to the title screens. Then it took about 20 seconds to load into the actual game, which is presumably about what a typical game install load time would be on a standard hard disk drive.
Then, like magic, I found myself playing the latest and (maybe?) greatest triple-A game, streaming across the magical interwebs!
The Actual Streaming Quality
As noted above, getting into the game was painless, quick, and easy, but is the streaming version of the game a good experience? My first reaction was one of amazement because this truly is legit tech.
However, after a short time the flaws became obvious. The bottom line is there is noticeable compression artifacts whenever the image is moving, which does detract from the experience.
I know other write-ups on Project Stream have been extremely positive, but I’m a serious PC gamer. I expect performance and image quality at a high framerate!
Speaking of framerate, my largest issue by far with this streaming tech is the archaic 30 frames per second! Sure this probably matches the console experience, but do I look like I want weak console performance?! No. The answer is no!
On a more positive note, input responsiveness was fine. A game like Odyssey doesn’t require extremely-precise input, so the very slight input delay was barely noticeable. Not much more to say on that.
Streaming Quality Conclusion
To reiterate: there is absolutely no doubt that when sitting close to my computer monitor, there is very noticeable compression and poor framerate compared to what my computer could render using my PC hardware (Intel i7-3930k CPU, nVidia GTX 980 Ti GPU). I’d honestly rather turn down some graphics settings for a higher framerate, but no customization is enabled.
I can’t help but believe that if you want to see and feel the game the way the developers intended, it is still very superior to actually download and install the game the traditional way.
Basically, Odyssey is a very beautiful game that deserves better than a streamed and smeared image quality at a poor PC framerate.
However, the actual streaming technology is something worth praising. The very fact that this all works so well is a testament to Google’s ingenuity and overall technological progress.
It also helps that I live close to a large American city, meaning I have excellent access to major data centers to facilitate the streaming.
Streaming Within a Stream Because We Can!
Given that I enjoy pushing technology, I also tried (and succeeded at) streaming the Google Chrome stream over my Steam Link! Let me explain.
I have my desktop computer upstairs. Downstairs I have the usual couch/TV setup with a Steam Link device (which works very well I might add!) that lets me stream my computer to my TV over my home network.
I should note I had to use VirtualHere to make Google Chrome recognize my Xbox controller plugged into my Steam Link. A great piece of software to fix an infuriating problem!
After all this, last night I was playing on my couch, with my Xbox controller, streaming the stream, living the dream!
Despite my excitement getting all this working, the stream on stream performance…wasn’t super great (naturally).
It turns out it isn’t the best idea to take an already compressed stream, further compress it, and then add additional input delays. It’s sort of like crossing the streams, Ghostbusters style.
Final Remarks & Ruminations
I admit it. I’m a PC gaming purist. I want 60+ FPS. I want crystal-clear visuals. I want customization. I want to be able to disable that hideous motion blur rubbish.
Given these facts, streaming via Project Stream is certainly inferior to downloading and installing games, but of course it is!
However, not everything in life has to be pure and perfect I suppose. To me the real question is how inferior of an experience is it? Each one of us will have to answer that for ourselves.
For me, considering Google is letting me use their service and play the latest Assassin’s Creed for free, I’m content with the quality I’m getting. If I had to pay…it better be cheap.
In regard to all this talk about streaming being “the future” all I can say is they can have their streaming and I’ll keep my games downloaded and installed locally!
There’s no doubt that streaming will become a dominant, perhaps overwhelming, force, but that will be at the expense of image quality, customization, and user freedom if Project Stream is any indication.
But hey, it was pretty fun to stream the stream the other day!
Computer Specs: Windows 10 64-bit computer using an Intel i7-3930k CPU, 32GB of memory, and a nVidia GTX 980 Ti graphics card. Using the latest Chrome browser, Comcast Cable 60 Mbps service.
Nick’s been a PC gamer for over 20 years, having grown up on first-person shooter games (he’s very proud of his Quake 2 tournament trophy). Nick also loves deep, engrossing role-playing games, and he’s also more famously known as Brumbek, the creator of Static Mesh Improvement Mod for Skyrim. Nick believes the essence of enjoyment is to play and ponder video games.
Contact: Email
We all know streaming has it’s own disadvantages, so there’s noting new to see here. Who’s going to read your lengthy article/rant, which brings nothing special to the table..lol
I read it and enjoyed it. But then again, I’m not a negative Nancy with sand in my vagina.
sand can’t get in vagina because the other day i was thinking about how is it possible for girls to float on water because water gets in their poosy and they sink but it seems that’s not the case so i’m sure sand won’t get in vagina either.
By far my favorite troll
i’m a troll for having high iq, logic and reason? nice. keep calling me a troll but at the end of the day i know i’m beautiful.
Good point. Judging by the comment sections of this particular site, I think someone may be utilizing some sort of sand application device in order to inject sand in some people’s vaginas. I’ll report back as my investigation continues.
you make sure you do that partner.
LOL!!! (sounds a lot like show bobs and vagene)
Thanks Jonny for reading! I’m very glad to offer some interesting information for everyone!
My pleasure. It’s always good to get the latest about different gaming technologies, even if this particular service wasn’t up to snuff this time.
xbox. TEH POWER OF TEH CLOUD, STREAM GAMES
Sony PS NOW. NOW NO INPUT DELAY
Google, Step back losers let me show you how its done.
In 2008, I said who wants movies on Netflix, when you can just buy the DVD once and own it forever. Don’t own a single DVD today, but I do still sub to Netflix.
yeah it’s called steam on PC
Film is not an interactive media.
nice to see you post high iq comments like always
Netflix is ran by anti white racists these days.
yeah but most of you here are not whites, south europeans and east europeans and middle easterners here so i don’t know why you’re upset by that.
Does anyone know how it plays on Geforce Now?
I think its its meant for people with laptops or low end pc’s
This is the real takeaway. If you don’t have a rig, this is a really nice option. I could even stream from work if the connection wasn’t blocked :/
Yeah. That’s a point I could have made in the article. You’re totally right that for people with very limited PC hardware, this is totally a cost-effective solution. Although, given that this is a serious PC gaming website, I felt I should give my impressions in that regard.
I understand, though you missed the point and rather took the chance to flaunt some elitism. Next time, possibly when the service has advanced a bit and deserves revisiting, take the chance to analyze is for what it’s meant to be.
The technology works. I said they deserve praise for what they’ve accomplished. I also said I’m a serious PC gamer who wants quality. You can decide for yourself if you need high frame-rates and image quality or not. Not much else to say.
Low end PC can’t handle high-speed connection properly. At least mine couldn’t.
I imagine that publishers would want a steady stream of income from all gamers, not just those with less-powerful PCs.
mate i will have abandoned gaming due to always online trash, long before that.
this was tested in closed doors and not with millions of people streaming…so dont be fooled.
They let me in. My door is currently open 🙂
I wasn’t impressed with the streaming quality though (dat blur).
Streaming is pretty much a nightmare scenario from a consumer rights perspective, the publisher fully controls the game, you become dependent on continuous payments to be able to play at all, you can’t tinker with it in any way, they can remotely disable access for any reason and preserving games becomes 100% impossible.
As long as it remains a “choice” but given the way AAA is trying to hamfist all digital now (especially by holding back copies of RDR2 from stores) seems like this will be the only way to get the games in like ~5 years.
AAA’s true goal is 100% control of the product and its use while still getting 100% of the money.
Jokes on them. I refuse to pay more than 24 bucks for a digital AAA game. If I can’t sell it, to me, the value is considerably lower.
I generally don’t pay more than 14 for an indie.
Streaming-only is the publisher’s wet dream.
No more distributor taking a cut, no more platform holder royalties (all games will be running in a server farm), no more annoying pirates (classic type), neo pirates (second-hand disks), patient pirates (people who buy AAA titles from three years ago at steep discount).
“patient pirates (people who buy AAA titles from three years ago at steep discount).”
“Patient Pirates”, never heard that one before but that is me. I wait for a few years and buy games at a steep discount. The reason I do this is because “Publisher Pirates” rush games out for release that needed more work before they were ready for release. Full of bugs and sometimes completely broken. Then they may or may not patch and polish them properly later on or just let the mod community fix their mess of a game. So, if I have to wait for the game to be properly finished anyway then why not wait a while longer for a great sale (which they agree to sell for btw. it’s their choice. I didn’t force them to).
So, you have a choice. Pay full price and try to deal with the bugs. Google for fixes and workarounds when the game first comes out or wait.
When the “Publisher Pirates” release their games in a finished state then I will stop being a “Patient Pirate” : )
Always glad to see more choices for lower end users and as long as we don’t get streaming exclusives im all for it.
For sure. It’s great to have options for the player. It would be especially nice if streaming was able to sync between your locally installed game version and the streamed version. This way you get the best of both worlds.
Like the “power of the cloud” microsoft promised feature of the xbox one, no a bad idea on paper and i prefer it over a full cloud streaming,the game will load from the hdd and the cloud will handle the graphics and performance.
Considering the amount of control publishers get from streaming and the potential for squeezing people with continuous fees, they are going to push hard for streaming exclusivity.
I don’t see how you could use mods with streaming or trainers for those that like to or need to and it seems to me that streaming puts a shelf life of playable time on games because the Developer could decide that streaming and older game is no longer necessary at their discretion to free up bandwidth/servers for newer games and not mine. Hell, I still go back sometimes and replay games from the late 90s and up.
What happens when other members of your family are also online streaming 4k movies? Bandwidth drops. Frame rate drops. You could pay more for higher speed internet but then you could also use that money to buy a video card.
I’m also testing this and it works incredibly well.
Ha! Yeah, I was thinking of how I could go another level deeper! Excellent thought!!