What is cloud gaming? Everything you need to know

Cloud gaming is a way to play video games over the internet. The game runs on a server that sends you live playback to your screen, and your keyboard, mouse, or controller sends your moves back to the server. That means you can play triples-A games on any device you like – no downloads or powerful PC or game console required.

The only thing you need for cloud gaming to work is a strong internet connection and a device that has a screen and a way to input the movements of the game you want to play playing. As long as your internet connection is fast and stable, the game will  look and feel almost like you're playing it on a gaming console, meaning you can play high-quality games on almost any device, without needing to download or install anything.

Cloud gaming uses powerful servers that run the games for you, so your device doesn’t have to. When you start a game on a cloud gaming service, the game doesn’t run on your device. Instead, it runs on one of these servers. The server does all the hard work — like processing the graphics and game actions — and then sends a video of the game to your screen, just like streaming a movie.

As you play, you use a controller, keyboard, or touchscreen to give commands. These commands are sent over the internet to the server, and the server reacts to what you do, updates the game, and sends back a new video frame with the results. This all happens very quickly, so it feels like you're playing the game on your own device.

The process might look something like this:

1. You start a game – You launch a game using a cloud gaming service on your device.

2. The game runs on a server – The game runs on over the cloud using an powerful server.

3. Your actions are sent to the server – When you press buttons, your inputs go to the server.

4. The server sends back a video – The server updates the game and sends a live video stream back to your screen.

5. You play in real time – You see the game and play it just like it’s running on your own device.

To work smoothly, cloud gaming needs a fast and steady internet connection to send the game information to and from the server. As long as your connection is strong, you’ll be able to play high-quality games on almost any device you want, without needing to download or install anything.

You can play games on the cloud using cloud gaming platforms, which work on many types of devices. Here are some of the most popular devices people use for cloud gaming:

You can play all kinds of games on the cloud! Depending on the service you’re using, you can place action games, racing games, shooters, sports games, and even smaller indie games.

For example, if you use Xbox Cloud Gaming (with Game Pass Ultimate), you can stream well-known titles like Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, FIFA, Minecraft Legends, and many others directly to your phone, tablet, or PC. GeForce Now lets you stream games you already own from stores like Steam, so you can play games like Fortnite, Cyberpunk 2077, or Apex Legends.

PlayStation Plus Premium (which includes the old PlayStation Now) gives you cloud access to a huge library of PlayStation 2, 3, and 4 games, including classics like The Last of Us, Uncharted, and God of War. Other services like Amazon Luna also have growing libraries with games for kids, families, and serious gamers.

Basically, no matter what kind of games you like, there’s something for you in the cloud. You don’t need to install anything or have a fancy gaming setup eitherjust click and play

Before you can start enjoying cloud gaming, there are a few things you’ll need to make sure everything runs smoothly. Your setup doesn't need to be as expensive or high-end as a high-end gaming setup, but it does need to meet certain basic requirements.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

1. A Fast and Stable Internet Connection

Cloud gaming works by streaming games over the internet, just like watching a movie. You need superfast and reliable broadband for the best experience when you’re cloud gaming, especially for high-quality games. A stable connection is just as important as speed, and if your internet keeps cutting out, your game will freeze or lag.

2. A Compatible Device

You don’t need a powerful gaming PC or console for cloud gaming. You can use a smartphone, tablet, smart TV, laptop, or desktop. Even low-end devices work, because the game runs in the cloud, not on your device. Just make sure your device supports the cloud gaming app or web browser needed.

3. A Supported Controller (Sometimes)

Some games need a controller, like an Xbox or PlayStation controller, especially if you’re playing on a phone or TV. Other games can be played with a keyboard and mouse, especially on a PC. Some services even offer on-screen touch controls for mobile devices.

4. A Cloud Gaming Service

To play, you need to sign up for a cloud gaming platform. Some popular options are NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Now, or Amazon Luna. Some services are free with or come with free trials, but most offer a subscription for full access and better quality cloud gaming.

5. A Good Power Source or Battery

Cloud gaming can drain your battery quickly on phones or laptops because it's streaming high-quality video constantly. If you’re playing on a phone, tablet or laptop, It’s best to stay plugged in or have a full charge before you start a long session.

If you want good graphics and little delay when gaming on the cloud, you should have a download speed of at least 25Mbps-50Mbps and an upload speed of 10Mbps or more. That should be more than enough for most cloud gaming services, even if you're playing in high quality like 1080p or 4K.

But speed isn’t the only thing that matters. You also need to have low ping and latency (under 30 milliseconds is ideal) or the game can still feel laggy, no matter your internet speed. Latency is the delay between when you press a button and when the game responds, and if it’s too high, your actions become delayed which makes gaming on the cloud unplayable.

To reduce ping, you’re better off using a wired ethernet connection over WiFi when you’re cloud gaming to reduce any sudden lag spikes and keep your connection stable as you play. Read our full guide on ping to learn more about reducing ping when you’re gaming.

If you're not sure if you have enough internet speed on your device, you can measure your speed using our helpful broadband speed test.  

This will test your download speed, upload speed, ping, and jitter by mimicking your online activities and testing how long it takes. If your download speed is higher than 100Mbps and you’ve got low ping of 30Ms or lower, you should be all good to game on the cloud! If it’s not, you may want to look into ways to improve your connection.  

If you love playing online games, especially on the cloud, you’ll want your broadband to be fast enough to make everything run and play as it should. So, if your internet speed is too slow and it’s causing lag when you’re online, it may be time for an upgrade. 

At Virgin Media, we’ve got a range of ultrafast broadband deals destined to give you more than enough speed when you’re gaming. Check out all of our broadband deals and find a broadband package that’s fast enough for all your gaming needs.