Key Takeaways
1. Amazon has launched GameLift Streams to help game developers combat piracy and reduce large game installation issues.
2. Game streaming enables players to enjoy high-demand games on low-spec devices without long download times.
3. Developers can upload various game types to GameLift, allowing for easy global streaming without code changes.
4. GameLift Streams supports up to 1080p at 60 fps and operates on NVIDIA T4 or A10G Tensor GPUs, with cost based on usage hours.
5. The service is available in specific AWS Regions, with lower latency for players closer to the data centers.
Amazon has introduced its new GameLift Streams game streaming service aimed at game developers. This service helps to combat piracy, removes the difficulties associated with large game installations, and allows players to enjoy high-demand games on low-spec devices.
Challenges with Game Downloads
Many gamers have to endure long waits for big downloads before they can start playing modern titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is over 100 GB in size. The increasing system requirements mean that players often have to invest in costly, high-performance graphics cards.
The Advantages of Game Streaming
Game streaming addresses these issues by transferring the demands to the cloud hosting provider, meaning gamers only need a basic computer or a smart TV to play. Notable cloud gaming services include Valve Steam, Nvidia GeForce Now, PlayStation Now, and Xbox Game Pass.
Developer Benefits with GameLift
Developers can now upload Windows games, Windows games configured for Proton (Valve Steam), and Linux titles to GameLift servers. After completing the basic server setup, these games can be streamed globally to players using any WebRTC-compatible web browser, supporting resolutions up to 1080p at 60 fps, without the need for code changes, making it easier for developers.
The games operate on NVIDIA T4 or A10G Tensor GPUs. Developers are billed based on usage hours and total storage utilized. According to Amazon’s estimates, hosting around 2,000 users playing a lightweight game for half an hour daily could result in a monthly cost of about $20k.
Availability of GameLift Streams
GameLift Streams is currently available in AWS Regions such as US East (Ohio), US West (Oregon), Asia Pacific (Tokyo), and Europe (Frankfurt). Players located closer to these data centers will see reduced latency, while those farther away may experience higher latency that could be considered unacceptable.
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