Cloud gaming: Are game streaming services bad for the planet?

Microsoft is poised to launch its game streaming service, delivering high-end titles direct to phones – and Google already offers an equivalent service.Cloud gaming promises top-tier graphics and performance without the expensive hardware – with no more massive updates or downloads.But some studies suggests it could be more damaging to the planet.One recent study from Lancaster University estimated that if gamers moved to streaming over the next decade, carbon emissions could rise by 30%.

What’s the problem?

Instead of having a high-end PC or games console in the home, cloud gaming platforms run the software from a remote data centre.All the graphics and sounds are streamed to a TV or mobile device over the internet. It’s interactive – so unlike video streaming, those graphics and sounds are tailored to each player.And the internet itself uses a lot of power.”There are a lot of things that have to spring into action,” explains Mike Hazas, one of the Lancaster University researchers.Home wi-fi routers are just the first step, and we can’t see most of it: the street corner communications exchange, miles of fibre-optic cable, core network infrastructure and – ultimately – the data centre.