5G Factor: Can 5G and Cloud Gaming Join Hands?

In this episode of The 5G Factor, our series that focuses on all things 5G, the IoT, and the ecosystem as a whole, The Futurum Group’s Ron Westfall is joined by colleague and fellow analyst Olivier Blanchard for a look at the top 5G developments and what’s going on that caught our eye. Their conversation focused on: Overview of 5G-enabled Opportunities for AAA Game Studios. Cloud gaming, where you can play games hosted in remote data centers without owning any physical game disc or cartridge, has become a major growth area for the industry. Research from Ericsson found that 35 services launched cloud-gaming platforms in 2022, with more onboarding this year as well. They assess how real are the 5G—enabled opportunities for AAA game studios, the huge firms that release household titles. This includes our perspective on the 5G ecosystem’s ability to aid and abet game development and playing, especially in the growing sector of cloud gaming, including as a key enabler of AR and VR gaming.  Qualcomm Makes Waves With Snapdragon G Series Launch. Qualcomm created a marketing splash when it unveiled its Snapdragon G Series portfolio designed for the next generation of handheld gaming devices. Key highlights included the Snapdragon G Series now spans three tiers, G1, G2, and G3, with Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 Platform debuting as the newest enthusiast-class processor. They analyze the competitive impact of the Snapdragon G series launch on the 5G ecosystem as well as break down the capabilities of the respective G1, G2, and G3 offerings. Ericsson and Vodafone Live Network Trial: Budding Mobile Game Difference Maker. In August 2023, Ericsson and Vodafone completed a live network trial at Coventry University which successfully demonstrated the positive impact an optimized 5G Standalone (SA) network slice could have on enhancing the mobile gaming experience for consumers. Using network slicing, a major function of a 5G SA network that can enable Vodafone to customize connectivity services for specific customers and use cases, the trial participants were able to experience more consistent gaming connectivity with a 270 percent increase in throughput, a 25 percent decrease in latency and 57 percent less jitter, as well as smoother graphics rendering. They assess the ramifications of the trial in potentially advancing the ability of CSPs to support, scale, and monetize mobile gaming applications. You’re not going to want to miss this lively conversation!