AMD is double-dipping with a new partnership to build game streaming tech

[mongeese]

Forward-looking: AMD has entered into a multi-year partnership with Oxide Games with the aim to make game streaming simpler and more economical, but details on practical hardware/software alterations are light. It is apparent, however, that there is room for improvement. Given the current disparity between the on-paper specs and real-world performance of streaming services, a new technical foundation could make the value proposition of game streaming equal to competing platforms.

Game streaming has the potential to replace consoles as the go-to gaming platform, or otherwise alter their market position. Some predict streaming could also eat into the PC gaming market. Unsurprisingly, noting that AMD makes all the CPUs and GPUs used in consoles and about half of those used in gaming PCs, they have expressed interest in the game streaming space.

AMD also currently produces the GPUs for Google Stadia and Microsoft xCloud. That position is not well-cemented, however, as both services use only slightly altered PC products that cannot be made in great volume. Further development into game streaming is a logical way for AMD to win no matter the shape of future gaming.

AMD’s new partner is, however, an unconventional choice. Oxide Games have yet to justify the plural form of their name, having only released one complete game, Ashes of the Singularity. More significant, however, is their Nitrous Engine. Nitrous has been impressive in its limited release this far. Ashes, using Nitrous, was the first game to support DirectX 12 and one of the first to support Vulkan. The game also introduced unprecedented technical capability in the real-time strategy genre, able to support far more active units engaged across diverse environments that other games can manage.

Ashes of the Singularity benchmarked about two years ago. It is one of very few, very interesting games where spending more on a CPU past the few hundred dollar mark actually nets you better performance, with some exceptions.

“Oxide’s motto is to bring games to life that have never been seen or experienced before. We built the Nitrous Engine specifically with that purpose in mind,” said Marc Meyer, president of Oxide Games. “AMD’s commitment to gamers and their leadership in pushing the edge of state-of-the-art hardware is a perfect complement to Oxide’s commitment to the same excellence in software.”

The Nitrous Engine also scales better across more cores than most other engines. High core count, low-frequency CPUs are also the most economical processors found in servers today. Pairing optimal hardware with the software that can best take advantage of it is logical -- but adding that to AMD’s substantial lead in the high core count CPU space is a checkmate move.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/85075-amd-double-dipping-new-partnership-build-game-streaming.html

 

[Eldritch]

So, after Netflix, Disney+, HBO, Hulu, Sling and many others for watching our favorite show we now have to pay AMD, Nvidia, Stadia, PSN, Link, Vortex and many others for games of our choice? Many of which keep shifting titles as per new deals.... Amazing progress! Can't believe how far we have come. /s

 

[Evernessince]

So, after Netflix, Disney+, HBO, Hulu, Sling and many others for watching our favorite show we now have to pay AMD, Nvidia, Stadia, PSN, Link, Vortex and many others for games of our choice? Many of which keep shifting titles as per new deals.... Amazing progress! Can't believe how far we have come. /s

Don't forget your choice of platform to buy your games as well! Steam, Origin, Ubiplay, EPIC Store, GoG, Rockstar launcher, ect.

 

[godrilla]

"Game streaming has the potential to replace consoles as the go-to gaming platform, or otherwise alter their market position. Some predict streaming could also eat into the PC gaming market. Unsurprisingly, noting that AMD makes all the CPUs and GPUs used in consoles and about half of those used in gaming PCs, they have expressed interest in the game streaming space."
On paper and maybe in a decade. Just look at Stadia what a cluster fudge proving to us not only the failures and over promises but also the greediness has no limits with the gaming industry they will try a fast one any penny they can!
Look at Crysis remastered lol it doesn't have a Stadia port even though the switch one does. Stream gaming is the joke of the Decade.

 

[Burty117]

The more the media tell me "game streaming is the future", the more I can't help but feel it's really not the future...

 

[nnguy2]

The more the media tell me "game streaming is the future", the more I can't help but feel it's really not the future...

Like how the media claim tablets will replace PCs. Been waiting since 2012.

 

[psycros]

Game streaming = torrents.

 

[Eldritch]

Game streaming = torrents.

For medium term, Yes.

Stream gaming is bound to happen. Not because its good but because its massive benefits to corporations. Imagine having a game running on every platform imaginable (as its just stream) and with zero cheating, zero manipulation of code (means no cheatengine) and zero piracy.

But in long term, as people shift more and more to streaming games we will start getting AAA stream exclusives which will further increase the adaptation rate of stream gaming. Resulting in more AAA stream exclusives and ultimately a closed echo system where, except for indie games or old games, majority of games will be playable only on stream services as they will be coded with that specifically in mind. Sadly, this all is bound to happen in a decade or so. We have about as much say in the matter as we had about micro transactions, Pay 2 win and IAP models.

 

[Burty117]

Stream gaming is bound to happen. Not because its good but because its massive benefits to corporations.

And that's exactly why we should fight it as much as we can. Micro Transactions, Pay 2 Win, they are going away slowly but surely, why is that? Because the vast majority of gamers hate those mechanisms and it bit publishers in the arse (Battlefront 2 being a great example)

I reckon Streaming isn't as certain as you're trying to make it out to be, Nvidia, AMD and Intel will stop selling lots of GPU's and CPU's. Microsoft and Sony won't be able to sell consoles anymore and Nintendo will lose some of their magic touch with particularly unique hardware.

Streaming will only take off if gamers actually buy into it and I reckon they won't, you'll get a small group go over to it as these companies try to entice people over by making it cheap but I reckon the vast majority won't. It's a very expensive gamble for these companies as well. Datacenter's aren't cheap, paying developers to specifically develop for your datacenter won't be cheap. They can only try so many times.

 

[Eldritch]

And that's exactly why we should fight it as much as we can. Micro Transactions, Pay 2 Win, they are going away slowly but surely, why is that? Because the vast majority of gamers hate those mechanisms and it bit publishers in the arse (Battlefront 2 being a great example)

I reckon Streaming isn't as certain as you're trying to make it out to be, Nvidia, AMD and Intel will stop selling lots of GPU's and CPU's. Microsoft and Sony won't be able to sell consoles anymore and Nintendo will lose some of their magic touch with particularly unique hardware.

Streaming will only take off if gamers actually buy into it and I reckon they won't, you'll get a small group go over to it as these companies try to entice people over by making it cheap but I reckon the vast majority won't. It's a very expensive gamble for these companies as well. Datacenter's aren't cheap, paying developers to specifically develop for your datacenter won't be cheap. They can only try so many times.

I hope you are right but I have my own doubts. People aren't motivated by a greater good but rather their own creature comforts. The smartphone generation is not particularly hardware enthusiast and while some will prefer to build their own gaming computers the trend is shifting. The current streaming options are not great forcing you to buy games and then again pay for the privilege of cloud stream. This happens as right now the industry lacks adjustments and integration. That is already being addressed.

Given choice between buying a $900+ computer or buying a $100 device with cloud contract at $40/pm (with streamed games and apps like photoshop) people will most likely go for cloud. Its a matter of time before they start creating various entertainment bundles/productivity bundles of services like gaming, CAD, movies, TV etc and charging a flat fee. May sound outlandish now but it's bound to happen and will be, quite frankly, irresistible.

 

[Gus Fring]

Yes Quad play becomes Quint-play . How long before disney+ goes from £5.99 a month to 9.99? And the extra cost of develeoping cloud versions is tiny as most games have some online component already. The lure of zero piracy is what will snag the developers. A niche will become nicher. Like Proper Audiophlles and real meat, Pc gaming is waning. Cold dead Hands.

 

[yeeeeman]

Amd...always a step behind competition.