How to Play the Cloud Game – Complete Overview

Over the past few years, Cloud gaming has gained a lot of traction. You can play multiple games without ever downloading them. 

However, it can be tough for some people to navigate their way through. 

This is why in today’s post, we’ll explain how to play any Cloud game on consoles like PS5 and Xbox One. 

Ways to Play Cloud Games on PlayStation and Xbox

Cloud gaming is a convenient solution to storage problems. Almost every AAA title available on consoles is over 40 GB and this quickly causes your hard drive to be filled. 

Even with 1 TB of storage space, you can easily run out of space to install new games. However, with cloud gaming, not even a single bit of data is stored on your console. 

Now, let’s check how you can access cloud games on PS and Xbox one by one. 

Guide to Access Cloud Games on PlayStation

Before we start the guide, let’s discuss some prerequisite elements you need. Without them, you won’t be able to access cloud games available for PlayStation.

• An active PlayStation Network account.
• PlayStation Plus Premium membership
• DualShock 4 controller.
• Active internet connection. 
• 18 years old or above in age. 

After you get all these things in order, you can start moving towards playing cloud games for PlayStation. 

Now, let’s check out the steps.

• Install PlayStation Plus App

Unlike other consoles, you can access all the PlayStation cloud games on your PC. For that purpose, you’ll have to download the PS Plus app on your PC. 

You can download it from the PlayStation Plus website. It is located under the Cloud Gaming section. 

Is the PS Plus app free?

Sony has made the PlayStation Plus app accessible for all users. The base version is free to download but there are in-app purchases for various services in it.

• Login Your Account

After you download and install the PS Plus app, use your PS Network account to gain access to the full features. 

The login buttons are located in the top right corner of the app. Once you do that, all your PS-related things will be transferred to the app. 

What sort of features can I access through the app?

Apart from your subscriptions, you can also manage your game library. It also lets you customize your PS profile. 

• Connect Your Controller

Once your account is logged in, it is time to connect your DS4 controller. You’ll need it because the PS Plus app is only compatible with PS controllers as of now. 

You can either connect your controller with a USB cable or through Bluetooth. Either way, once it connects, you can then explore the app with the controller. 

Can I use third-party controllers?

It is highly recommended that you use official PS controllers to avoid any compatibility issues. 

• Open Cloud Games

For the next step, you have to open the Cloud Games category. It is located in the left-side menu. Simply click on it and you will be redirected to a new page. 

Here you can find all the games that are available to stream on the PS Network. Click on your choice of game and it will launch the game. 

• Play the Game

Once your game launches, you can play it without any load times. However, the only downside is that you need a fast internet connection. 

This is mainly because you are streaming the game. According to Sony, the recommended internet connection speed is 5 MBPS. 

What happens if I have a slow internet connection?

A slow internet connection will impact the visual quality and cause severe lags. At points, the game will completely halt and make it unplayable. 

• Add Games to Your Library

Lastly, after you are done playing, don’t forget to add games to your library. This will make it easier for you to access in the future. 

Once these games are added to your library, you can also access them through PS4 and PS5. 

Guide to Access Cloud Games on Xbox

Now, for the Xbox Cloud Games, we must mention some essential things you’ll need. They are as follows:

• Xbox Game Pass membership
• Xbox controllers
• Active internet connection
• Active Microsoft account

Let’s check out the steps to access cloud games on Xbox. 

• Login Your Account

Before you get into the Xbox Game Store, it is quite important to log in with your Microsoft account. It will unlock every single aspect of the store. 

This makes exploration quite convenient for you. Once you log in, the interface of the Xbox Store will change.

• Find Cloud Games

For the next step, you’ll have to explore the games available for cloud streaming. Currently, there is no filter available to sort out cloud games. 

You can identify cloud games by the Cloud Icon displayed on the bottom right corner of the game panel.  

What else does the cloud icon indicate?

Another feature of the cloud icon is that it indicates the availability of the game. If the cloud is filled and white, it means the game is available for cloud streaming. 

On the other hand, if the cloud is greyed out and empty, it means the game is currently unavailable for cloud gaming. 

• Launch the Game

Once you find your choice of game, simply press the respective button to launch the game. It will take a few minutes and you’ll be taken to the game’s main menu. 

Cloud games usually take up to 3-5 minutes to launch. This helps to reduce the in-game load times. 

Pros and Cons of Cloud Gaming

Even though cloud gaming is the next step in online gaming, there are still multiple aspects that need to be polished. Let’s check some advantages and disadvantages of cloud streaming. 

Pros of Cloud Gaming

• No storage space required
• No separate purchases required
• Reduced load times
• Better visual quality

Cons of Cloud Gaming

• Requires a fast internet connection
• Memberships/subscriptions are quite expensive

Important Tips to Keep in Mind

Let’s check out some essential tips to keep in mind before you get into the world of Cloud Gaming.

• Never purchase a membership longer than you plan to play. Cloud memberships are quite expensive and can impact your budget. 
• For PC, check the system requirements beforehand. Even though it isn’t directly using your PC’s hardware, cloud games still need a high-performance GPU.
• Cloud gaming isn’t available for new titles. It takes about 6-8 months for them to be available for streaming. 

Wrapping Things Up…

This brings us to the end of our guide on How to Play the Cloud Game. We hope you can use this information to easily play cloud games on your consoles and PC. 

Cloud games are the future of gaming. You can play cloud games on PS and Xbox by simply heading over to their game store.

Do let us know what you think in the comments below.