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%.
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.
All told, it involves "hundreds of computers, probably thousands", says Mr Hazas.
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