PlayCast cloud gaming service coming to US in 2013

As you may already know, cloud gaming is nothing new. An old, failed outfit called OnLive tried it unsuccessfully and in the end, it was met with financial woes that affected many, including HTC. In any case, PlayCast promises to be something different. As its tagline goes, it works. And it makes money.

So how does it work? PlayCast is going to become available either as a TV channel or an app that lets users play many major video game titles a la VOD or video on demand. It will be set up to work with a number of different platforms including pay TV offerings like satellite and cable TV, IPTV services like AT&T U-Verse, and over-the-top TV providers like Boxee and Google TV. Essentially, anyone can run it with nothing more than a TV and a compatible set-top box or a supported mobile device with no additional hardware required. Except for the controllers, of course.

PlayCast servers do all the number crunching in a remote location to serve up top-notch games like Dirt 3 and Batman Arkham Asylum. Up to 15 players can enjoy 720p HD resolution gaming simultaneously on a single server, so it scales quite well. And as for the game packages, it is said that these are expected to cost about $10-$15 a month with 15-20 games each.

PlayCast Media is currently taking care of the business end of things in preparation for its official launch in the U.S. in 2013. For now, you can check out a hands-on demonstration posted by Engadget as part of an interview with a couple of PlayCast Media execs at the Source link.

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