Google to stream Assassin's Creed for free in test

[IntMD]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-45719240

https://blog.google/technology/developers/pushing-limits-streaming-technology/

Quote

BBC ARTICLE - Google is offering a limited number of gamers the chance to play popular video game Assassin's Creed Odyssey free of charge via its Chrome browser.

In a blogpost outlining its plans for Project Stream, the search engine said it wanted to take streaming to "the next level".

But it admitted there were technical challenges involved in streaming graphically rich content via a browser.

 

Quote

GOOGLE BLOG - 

The technology and creativity behind these AAA video games is extraordinary—from incredible detail and life-like movement of the characters’ skin, clothing, and hair, to the massive scale of the world in which the game unfolds, down to every last blade of grass. Every pixel is powered by an array of real-time rendering technology, artistry, visual effects, animation, simulation, physics and dynamics. We’re inspired by the game creators who spend years crafting these amazing worlds, adventures and experiences, and we’re building technology that we hope will support and empower that creativity.

There are limited spaces available for Project Stream, but if you’re interested in participating, you can apply on our website. Project Stream is geared toward home internet connections capable of 25 megabits per second, and you must be 17 years or older and live in the U.S. to participate (other requirements can be found on the help center).

 

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What do I need to play Project Stream?

Here’s what you need to play Project Stream:

• A Google account

  • Not compatible with Google for Work, Google for Education, and certain other managed Google accounts.

• An Ubisoft account

• A computer with a recent version of Chrome (version 69 and higher)

  • Update your Google Chrome browser if needed

  • The Chrome browser on mobile is not supported

• A reliable internet connection (25 Mbps is recommended)

• (Optional) A wired USB controller or external mouse (A laptop's trackpad isn't recommended)

 

Project Stream supports wired USB controllers for gameplay. Here are some supported controllers:

Windows

• Playstation DualShock® 4 Controller

• Xbox One Controller

• Xbox 360 Controller

macOS X

• Playstation DualShock® 4 Controller

• Xbox One Controller

• Xbox 360 Controller

ChromeOS

• Playstation DualShock® 4 Controller

• Xbox 360 Controller

Linux

• Playstation DualShock® 4 Controller

• Xbox One Controller

• Xbox 360 Controller 

 

Not sure if there are still any spaces open, as it is limited to the US apparently, and it just seems they are trying to poke their toes in the water as a kind of technology demo at the moment. It could be good for some people with potatoes & lower powered PCs if the lag isn't too awful, also, you need a Google account & Ubisoft account and a reasonable internet connection from the sound of it... So there's that.

[Syntaxvgm]

if chrome remote desktop is anything to go by, this will really, really suck.

Like all game streaming

[.Apex.]

playing AAA games through a browser... damn that is insanely awesome  

[.Apex.]

12 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

if chrome remote desktop is anything to go by, this will really, really suck.

Like all game streaming

Chrome Remote is different, whenever you click, that click has to go through the server and back to your PC, and then the image from your PC (30 FPS lets say) back to the server and then back to Chrome Remote, that's alot of Upload bandwidth and extra latency.

 

but this is different, the game is streaming constantly from the server to your PC (Download), and your PC only has to send key inputs (Upload), alot fewer steps and less latency.

[Syntaxvgm]

4 minutes ago, syn2112 said:

Chrome Remote is different, whenever you click, that click has to go through the server and back to your PC, and then the image from your PC (30 FPS lets say) back to the server and then back to Chrome Remote, that's alot of Upload bandwidth and extra latency.

 

but this is different, the game is streaming constantly from the server to your PC (Download), and your PC only has to send key inputs (Upload), alot fewer steps and less latency.

chrome remote desktop often fails to even stream the video is what im talking about. It's completely unsable at times and is also made horribly feature wise. It's literally the worst remote access solution out there.  

[.Apex.]

Just now, Syntaxvgm said:

chrome remote desktop often fails to even stream the video is what im talking about. It's completely unsable at times and is also made horribly feature wise. It's literally the worst remote access solution out there.  

but Youtube is working great  think of it the same way, like streaming with Youtube but you have inputs to send to control the gameplay, it can be very easily done with a 25Mbps connection, it just depends on the latency of encoding the video on their side and latency between you and the server for input control.

[BuckGup]

31 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

if chrome remote desktop is anything to go by, this will really, really suck.

Like all game streaming

Actually NVIDIAs game streaming is pretty good. Only adds about 20ms of latency but you do need 200mb/s or faster internet if you want 1080p 60fps or lower latency

[yian88]

Already tried Nvidia Stream and its crappy, it only works for passive games, anything requiring response time RTS, FPS, RPG, MMORPG its a big nono, the input lag is trough the roof, and i just bought a 240HZ 1ms Monitor because my 4K TV even with 20-30ms lag was barely playable.

[Syntaxvgm]

6 minutes ago, BuckGup said:

Actually NVIDIAs game streaming is pretty good. Only adds about 20ms of latency but you do need 200mb/s or faster internet if you want 1080p 60fps or lower latency

I've used it. Not that good even locally imo. I also found it to add closer to 80-100ms if its not a shield, closer to 50ms with a shield. Sure most singleplayer games were playable but it really hurt the experience. 

Also have a steam link, which locks it to below 60mb/s iirc, which is just...ugh looks like low bitrate nvenc for some reason 

[ScratchCat]

7 minutes ago, syn2112 said:

but Youtube is working great  think of it the same way, like streaming with Youtube but you have inputs to send to control the gameplay, it can be very easily done with a 25Mbps connection, it just depends on the latency of encoding the video on their side and latency between you and the server for input control.

Except latency isn't an issue for Youtube, it can have a 180s+ buffer if need be while this system can never store more than a frame or two in advance (assuming 60fps) or the game will lag heavily behind the user's input, ruining the experience.

 

Games also tend to have a much poorer compression ratio compared to most non-outside videos due to large amounts of sudden movement and small details within the game image which do not compress well.

[.Apex.]

4 minutes ago, ScratchCat said:

Except latency isn't an issue for Youtube, it can have a 180s+ buffer if need be while this system can never store more than a frame or two in advance (assuming 60fps) or the game will lag heavily behind the user's input, ruining the experience.

 

Games also tend to have a much poorer compression ratio compared to most non-outside videos due to large amounts of sudden movement and small details within the game image which do not compress well.

i understand that, but that is highly dependent on the server side like i stated, i can stream 4K Youtube and never lag behind, that means i'm receiving more frames than real time playback, that's why the buffer is always far ahead, but i think it's not needed if you can receive all frames reliably with bandwidth to spare.

[elfensky]

Ugh US only. 

Still tho, it's interesting to see Google of all things take on PS Now and Nvidia Game-whatever it's called. e

[IntMD]

11 minutes ago, ElfenSky said:

Ugh US only. 

Still tho, it's interesting to see Google of all things take on PS Now and Nvidia Game-whatever it's called. e

Yup, standard sucky US only trials that Google does, unfortunately. Europe might get it sometime in 2028...

 

[BuckGup]

31 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

I've used it. Not that good even locally imo. I also found it to add closer to 80-100ms if its not a shield, closer to 50ms with a shield. Sure most singleplayer games were playable but it really hurt the experience. 

Also have a steam link, which locks it to below 60mb/s iirc, which is just...ugh looks like low bitrate nvenc for some reason 

I am talking Geforce Now it's still in beta and only for laptops and desktops.

[Sniperfox47]

I'm wondering if this is the basis for the device Codename Yeti, potentially a home streaming gaming device.

 

Would also be a neat option on the side that could help the value-add for lower power Chromebooks if it gets decent adoption.

[Franck]

1 hour ago, BuckGup said:

Actually NVIDIAs game streaming is pretty good. Only adds about 20ms of latency but you do need 200mb/s or faster internet if you want 1080p 60fps or lower latency

And that's not even RAW video. It's a compressed quality version. I'm surprised about only 20 ms to decompress that. RAW 1080p @ 60hz is 1.5 gbps so at 0.2 gbps it's about 80% compression which is quite a lot. Usually on internet tv that's about a 3 to 5 seconds delay for 1080p @ 60hz.

[BuckGup]

31 minutes ago, Franck said:

And that's not even RAW video. It's a compressed quality version. I'm surprised about only 20 ms to decompress that. RAW 1080p @ 60hz is 1.5 gbps so at 0.2 gbps it's about 80% compression which is quite a lot. Usually on internet tv that's about a 3 to 5 seconds delay for 1080p @ 60hz.

It's a little buggy so I was actually able to go to the start menu on the machine and it's just running Windows 8.1 and the screen output is just being extended across the internet. The input is then just being streamed to the machine. 

[Doobeedoo]

The internet requirements though, out of reach for many anyway. Not to mention the price for for such a service.

[Dabombinable]

Well that rules out nearly all of Australia from participating.