Amazon is preparing to jump into the burgeoning cloud gaming market, according to a recent CNET report on the state of game streaming services. The outlet discussed the lukewarm Stadia launch as well as the ongoing efforts by Microsoft and Sony before suggesting that Amazon will also get involved in a big way regarding game streaming, with an announcement coming next year.
They cite two sources familiar with the company's plans who say Amazon has begun recruiting for its big foray into games, including former Microsoft employees, in addition to hiring for Amazon Web Services' "new initiative."
Job listings from the tech and retail giant seem to support the rumor with one in particular alluding to the trajectory of the games industry and Amazon's intent to be involved with what's next.
"We believe the evolution that began with arcade communities a quarter at a time, growing to the live streams and e-sports of today, will continue to a future where everyone is a gamer and every gamer can create, compete, collaborate and connect with others at massive scales," said the listing.
This also likely refers to Amazon's ownership of Twitch, the world's foremost streaming platform for content creators. CNET noticed that a separate job listing mentioned Amazon's intentions to merge its "new initiative" with Twitch and other services.
That sort of directive is mirrored in the rumors that Microsoft and Sony's next-gen hardware may also come with built-in cameras for game streaming. This comes at a time when Sony has reduced their game streaming subscription price in half and Microsoft continues to roll out Project xCloud preview availability to more players every week. Next year, Xbox Game Pass will be available in Project xCloud, which, unlike PS4 Now or Microsoft Console Streaming, requires nothing but a Microsoft account. That approach is of course seen in Google's launch of Stadia too, though public reaction to the platform has been mixed at best, with skepticism and performance issues leading the conversation.
It seems most of the major industry players agree that streaming, both from servers to players and from players to their audiences, is going to be the major focus of video games in the coming decade.
