OnLive

OnLive: Cloud Gaming Service

OnLive allows users to play video games without downloading or installing hardware, streaming games through their servers for remote processing.

What is OnLive?

OnLive is a pioneering cloud gaming service that debuted in 2010. It allows users to play graphically-intensive video games instantly across a wide range of devices, without needing to download games or install special hardware.

With OnLive, the video game software and processing runs on remote servers owned by the company. Users simply stream the video and audio from those servers to their device of choice - whether a computer, TV, tablet or smartphone - similar to how platforms like Netflix stream movies.

This innovative approach removes traditional barriers to enjoying high-end games, since there's no need to buy expensive dedicated gaming consoles or computers. It also enables instant access, since games can be played as soon as you log in without waiting for downloads or updates.

While very ahead of its time technologically, OnLive struggled commercially and the assets were eventually sold to Sony in 2015. But the concept of cloud gaming has lived on and is now offered by multiple major gaming platforms.

OnLive Features

Official Links