GameStop has been had at work with their recently acquired Spawn Labs to develop a cloud-based streaming gaming service, similar to that of OnLive. All eyes are on GameStop at this point. Can they deliver?
A beta is now underway to test the service before it launches in early 2012. What seperates GameStop’s service from the likes of OnLive is the ability to not only stream to PC, but the report notes that GameStop “is working with publishers to stream console games to smart devices.” This could mean that in the future, streaming titles to your Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The beta is said to open up to a wider range of participants before the end of the year.
Members of GameStop’s PowerUp Rewards program will get access to the Spawn client, which they have said that it “will not require publishers to modify their games.” They’re also experimenting with possibly having the service available on internet-connected Smart TVs. If this pans out, then OnLive could definitely have a nice bit of competition, which is a win-win for us as gamers.
