Although cloud gaming seemed to come and go as a fad a few years ago, more recently it's started to pick up again and a few new players are getting in on the scene. One of those is Microsoft, which recently purchased cloud platform provider, PlayFab.
The company doesn't host games itself, but leverages its technology to facilitate cloud features in games for all sorts of developers. To date some 1,200 games utilize PlayFab's platform. Companies who have paid for the privilege include the likes of Disney, Bandai Namco, Rovio, Capcom, and Wizards of the Coast, according to PCGamesN.
Microsoft could be looking to expand heavily into more gaming markets, as following the stupendous success it has seen in the past few years acquiring Mojang and its premier property, Minecraft, it's also said to be interested in buying up another major developer, possibly even something as large as EA or Valve, or the developer behind the continued patching and updating of PlayerUknown's Battlegrounds.
It doesn't seem likely that PlayFab is a technology that will be incorporated into Microsoft's existing games and platforms. It certainly won't be running the next iteration of Xbox Live, but it will be interesting to see where it makes an appearance. Typically PlayFab has enabled mobile games, including some of the Angry Birds titles -- yes they're still a thing -- WWE TapMania and AdVenture Capitalist.
Where do you think this sort of technology will show up next?
