Those hoping to play their PC games on the go may be in luck with the new LiquidSky 2.0.
LiquidSky’s new beta, LiquidSky 2, launched yesterday on the Google Play Store. The new update to LiquidSky promises to let its users play any game on any Android device through cloud streaming. While the app does feature controller support, the team behind LiquidSky recommends that uses looking for the best gaming experience avoid using Bluetooth controllers. LiquidSky’s 2.0 beta offers the Android version of the product along with its ongoing Windows beta.
We’ve seen cloud gaming experiences similar to LiquidSky in the past. A company called OnLive launched with a similar premise but was shutdown years ago when it failed to handle the stress of its many users. To avoid this problem, LiquidSky uses IBM’s public cloud infrastructure. This allows the team to reach data centres located around the world and scale in order to meet real-time demand.
“You have a million users flood in, you buy all these servers with massive capital up front, and those users are in different locations. There’s too much latency, and the only games you can play are Lego Batman and Lego Star Wars,” explained LiquidSky CEO Ian McLoughlin when speaking to Engadget.
The purpose behind LiquidSky is to give each of its users a unique virtual PC where they’re able to download games and access any of their existing libraries. In order to use LiquidSky, all users need to do is download the program on their Windows, Mac or Android device and register their free LiquidSky account. The program also offers its own virtual currency, known as SkyCredits. Users can earn SkyCredits by opting into advertising partnerships or by buying them directly. SkyCredits are then redeemed for time on your virtual PC.
There are currently three payment models available for LiquidSky users, each with different benefits. Users can run LiquidSky for free with ads, or pay $9.99 or $19.99 for various perks. LiquidSky’s free model is currently only available in North America and parts of Europe.
