Utomik, a cloud gaming subscription service, is set to close its doors just three years after its launch in 2022. This closure marks a significant development in the ongoing arms race for dominance in cloud gaming. Despite the initial excitement surrounding cloud gaming, Utomik's shutdown highlights the challenges faced by such services. Effective immediately, Utomik is no longer available to its users.
Cloud gaming, which enables players to stream and play their favorite games over the internet, has been a topic of intense discussion since its introduction. The strategy of adding top titles to cloud gaming catalogues on their release day has sparked debates about its impact on traditional game sales and the broader gaming industry's perception.
However, the global adoption of cloud gaming services remains modest, with only 6% of gamers subscribing to such services in 2023. While projections suggest a significant increase in subscribers by 2030, Utomik's closure underscores the uncertainty surrounding the success of cloud gaming.
Not a Poor Man's Game
It's easy to dismiss cloud gaming as a passing trend, especially given the initial wave of enthusiasm has waned. However, this perspective may be overly simplistic. Utomik's position as a third-party provider set it apart from giants like Nvidia, Xbox, and PlayStation, which have extensive catalogues of top releases at their disposal. Utomik, always playing catch-up, faced an uphill battle against these established players.
The landscape is further complicated by Xbox Cloud Gaming's recent move to allow players to access titles in their catalogue that are not otherwise available on the service. This development suggests that cloud gaming is becoming increasingly intertwined with the competitive dynamics of console gaming.
But what about gaming on the go? If you're more interested in playing on your mobile device, check out our latest list of the top five new mobile games to try this week!
