Unity and the Cloud - XBOX ONE & PS4

bpears

Let me start off by saying, I haven't ever coded multiplayer, or anything that needs a server or anything like that. At least not yet. So I don't have much experience in the topics I am bringing up, but would like to know more about it all.

Sony Has said they will be indie friendly with the PS4, self publishing. Now, Microsoft is doing the same with XBOX ONE. I'm not complaining, I gushing with happiness!

Microsoft also noted though, that self publishers will be able to take advantage of cloud gaming among other things. Do you suppose this will be using their specific cloud service? Or do you think we will have to provide our own cloud services?

I also wonder, do these companies provide servers, or do we need to maintain those ourselves? Or is your cloud provider basically an upgraded server?

What advantages can be taken from cloud gaming vs a normal server?

Other thoughts/advice/tips?

Thank you

Farfarer

By Cloud I imagine it's basically storage (i.e. savegames go online, rather than to the local console).

bpears

I was somewhat under the impression that we would be able to stream in parts of the game, to take a load off the graphics card/VRAM. But I don't know what gave me the impression of this.

On a side note, I wonder how you work in the console achievements coding into Unity games. Probably easy, but it's interesting to think about.

Farfarer

I suspect you won't get many, if any, achievements.

bpears

Do you know if console Devs need to provide their own servers or if they are provided? I think Steam provides servers? But no idea about Xbox One/PS4. Probably the same deal as their past practices with servers for xbox 360 aracade games, and PS3 games. But I have no idea of those either.

Farfarer

Err, I think everyone knows as much as everyone else does at this point.