Cloud gaming has changed how I approach my gaming library, especially when it comes to the ever-expanding world of gacha games. For years, I was a regular of miHoYo titles, jumping into Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and later Zenless Zone Zero on PC the moment they launched. However, as the updates rolled in, so did the storage requirements. Between massive installation sizes and the constant need for patches, I eventually had to put them down. Being a graphic designer and CM, my hard drive simply couldn’t keep up… so the big games had to go first.
Cloud Gaming to the Rescue
That changed thanks to the accessibility of cloud gaming, specifically through Xbox Cloud. By passing on the hardware and storage requirements to the cloud, I’ve been able to dive back into the Hoyoverse without deleting half my library just to make room for a game. It’s a relief from the local storage struggle that defines modern gaming.
My journey hasn’t stopped with Xbox. I’ve also been moving my playtime for titles like Arknights: Endfield over to GeForce NOW. The ability to play these high-fidelity titles at max settings, even with the free tier, on almost any device has made staying “up to date” with daily grinds easier than ever before.
Interestingly, it isn’t just gachas benefiting from this shift. While not strictly a gacha, Warframe recently made its way onto Xbox Cloud, prompting me to return to my ship for the first time in a decade. Having started my journey back in 2014, I am absolutely blown away by how much the game has expanded. Seeing that entire decade of content accessible instantly, with no download required, feels like magic.
More Worlds to Explore
Looking ahead, the horizon for cloud-based F2P games is looking bright. I am immensely hyped for the upcoming July release of Wuthering Waves on Xbox Cloud Gaming. It’s another massive world that I can explore without worrying about my ROG Ally’s SSD health.
With cloud gaming making these massive titles so much more accessible, I ask you: Is there a specific game or genre that has taken priority for you now that you can skip the install?
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For me, it was Diablo: Immortal. “You guys don’t have phones?!” Yep, THAT game! The month that it launched, I played it like it was going out of style! Then, it took up most of my iPhone’s storage. I recently learned that ut was on GeForce Now. Earlier this year, I couldn’t get my old save, but I slapped on my MCON controller, and sunk 2 hours into it. The time got away from me! Anyway, that’s my story, related to this article!