Jackbox Games is bringing its party games directly to your smart TV this summer through a new cloud gaming app. The initial rollout will be free and ad-supported, giving you a way to play these games without needing a console or a PC.
The developers are using GameLift Streams to power the service. Even though it starts with a small collection of games, Jackbox plans to offer its entire catalogue for a subscription fee as the app grows.
Going Direct With GameLift Streams
Jackbox first announced this project last March, but the company is talking about it again as the summer beta approaches. GameLift Streams gives developers the backend tools to run their own cloud gaming services. Instead of partnering with an existing consumer storefront, publishers can run their games directly to web browsers and smart TVs.
The beta version is expected to hit one or two smart TV platforms this summer. If the community responds well, Jackbox plans to expand to more platforms and add new features.
Making Sense of the Amazon Luna Cancellation
This upcoming app explains the recent Amazon Luna news perfectly. We just covered how Amazon Luna is removing third-party stores and ending both the Ubisoft Plus and Jackbox Games subscriptions. At first glance, losing the Jackbox subscription on Amazon Luna looked like a simple catalogue reduction.
Now, the picture is clear. Jackbox is dropping its Amazon Luna subscription because it’s using Amazon’s own GameLift Streams to launch an independent service. Amazon called out Ubisoft directly when GameLift Streams was revealed, and Jackbox is clearly taking the exact same route.
The Jackbox Games Smart TV App Proves Publishers Want Independence
This is exactly what we suspected when GameLift Streams became public. Publishers with strong multiplayer or party catalogues don’t necessarily need a middleman platform anymore. They can use cloud technology to reach you directly on the screen you already own.
We’ll keep an eye out for exact release dates and platform support as the summer beta gets closer. If you own a smart TV, your next game night is about to get much easier to set up.
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