5G Cloud Games: Huawei, NetEase to create joint innovation lab

Before the start of MWC Shanghai 2019, Huawei X Labs and Thunder Fire, NetEase agreed a cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) on establishing a 5G cloud game joint innovation lab.

Together, the two parties will work to explore the opportunities in the gaming industry and game experience evaluating models to promote the development of the cloud gaming industry, according to a press release from Huawei.

The gaming market is a growing industry, with play modes and business models constantly changing on the heel of each generation of new communication technology. When broadband networks first came to the public, online games replaced console games due to their strong support for online game plays with other players and the business models changed from selling CD-ROM copies to buying game cards.

With 4G, mobile games became new favorites and the business model then evolved from free-of-charge playing and prop charging. Now with 5G ready to take the stage, cloud games are projected to thrive. Cloud games combine the strong points of console games and mobile games, further addressing the players' demands for game quality and convenience.

The business models are set to change from buying hardware resources to paying for quality contents and super experience, the release adds.

The move to reach cooperation with NetEase and establish a joint 5G cloud game lab is part of Huawei's user-centric efforts to make 5G serve the cloud gaming industry.

By tapping respective advantages, both parties will conduct joint research into the status quo and demands of game experience, explore 5G-based game experience evaluating models, and develop industrial consensus and standards.

Also, both parties plan to make further optimizations and conduct cross-platform verifications to allow cloud games to better develop on top of 5G networks and terminals.