Utomik, the cloud gaming subscription service, is set to shutter
Every silver lining has a grey cloud
- Cloud gaming service Utomik is set to shut its doors a mere three years after launch
- It represents another major move in the arms race for cloud gaming
- Only 6% of players are seemingly on-board with the tech
Utomik, one of the many cloud gaming subscription services out there, is sadly set to shut its doors. Having launched back in 2022, Utomik was initially surfing on a wave of enthusiasm for the cloud that appears to have rescinded somewhat. This means that, effective immediately, the service is no longer available.
Cloud gaming, which of course allows you to play your favourite releases via streaming over the internet, was introduced only a few years ago but has been and remains a hot topic. The effect of the day-one introduction of top titles to their catalogues has sparked debate on how it affects sales and indeed perception from the broader gaming industry.
Globally, however, reception from players is a bit more mixed, with only 6% of gamers having a subscription to a cloud service back in 2023. And although this is predicted to rise substantially by 2030 Utomik's closure shows that this success is anything but assured.
While it's tempting to start writing off cloud gaming as a fad, especially with the initial wave of optimism behind it I think that it's not necessarily fair to do so. After all, one thing that separates Utomik from other companies in the field is that they were really more of a third-party company. Whereas those such as Nvidia, Xbox and PlayStation have huge catalogues of top releases to draw on at will, Utomik would always be one step behind.
And with Xbox Cloud Gaming now allowing you to play titles in your catalogue that otherwise aren't available on the service it seems as if the idea of the cloud is now inextricably tied into the continued arms race for consoles.
But hey, why not just play on that tiny computer in your pocket? We've got the lowdown on top mobile releases with our latest list of the top five new mobile games to try this week!
