A report from Bloomberg revealed that most major cable companies (like Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and Time Warner) are making plans to offer video games to their customers on demand, through their cable boxes…basically, cloud gaming through your cable provider.
Adding games might be a way for cable companies to remain pertinent in an era where you can even watch content on your phone.
"The gaming companies need to be concerned with this," says Butler University marketing professor Dan McQuiston. "How are they now going to sell their games with the cable companies, much the same way the movie companies have had to work with Netflix to sell their movies."
The report says cable companies could begin trials for cloud gaming later this year, with video games available for all customers maybe even as soon as 2013. Companies are looking at adding game controllers that would attach to cable boxes if customers ask for them. McQuiston says could be a huge blow to the bottom line of game console makers Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. "There may not be a need for those any more, at least not in that form."
"Consumers are always going to search for the least expensive, most convenient ways to get their entertainment," McQuiston said.
I personally wonder whether or not the big three are even registering this as a threat on their radar. Or if they’ll enter into in agreement with these providers. Would you play through your cable or satellite provider? Do you even still have one? Let us know.