The Rise of Cloud Gaming and Video Streaming Duplicates

What is Cloud Gaming?

Cloud gaming, also known as gaming on demand, is a way of playing video games that are run on remote servers and streamed directly to a user’s device. Instead of needing a powerful gaming PC or console, cloud gaming only requires a strong internet connection to stream the game footage in real time. This allows gamers to play high-end games on lower-powered devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops. Some of the biggest names in cloud gaming include Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, PlayStation Now and Microsoft xCloud.

The Proliferation of Video Streaming Services

In addition to cloud gaming services, video streaming has exploded in popularity with the rise of services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max and many others. The streaming wars have led to a fragmented landscape, where content is scattered across different platforms. Media companies are trying to attract subscribers by offering exclusive movies and shows, forcing consumers to pay for multiple services to access all their favorite content.

The Resulting Duplicate Libraries

One consequence of having so many streaming options is that content libraries have become fractured and duplicated across services. For example, Friends was available on Netflix for years until WarnerMedia took back the rights for their new HBO Max platform. The same show or movie can bounce between different streaming homes depending on licensing deals. This fragmentation means users have to hunt across different apps just to find where a certain title is available to stream.

The Cost of Multiple Subscriptions

Having to subscribe to multiple services just to access all their favorite entertainment has become an expensive proposition for many consumers. With new streaming options launching every year, the costs quickly add up. Along with internet service fees, consumers can end up paying over $100 a month just for streaming access.

Is Consolidation on the Horizon?

To combat subscription fatigue and duplicated libraries, some analysts predict the industry will eventually consolidate. One possible path is for large players like Amazon or Apple to acquire smaller services and merge them into aggregated offerings. But media companies also jealously guard their content assets, wanting to draw users into their own walled gardens. While consumers may clamor for simplicity, corporate interests will continue driving fragmentation in the near term.

Alternatives for Frustrated Streamers

Until the streaming market consolidates, cost-conscious consumers do have some options to deal with duplicate libraries and multiplying fees. Many services offer discounted bundle packages if you already subscribe to affiliated platforms. Rotating between services each month is another way to access more content while limiting costs. And services like Plex let you aggregate and manage multiple streaming libraries in one place, even if you still need separate subscriptions.

The Future of Streaming Entertainment

While duplicated libraries and multiple streaming subscriptions present challenges today, the market will likely evolve over time. The convenience of on-demand entertainment remains a huge draw for most consumers. With improved consolidation, recommendations and discovery, the streaming experience could become much more unified and affordable. But in these early days, frustrations with fractured content and mounting costs continue to vex many viewers. Careful shopping and judicious planning can help mitigate the drawbacks – for now.

Poor User Experience Due to Fragmentation

The current fragmentation of streaming services creates a confusing and irritating user experience. With content spread across multiple apps and sites, it can be difficult for viewers to actually find and watch what they are looking for. The interfaces vary widely, so those who subscribe to many services have to re-learn how to navigate each eco-system. Remembering passwords and which platform offers which titles becomes a chore. This fragmentation also limits the effectiveness of recommendations and watchlists, features that streaming companies tout as benefits. When your content catalog is scattered across competing silos, these tools fail to work seamlessly.

Repetitive Payments and No Bundling Discounts

Not only do consumers have to hunt across different apps to find content, they also have to manage payments to multiple services. Unlike cable TV packages that offer bundled discounts, the streaming world provides little incentive or reward for subscribing to more than one service. Some companies offer slight account discounts for existing users of partner platforms, but most charge full price. Juggling these repetitive monthly charges adds financial stress and complexity. The customer experience would vastly improve if streamers enabled package bundles or integrated payment systems.

Loss of Serendipitous Discoveries

Streaming services often promote their unique recommendations and ability to match content to individual tastes. However, only drawing suggestions from one walled garden at a time limits the potential for unexpected discoveries. When indie films were all collected under one Netflix roof, viewers could easily stumble upon unknown titles. Hyper-specific personalization filters out this sense of serendipity. People miss out on shows and movies they would actually love but would never think to seek out directly. A consolidated catalog would bring back this sense of random discovery.

Shortcomings of Current Aggregators

Some apps try to pull different streaming libraries back together, but they fall short as true solutions. Apple TV Channels allows you to browse and search across services without actually combining accounts and payments. Likewise, Reelgood and JustWatch let you search across platforms, but still require separate subscriptions and logins. Other apps do consolidate logins, like Sling TV integrating multiple channels and providers. However, no one has succeeded in fully recombining all mainstream streamers into one unified experience.

Individual Apps Still Required

While aggregators compile content catalogs from different streamers, they ultimately don’t have rights to that media. You still have to exit the aggregator and open the native Netflix or Hulu app to actually watch the content. Jumping between these apps provides a disjointed experience compared to everything being available in one place. Aggregators also can’t access watch history and recommendations from the source platform, further limiting their capabilities.

Limited Mainstream Library Support

Many aggregators only compile content catalogs from free or niche streamers, without inclusion of the major mainstream providers. For example, Plex relies on linking to smaller, free sources. Until aggregators can convince media giants like Disney and Netflix to cooperate and consolidate, they offer an incomplete solution. The biggest pain points for consumers stem from the fragmentation of top providers like HBO, Prime Video, and Hulu.

Potential Future Improvements

Despite current limitations, streaming aggregation and consolidation could improve in the future. Integrated bundles akin to cable TV packages could align incentives across providers. Rise of streaming boxes or sticks that unify different services in one interface provide hope. Partnerships across major platforms to share catalogs and licenses would also help. And improved recommendation algorithms that draw from multiple profiles hold promise. While fragmentation persists today, the streaming landscape will continue evolving in response to consumer frustrations.