Google is one company on the planet that has the reach (utilising chrome, Chromecast etc that heavily embedded into most people's lives), the infrastructure, the huge financial resources and finally the talent to develop a excellent game streaming platform.
Microsoft can and will do it via Xbox app in W10 and Xbox hardware probably. But is that really as big a reach than chrome etc?..
I'm excited for the technology but worry it's taking my hobby to be further reilant on things and corporate entities which are beyond my control.
That lack of control, choice and wall garden approach along with things being tied to specific hardware is the reason I game on PC rather that console...
At least if I have some hardware via emulation and having the software I can play.. or DRM free via gog etc.
On console if you have the hardware and physical media then again you can usually get by.
If you don't have the software or the hardware... You got nothing... What's to stop games just disappearing like we see on other streaming platforms like netflix, Spotify etc
I don't think it mean the end of consoles / pc gaming as know it.. it's just another option another platform...
You want better than absolute high end PC graphics with 8k 120fps plus ultra ray tracing for the low cost of zero?... Vs 2000+... Just give us £20 a month or whatever...
That's a pretty good product and will attract a lot of people... Can see them up selling to have premium instances for all the bells and whistles later etc.
If they can moneyhat enough games on to it and sell the benefits I can see the big 3 + pc become the big 4 + pc.