Cloud gaming business
Cloud gaming business
Hello, I’ve had this concept swirling around for a few weeks now and would love your thoughts. I’m planning to launch a modest cloud gaming service targeting the northern part of Europe. Users would sign up, pay for usage, and experience a streaming setup similar to GeForce Gamestream, with the flexibility to log in via an internet café software. The system should automatically log users out after their session ends. To protect against misuse from your IP address, you’d need some security measures.
If starting small, would it be better to deploy five dedicated machines connected online, or run seven gamers sharing one CPU with each virtual machine? Please share any suggestions or warnings—I’m eager to refine this idea and avoid potential pitfalls. Thank you for your help!
It seems you're referring to a setup involving gameplay and performance. Your main challenge will likely be achieving steady high-speed internet. For the other point, you'd need around seven gamers plus one CPU.
This approach has previously been attempted on a large scale but consistently fell short. Protect your funds for items that people would genuinely need.
I’d approach this by using seven gamers each with VMs on VMware ESXi (there’s a free option available). This setup would let you restore the system to its original state before the session began.
Observe how internet cafes function by visiting one or working there for a week or two. I’m unfamiliar with the software stack used; in New Zealand, it seems the systems are set up in Korean. The gaming lounges I’ve seen boot from PXE on a LAN. The setup of 7 gamers plus one PC suggests a higher overall expense. Thin client solutions aren’t ideal for gaming. If I opened an internet cafe, I’d begin with a well-run café, as they generate solid profits. I’d equip it with i3 or newer Ryzen 3 machines and low-end e-sports cards such as the GTX1050. Running e-sports titles on Ubuntu would require an AMD graphics card. Ryzen APUs are expected soon, potentially making them more economical. Have you checked licensing fees for Windows in internet cafes? The term “rental rights” is important here—it’s not inexpensive. From Microsoft’s site: they introduced Rental Rights licenses because standard Windows and Office licenses can’t be rented, leased, or outsourced to third parties, even if a fee is charged. This means many organizations that lease or borrow PCs don’t meet Microsoft licensing rules. Various finance leases and long-term agreements for OEM Windows and Office versions avoid Rental Rights, as per the Lease Agreement for Microsoft Products on Leased Computers. Renting, leasing, and outsourcing PCs is gaining traction across business models—from short-term Internet café use to free or paid access at hotels and airports, to extended multi-year contracts with large vendors. Rental Rights licenses from Microsoft simplify the process of renting, leasing, borrowing, or outsourcing PCs to approved third parties using licensed Windows or Office software.
The initial challenge is the poor performance due to high latency and slow internet connections. You’ll need a server capable of handling virtual machines or similar setups, possibly supporting many players—like seven gamers sharing one CPU. This demand would require substantial resources, especially during peak usage. If you’re serious about this project, you’ll need two key elements: first, secure funding through a small business loan or investors, as the costs will be very high. Second, you’ll require a reliable internet connection with ample bandwidth and proper networking equipment, along with skilled personnel to manage the infrastructure. Building this isn’t a straightforward setup; it demands expertise and significant effort. You may need to hire professionals or a team to handle development, maintenance, and support. If you’re truly committed, proceed with confidence, but be aware the path is complex and may not succeed without proper backing.
Thanks a lot for the responses! To clarify a few points: I own a 500/500 internet connection at home that I intended to test, just to understand the latency when streaming domestically. Since I was considering Nordic countries, lower latency might be an option. As Schischka mentioned, many internet cafés appear to boot from a disk and reset all changes. I think this could also be helpful here. I see this as something I could begin on a small scale without big investments—so I won’t lose much if interest fades. Of course, there are challenges too, like no free PCs during busy times, as TheComputerdude pointed out. There are definitely many hurdles to tackle, and I’m not expecting to handle everything myself. I have plenty of free time and commitment, though your feedback is very welcome—please keep suggesting issues, solutions, or any thoughts you have. And yes, I’ll let you know how it goes!
From my side, I’m looking at who purchases the game or holds the license—who owns it legally. My customers come from various sources, and acquiring them can be time-consuming and costly, often overlooked. While we wait for players, we manage our homework resources; latency is a concern, and our connection speed matters. We’re paying attention to reliability, network stability, and system performance, since dependability comes at a cost.
We don’t rely on professional networking equipment right now. My budget is tight, and investing heavily would take significant time and money. The market demand seems limited from my view—especially with a PS4 priced around $300 and a system that only sees occasional use. High fixed costs mean starting small might not be ideal. I’d prefer focusing on streaming or other ways to monetize our hardware, rather than hoping for broad usage. Peak usage periods are likely, but most of the time we’re underutilized.