OnLive’s been trying to break into the video game market for over a year now. The company has a different approach to gaming that lets you play games on any computer regardless of the specs. The cloud service achieves this feat by offloading all the heavy processing to a remote server. The company wants to expand beyond the desktop and is introducing a new service tailor-made for tablets and other mobile devices. Steve Perlman, OnLive Founder and CEO said the company will deliver “the latest, console-class, top-tier games—literally to your fingertips—on tablets and phones for instant, on-demand play anywhere, anytime.”
OnLive’s kicking off the service tonight and customers can download the Android or iOS software as soon as it becomes available. The service launches with 20 console-class, touch-friendly games including Dirt 3, Defense Grid Gold, and Darksiders. You’ll get LEGO Batman™: The Videogame for free when you download OnLive’s mobile app. These early apps will use on-screen controls, but OnLive’s releasing a wireless controller that’ll go on sale soon in the US for $49.99 and the UK for £39.99. Eventually, most of OnLive’s 200+ games will be available to tablet and smartphone owners.
The service will work over a WiFi or a 4G connection with compatible LTE tablets like the HTC Jetstream, the Samsung Galaxy Tab or the Motorola Xoom. I will let you know when the software goes live, so you can try it out for yourself. Our gaming guru, Daniel, will share his first impressions of OnLive’s mobile service tomorrow.
Update: The Android software is available now from the Android Market. The iOS version is coming soon.
[OnLive]