Mukesh Ambani's Jio Console is trying to beat Google Stadia — and he's got a head start

• Reliance Jio's broadband service, Jio Fiber, is scheduled to launch today.
• It is reportedly going to launch bundled with Jio's gaming service, Jio Console.
• The Jio Console will be in competition with Google Stadia with claims to give users a ‘zero latency’ gaming experience.
• With Stadia pegged to launch in 2020, Jio will have the first mover advantage.

Stadia is a game streaming service that Google has been working on for at least three years. But before it even had a chance to launch, Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio is ready to offer an Indian alternative — the Jio Console.

Jio Console is going to be a part of the company's new broadband service, Jio Fiber that scheduled to launch today on 5 September 2019. It also comes bundled with a whole host of other features like subscriptions to select OTT services and 600 cable TV channels.

This will give it the first mover advantage since Stadia will only hit the market in 2020.

Google isn’t the only company with something to worry about.

As Jio positions itself as a game streaming console, it’s also looking to take Xbox’s sweet spot as a social gaming service. Jio has forged partnerships with Microsoft, Tencent and Gameloft already in place.

The one key difference

Stadia doesn’t need an additional computer hardware to work but Jio Console users are going to need the company’s set top box that comes with an integrated graphics card.

Stadia just needs any device to have internet and be compatible with Chrome in order to function.

This could have worked in Google’s favour but then again, it’s a not a pocket pinching compromise. Jio’s GigaFiber plans — which come coupled with the set top box — start at a mere ₹700 per month with a minimum speed of 100Mbps up for grabs.

Claims of zero-latency

Both, Google Stadio and Jio Console claim to provide an experience with zero latency — no delays. For serious gamers, this is probably the most enticing part of the formula.

Zero latency means no lags between frames, better reaction times, and a higher chance of success against players who are stuck on a network with high latency. It may not seem like much but for racing and shooter games, where timing is key, but it can make the difference between winning or losing at a crucial moment.

Despite the claims by both companies, they are yet to prove 100% seamless gameplay with accurate tests.

Filling in the blanks

There isn’t too much that has been disclosed by either company when it comes to their gaming platforms.

They both claim that any controller can be used with their respective platforms. Nonetheless, Google still plans on launching its own controller, which will come equipped with the Google Assistant and claims to reduce latency even further.

Both platforms are also claiming that they will be able to stream content in 4K quality, with Google planning to upgrade to an 8K resolution in the future.

But, Stadia’s main impetus lies in the fact that users won’t have to download any content in order to play a game. Jio, on the other hand, has made no declarations of the kind. Not yet, anyway.

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