"Intense Cloud Gaming Three-Way Battle, Who Will Win? SK Telecom Also Launches 'Xbox' with MS"

Official Launch of '5GX Cloud Game' Service

[Asia Economy Reporter Seolgina Cho] SK Telecom has launched the 'XBOX Cloud Gaming Service' in collaboration with Microsoft (MS). This comes about a year after SK Telecom announced its plan to promote a 5G communication cloud gaming business with MS as part of a global super-collaboration. For a monthly fee of 16,700 KRW, users can enjoy over 100 blockbuster Xbox games. The service was simultaneously launched in 22 countries including the United States, Germany, and France, with South Korea being the only Asian country included. As the SK Telecom-MS partnership intensifies, the cloud gaming competition among the three major telecom companies seeking 5G killer content in gaming has also heated up.

Over 100 Games for 16,700 KRW per Month... Subscription Service

On the 16th, SK Telecom and MS announced that the '5GX Cloud Gaming' service, which had been in beta, will transition to a full commercial service. Users who subscribe to the 'Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (16,700 KRW per month)' provided by SK Telecom and Xbox can freely enjoy games not only on consoles but also on PCs and Android OS-based mobile devices.

The game genres offered range from Xbox blockbusters to family games. The new title in the Minecraft series, 'Minecraft Dungeons,' which has sold over 200 million copies worldwide, has been added. The previously trialed 'Black Desert' has also been converted to a full service. In the future, new games directly produced by MS, such as 'Halo Infinite,' will be released simultaneously.

Additionally, starting in November, SK Telecom will launch the 'XAA (XBOX All Access)' program, the first of its kind in Asia, which allows users to access Xbox consoles and cloud gaming passes on a monthly subscription basis. The Xbox Series S is available for 29,900 KRW per month, and the Xbox Series X for 39,900 KRW per month, providing the new console and cloud gaming pass. After a 24-month contract period, the console becomes the user's property.

According to the company, gaming beginners can enjoy these games at a monthly fee lower than the typical purchase price of a single title, which ranges from 30,000 to 70,000 KRW, while existing gamers can broaden their choices by exploring various game genres. SK Telecom is running a promotion allowing users to pay only 100 KRW for the first month, and customers who purchase the Galaxy Note20 will receive a 3-month free pass and a dedicated controller package as gifts.

"The Three Telecom Giants Face Off" Cloud Gaming Battle... Securing Popular Games is Key

Cloud gaming is regarded as the next-generation gaming platform and the 'future of gaming' following console, PC, and mobile games. This is because it allows users to enjoy high-spec games anytime and anywhere through cloud streaming. Analysis of the beta service over the past year showed that 45% of users played games outside their homes via mobile devices.

With SK Telecom joining KT and LG Uplus in fully launching cloud gaming services, competition among the three telecom companies has intensified. Previously, LG Uplus launched 'GeForce NOW' in partnership with Nvidia, and KT introduced the native subscription-based game service 'Gamebox.' This suggests that telecom companies are positioning cloud gaming as killer content for 5G.

However, the service platforms offered by the three companies are quite similar. They have opened services to subscribers of other companies and are actively competing to attract users. Ultimately, the competition will hinge on which platform secures popular games. According to market research firm Newzoo, the global cloud gaming market is expected to grow from $170 million last year to $585 million this year, and reach $4.8 billion by 2023.

Through this service launch, SK Telecom plans to actively support the global expansion of so-called K-games on Xbox. Recently, two companies, Action Square and Sunnyside Up, agreed to release their games for Xbox. SK Telecom is also accelerating the development of innovative technologies such as pre-scheduling and optimization solutions to enable smoother cloud gaming based on the 5G network. SK Telecom and MS also collaborate in operating the Azure cloud platform.

Yu Sang-young, Head of SK Telecom's MNO Business, stated, "We will lead subscription-based gaming services with the high-quality 'SKT 5GX Cloud Gaming' and expand the cloud gaming ecosystem by discovering and supporting promising domestic games." Phil Spencer, MS Xbox Gaming Chief Vice President, said, "We are pleased that cloud gaming provided by SK Telecom and MS Xbox connects friends and families of gamers in Korea and worldwide, allowing freer play," and added, "We look forward to delivering fantastic gaming experiences to the Korean gaming community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.