Agawi brings game streaming to Windows 8
Game streaming platform Agawi has announced a partnership with Microsoft to bring cloud-streamed games to Windows 8. Leveraging Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud platform, the service will bring "social Facebook games as well as mid-core and hardcore titles" to devices that run Windows 8, including tablets, phones and, of course, PCs. Perhaps most important to the Joystiq audience, Agawi promises that "Popular AAA games" will be playable within "the coming months."
Just how will these AAA games work on a tablet? Executive chairman Peter Relan tells Engadget that decision is up to the publisher. Agawi supports, according to Relan, everything from virtual D-pads to "touch and tap" to actual controllers.
There is a caveat, however, in that Agawi is tied to x86 architecture. That means, for example, that it won't run on Microsoft Surface for Windows RT tablet, which uses an ARM processor, whereas it will run on the Surface Pro, which packs an Intel i5. Relan says the tech should run on Windows 8 phones, though it sounds like those phones will need some beefy processing power.
Agawi has not announced any publishing partners, though a fourth quarter announcement seems to be in the works. In the meantime, you can see a demo of Agawi above, which shows off Assassin's Creed, among other titles.
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Agawi Joins Forces with Microsoft to Bring Windows Azure-Based Cloud Gaming to Windows 8
Agawi to stream Facebook social and mid-core games, web-based MMOs and PC core games to Windows 8 devices using Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud platform
Menlo Park, Calif.-September 10, 2012-Today Agawi, the cloud-based games streaming platform for "any game, anywhere, instantly," is announcing a collaboration with Microsoft that will enable a variety of games on Windows 8 devices, utilizing the Windows Azure platform for streaming from the cloud.
Agawi, formerly iSwifter, recently launched its version 2.0 to offer cloud streaming of all forms of games content-including social Facebook games as well as mid-core and hardcore titles-to all devices. Popular AAA games will be made available in the coming months for instant play on Windows 8 devices with no additional work required by developers, who are encouraged to contact the company at Agawi.io to be included in the developer partner program.
"Game developers want to focus on building great games, not worrying about back-end issues like scalability and platform management. With Windows Azure, Agawi 2.0 enables developers to make high-performance games easily accessible across devices with the high-quality graphics and virtually instant game downloads," said Walid Abu-Hadba, Vice-President at Microsoft. "For gamers, Windows 8 delivers a fast, fluid and no-compromise experience that opens the door to exciting new form factors."
"We are delighted to work together with Microsoft to bring Agawi cloud-based game streaming to Windows 8 via the Windows Azure platform," said Peter Relan, Executive Chairman of Agawi.
Agawi will be demoing their cloud-based games streaming platform on Windows 8 devices at the Cloud Gaming USA event in San Francisco next week, September 11-12, where Agawi will also be delivering a keynote speech. Social game developers are encouraged visit the Windows Dev Center to learn more about Windows 8.
For more information on Agawi, visit: http://agawi.io/
About Agawi:
Agawi, formerly iSwifter, recently launched the 2.0 version of its cloud gaming platform and provides its partners with content streaming solutions for all devices, from mobile to PC to TV. Agawi stands for "any game, anywhere, instantly" as its mission to offer all types of games, from casual to hardcore, across all devices.
The cloud gaming platform works with leading game publishers, online retailers, OEMs and network operators to deliver quality gaming experiences anytime, anywhere. It is committed to providing high-performance, scalable and cost-effective solutions to a variety of business models through its state-of-the-art streaming technology.
Based in Menlo Park, California, Agawi was founded by Silicon Valley veteran entrepreneurs and spun out of YouWeb Incubator in 2010.
