Xfinity Games will provide users with a number of EA-licensed games, including the likes of NBA Jam, Plants vs. Zombies, and Peggle Nights. The service will not provide players with any console releases, and instead only gives gamers the publisher’s mobile titles. A full list of games is available to view on the Xfinity Games website, although no online multiplayer is supported at present.
The user’s smartphone or tablet acts as a controller for the system, with Xfinity Games offering support for devices for both iOS and Android. Apple users can use their iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6, and 6 Plus, as well as iPads from generations 3 and 4. From an Android perspective, Xfinity Games is only noted as being compatible with Samsung Galaxy tablets and phones, but the list of devices is expected to grow with time.
Current Comcast users can sign up for a beta of Xfinity Games now, where the app can be found on the set-top box’s Apps menu. The Xfinity Games app will provide instant access to the full library of games to stream, and the beta will be free to those who join. In terms of the service’s eventual retail release, a pricing structure has yet to be revealed.
It’s a bold move from Comcast, and the team-up with EA is expected to add a wider variety of media for set-top box users to enjoy. There’s no guarantee that such a move will be successful - after all, the struggling Ouya console was expecting to see a second wind through set-top box compatibility before a buyout from Razer. By collaborating with EA, however, Comcast may have found a financially sound partner. The publisher has seen its stock price double in the last year, whilst an increased emphasis on mobile game development means Xfinity Games is unlikely to run out of content any time soon.
Source: YouTube, Xfinity Games
