Cloud Gaming Report 2025: 47% of cloud gamers now play exclusively in the cloud

Cloud gaming has moved from hype to habit. What began as an experiment has become part of everyday gaming life for millions of players worldwide. To understand this shift, we surveyed 22,665 gamers here on cloudbase.gg between April 2024 and September 2025, creating one of the most detailed community-driven views of cloud gaming usage and behavior to date.

Together, these highlights reveal a clear trend: cloud gaming is now part of everyday play. The audience continues to grow rapidly, yet players remain cautious when it comes to spending. The following sections look closer at how players actually use cloud gaming, from daily activity and weekly playtime to platform behavior, device usage, and spending.

Usage & Playtime

Cloud gaming has become a regular part of how players spend their time with games. The results show that daily use is already mainstream, while weekly playtime reveals a sharp divide between casual and heavy users.

Over half of cloud gamers play daily

More than half of respondents (51%) use cloud gaming services every day, and another 18% play several times a week. In total, over three quarters of players use cloud gaming at least weekly (n = 4,234). Cloud gaming has moved well beyond being an occasional alternative to local hardware.

Nearly one in three spends 30+ hours weekly

Weekly playtime data highlights two extremes. On one side, 41% of players spend fewer than 5 hours per week, reflecting casual use. On the other, 29% dedicate more than 30 hours weekly (n = 6,637). This demonstrates that the technology has been embraced not only by casual gamers but also by highly committed players.

A clear split between casual and hardcore users

The community divides into 41% casual players (<5h per week) versus 29% hardcore players (30h+ per week). This underscores cloud gaming’s dual role: both an easy entry point for newcomers and a serious alternative for those who invest significant time. For providers, balancing this dichotomy is a key challenge, as heavy users are also the most costly group, with long playtimes directly increasing infrastructure and streaming expenses.

Key takeaway: Cloud gaming has firmly established itself in everyday play among participants. With over half of gamers active daily and nearly one in three investing 30+ hours per week, the ecosystem now serves both casual and hardcore audiences. Casual players broaden reach, while heavy users prove cloud gaming can replace local hardware. Balancing these differing needs remains a central challenge for cloud gaming services.

Platform Behavior

Beyond how often players use cloud gaming, the survey also looked at how they interact with different services. The results show that many players are only using a single provider, although a significant share explores alternatives.

Most players only use one service

The majority of respondents (44%) reported actively using just one cloud gaming service. Another 30% actively use two or more services, while 26% said they did not use cloud gaming services at all (n = 5,769). This suggests that unlike mature video streaming markets, cloud gamers still tend to stick with a single service at a time. By comparison, US households today use an average of 3.9 streaming apps (MNTN Research, 2024), highlighting how multiple subscriptions may become the norm as markets mature.

One in three regularly switch between services

When asked about switching, 29% of players said they regularly try new platforms, and another 22% switch occasionally if a specific game attracts them. In contrast, 27% never switch and 22% rarely change services (n = 3,269). Loyalty in the cloud gaming market is fragile, and players are willing to switch if content or performance does not match their needs.

Key takeaway: Cloud gamers tend to use few services at a time, but switching services is common. For providers, the challenge is to maintain existing users while encouraging those who experiment with multiple services to become long-term subscribers. As seen in video streaming, single service use can shift over time toward multiple concurrent subscriptions once markets expand and diversify (MNTN Research, 2024).

Cloud vs. Local Gaming Preferences

Cloud gaming is no longer just an add-on. While many players still combine cloud and local hardware, a large segment has already transitioned fully to the cloud.

Almost half of cloud gamers play exclusively in the cloud

A significant 47% of respondents (2,199 players) reported that they play all their games via cloud services. For these players, cloud is not a gimmick, but their primary way to play (n = 4,714).

Hybrid usage remains common

Beyond the cloud-only group, 41% use both local hardware and cloud services in varying proportions. A further 15% mainly rely on local hardware, and 12% do not use cloud gaming at all. This shows that while cloud gaming adoption is strong, local setups continue to play an important role. A likely explanation is that players use local devices for less demanding titles, while relying on the cloud for high-end games that benefit most from powerful remote infrastructure. Another factor might be that certain games cannot be played in the cloud due to kernel-level anti-cheat software.

Key takeaway: Cloud gaming is well established, with nearly half of respondents already using it exclusively. However, hybrid usage remains common, showing that for many gamers the cloud complements rather than replaces local hardware. This split suggests a functional pattern: local devices cover low-end or casual gaming, while the cloud serves as the go-to option for performance-heavy experiences.

Devices & Access

Cloud gaming is available across a wide range of devices, and players often use several in parallel. Since this was a multiple-choice question, results reflect all devices players regularly use, not only a single choice. The survey shows a clear hierarchy: PCs dominate as the most used option, while smartphones have established themselves as the leading mobile platform. Tablets, consoles, and smart TVs remain niche options but are already part of the ecosystem for a notable minority of players.

PCs are the foundation of cloud gaming

71% of respondents (5,861 players) reported using a PC or laptop for cloud gaming (n = 8,264). This makes the desktop environment by far the most widespread access point. For many, cloud gaming on PC serves as a replacement for expensive local hardware, giving access to high-end titles without the need for constant upgrades.

Smartphones provide mobility

25% of players (2,025 respondents) use smartphones for cloud gaming. Their role reflects the demand for mobility and quick access while on the go, supported by improving network infrastructure. For this group, flexibility outweighs larger screens or more precise input methods, making smartphones the most versatile secondary platform.

Tablets, consoles, and TVs remain niche

Tablets are used by 10% (845 players), consoles by 8% (630 players), and smart TVs by 8% (680 players). While these devices contribute to cross-platform accessibility, they currently play only a supporting role compared to PCs and smartphones. Adoption here is influenced by input latency, app availability, and usage habits, since these devices are less central to everyday use.

Key takeaway: PCs remain the backbone of cloud gaming adoption, functioning as a hardware replacement for many players. Smartphones complement this by offering mobility and instant access. Tablets, consoles, and TVs are part of the ecosystem but remain secondary choices, showing that cloud gaming today is rooted in PCs and smartphones, not in living room screens.

Spending among paying users

Cloud gaming adoption keeps growing, but spending among paying users remains cautious. Most subscribers keep their budgets low, and higher-priced plans are still the exception.

Spending levels remain low

Among paying users, lower-priced subscriptions dominate the market. Of those who pay, 33% (656 players) spend less than $10 per month, 40% (788 players) spend between $10 and $20, 12% (244 players) spend $20 to $30, and 14% (279 players) spend more than $30 monthly (n = 1,967). Even within this committed segment, higher spending remains the exception rather than the rule. This highlights both the cautious approach of early adopters and the untapped potential for providers to deliver more value.

Value and pricing will shape future revenue

Current spending patterns suggest that pricing models and perceived value will be key factors in growing paid adoption. Affordable tiers dominate, but the next growth phase will likely depend on more flexible offers, bundled plans, and even better products that justify higher monthly costs.

Key takeaway: Cloud gaming is widely used, but spending among paying users remains modest. Most subscribers choose affordable plans, showing that pricing and perceived value will shape future revenue growth.

Most Valued Features in Cloud Gaming

The survey highlights what players value most in cloud gaming services. As this was a multiple-choice question, the results reflect all options players selected rather than a single choice.

Free trials rank above all other features

58% of respondents (2,359 players) value free trials when evaluating a platform (n = 4,046). This shows how crucial it is for providers to lower the barrier of entry and let players test their service before they have to commit. Free trials are not just a marketing tool, but the most widely valued feature among cloud gamers today.

Game catalogue and performance follow as key priorities

40% (1,637 players) pointed to the game catalogue and 34% (1,370 players) to stream quality and reliability. Together, they highlight that both breadth of content and smooth technical performance are essential to player satisfaction. Without a strong library and stable streams, trial users are unlikely to stay.

Price and social features rank lowest

Beyond these, 24% (966 players) value no queue, 20% (828 players) point to price and subscription options, and 15% (609 players) highlight user interface and ease of use. Community and social features were noted by 8% (332 players). These results suggest that for most players, cloud gaming is still primarily viewed as a functional service, where access and reliability outweigh social interaction or cost. Players appear open to spending more money on cloud gaming, but only if the value offered justifies the higher cost.

Key takeaway: Cloud gamers value risk-free entry, strong libraries, and reliable performance above all else. Price, ease of use, and queue-free access also matter, while community features remain secondary.

Conclusion & Outlook

The Cloud Gaming Report 2025 shows a community where cloud usage is both widespread and frequent. Cloud gaming has become part of everyday routines for active players, yet monetization and platform economics remain fragile.

Final Thought: Cloud gaming has become part of everyday play for active users, but the business model still has lots of untapped potential.

About cloudbase.gg

cloudbase.gg is the independent community platform for cloud gaming. Since 2021, it has tracked over 8,750 games across all major services and provides guides, news, and reports that bring transparency to the fast-growing cloud gaming market.

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