Hatch has opened a beta test for residents of Finland to use its cloud-based mobile social hub, which can stream mobile games instantly to Android users. The beta test is a major test for Hatch, which wants to provide a new source of revenues and discovery for mobile game developers through a Netflix-like monthly paid subscription, in which gamers can get access to lots of games.
The company is now inviting Android users in Finland to sign up for the cloud gaming service and social hub. The service taps cloud computing, or Internet-connected data centers, to stream gameplay to mobile devices. It also enables players to share their own gameplay moments to the social hub, and people can watch what is happening in someone else’s game. Players will be able to invite their friends and family to Hatch and play games together with them in real time.
Hatch has an estimated 40 games ready to stream to users, out of more than 200 games signed from 80 game studios, said Hatch cofounder and VP Vesa Jutila in an interview with GamesBeat. Part of the idea is to generate a new source of revenue — beyond free-to-play revenues — for premium mobile games in the form of subscriptions.
“I think the subscription model in gaming is getting more momentum behind it,” Jutila said.
The new games that Hatch has signed up include:
- Oxenfree (from developer Night School)
- Crashlands (Butterscotch Shenanigans)
- Choplifter HD (InXile Entertainment)
- Beholder (Alawar Entertainment)
- Age of Zombies (Halfbrick)
The company previously announced a catalog that includes Monument Valley, Badland, Pacman CE DX, Rayman Fiesta Run, and Grim Fandango Remastered.
Hatch Beta is now free with ads, but the full service will be a paid subscription. Hatch Entertainment was founded in 2016 in Espoo, Finland, with a vision to change the way people play games – to create a place on mobile where people can enjoy new social experiences together.
Hatch streams the game to you from the cloud. That means there are no downloads, no updates, and no in-app purchases. It has a native multiplayer experience. You can, for instance, play a single-player version of Monument Valley on Hatch. A friend could watch you play — or even take over the game and play while you become a spectator.
Hatch Entertainment started in 2016 in Espoo, Finland, inside Rovio. Now it has spun out, and it has a vision to change the way people play games. The service requires a subscription, or you can enjoy it for free with ads.