High-Speed 5G Network Seen as Ready to Spur Online Gaming

High-speed 5G network seen as ready to spur online gaming. Next-generation 5G networking was the big draw at Tokyo Game Show 2019, setting pulses racing with the prospect of radically more immersive gaming experience.

Offering data transmission speeds around 100 times faster than 4G, 5G is expected to enable more seamless imagery with lower latency, more vivid images and sharper motion. Industry experts say it will dramatically improve the quality of augmented and virtual reality games. 

High-speed 5G network seen as ready to spur online gaming (Shutterstock/ESB Professional) Offering data transmission speeds around 100 times faster than 4G, 5G is expected to enable more seamless imagery with lower latency, more vivid images and sharper motion. Industry experts say it will dramatically improve the quality of augmented and virtual reality games. “It was very smooth, responsive and consistent,” said Omar Alshiji, a 23-year-old game designer from Bahrain, after trying out the fighting game “Tekken” at the NTT Docomo Inc. booth at the four-day game show through Sunday in Chiba. 

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It showed how the 5G network technicians can provide smooth simultaneous connection for an online game with multiple players. Takehiro Nakamura, senior vice president and general manager at 5G Laboratories at NTT Docomo, said his company aims to provide network services to allow high-quality, high-speed and low latency to game developers. Masashi Okamoto tried out a Sony Corp. VR game featuring virtual diva Hatsune Miku. “The way in which I am completely self-contained in another world is great. I hope the 5G network will make the experience even better,” Okamoto said. Okamoto has purchased Facebook Inc.’s new Oculus Quest VR headset that went on sale in May. He said the $399 standalone Oculus Quest should help the VR game reach the mass market. Industry observers say a major challenge to introduce VR games to new customers has been that high-end personal computers are generally needed to connect with VR headsets. But Okamoto said he hopes the combination of 5G and the Oculus Quest, which requires no connection with a PC, could mark a breakthrough. 

Technology companies see the next-generation network as an opportunity to attract more customers. Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies Co. is betting on its expertise in 5G networks to popularize its smartphone platform for mobile games against Apple Inc.’s App Store and Google LLC’s Google Play. “We have the top-class technology in 5G, so developers can take the lead in offering 5G-adaptable games through the use of the Huawei platform,” an official at the Japanese unit of Huawei said. “We are ready to offer game developers assistance in marketing and promoting the games to our more than 80 million global users across 40 countries,” said the official. High-speed 5G network seen as ready to spur online gaming.