Rainway is shaping up to be one of the Switch's most important apps - assuming of course Nintendo allows it to be published on the eShop. Using Rainway you can stream gameplay from your PC to devices which possess a web browser, and Switch has been highlighted as a key platform by developer Andrew Sampson.
Sampson has been showing off screens and footage over the past few months and has now released a video of the Microsoft exclusive Cuphead - and it's co-op mode - running on Switch.
https://twitter.com/RainwayApp/status/933116500105363456
Sampson has previously stated that he's in talks with Nintendo about the app coming to Switch, but time will tell if that actually happens. While there's nothing technically shady about streaming games to the console (you own those games, after all), the sight of Forza, Cuphead and other Microsoft exclusives running on a rival system might cause some legal arguments - or maybe it won't.
In other news, the Rainway team has announced that its beta has been pushed back to January 20th, 2018.
Comments 48
... this is such an evil tease...
Did I just see a Steam window pop up ? Or was that something else?
Now if only Switch supported WPA2 Enterprise.
@Banemus yeah you did, all Rainway does on a basic level is stream the PC's display to the Switch, sending inputs back. The PC is running Steam as normal with Rainway picking it up.
Yeah, there's no way Nintendo will allow this app on their system.
Or just get us cuphead for the Switch.....not happening but I wish 😞
This seems sketchy...the beat keeps getting pushed back.
A app to turn possible Switch use Wii-u worst feature? Few people care about streaming games when is tons better have the game in the console, whitout lag or distance problems. Nintendo dont will allow it. Allow the app will just bring problems.
NINTENBLOCK!
Nintendo allowed quite many utility apps on their digital stores previously, but so far the only thing in that regard on Switch is Hulu.
Hulu shows a lot of material not licensed by Nintendo, so I don't see content ownership as the issue, moreso whether the Rainway developers can provide a polished product and guarantee a good value proposition to customers.
Rainway is useless by itself, just like Hulu if you don't have a subscription, but the Hulu app is free, and I feel this might be unlikely to be the case with Rainway.
If they have option to sell you an official version of a 3rd party game, why would Nintendo let you stream a version from another console or PC so they don't make money on it?
The people who make Rainway are obviously technically clever, but they are stupid to waste their time and money on an app Ninty will block on their eShop.
@Pod FYI Netflix isn't on Switch, you are probably thinking of Hulu.
@rjejr
Ah yes, thank you. As a European, I mostly forget Hulu even exists.
@Shantephan @Lumine you are probably right. But if Nintendo does not allow it, jailbreak will become more interesting.
@MrGawain because if they don't, more people will want a jailbreak.
Nintendo & Microsoft: "This is illegal!"
Hacker:
@Tsurii I have played much better designed run'n'guns / shmups but "Cuphead" is all about the animation style witch I find rather appealing. I do hope this is just a matter of time until it lands on Switch
I wonder if they got the input lag down. It was pretty bad on an earlier demo. You can't really make a judgement of that in this video since he's not playing.
I love Cuphead so much. It requires the dexterity and pattern recognition of the Punchout series. And given Nintendo's historic love of the Fleischer cartoons (especially Popeye), getting it in the Switch in some form or fashion would be amazeballs.
@Pod Well that makes sense since Hulu isn't in the EU. And even in the US Netflix is 4x bigger than Hulu so it would make sense you would think Switch got NF instead of Hulu.
https://www.recode.net/2017/10/23/16488506/netflix-streaming-services-hbo-hulu-subscribe
I'm guessing the dev knows this'll never be on the eshop. This was in development before Switch was announced as a streaming app between PC and a lower spec laptop / handheld device. They've got to be doing this for the publicity only.
Stop teasing us with Cuphead on the Switch! As much as it would make sense for a game like that to be on the Switch, Microsoft had a hand in the funding of the game so I think it will remain Xbox One and PC exclusive. I know that Minecraft is on the Switch, Wii U, and New 3DS and some games like Rocket League have cross-play with XBO but I think the Cuphead devs probably signed a deal with Microsoft in exchange for some funds.
Why would Nintendo allowed it? No one will need to buy games on Switch anymore. This should be made for the home-brew. I will stream Wii and GC games with Dolphin and all the 3DS, DS, N64, SNES, NES as well.
I know this will not ever happen but...please?
Only if Nintendo deduces 3rd parties aren't required. So yeah, I don't see this coming to Switch; Nintendo has too much to lose and little to gain. I honestly question if many people would buy a Switch just because of this ability.
I don't think there are any possible legal arguments, Rainway is doing nothing illegal.
Anyone can stream the HDMI signal of a PC or console via a capture card, for example. Millions of people do it everyday.
The only difference is that Rainway is doing it via software and that they are streaming it to smart devices.
Steam In-Home Streaming essentially does the same (only via your LAN), but it doesn't support smart devices.
On a sidenote: I don't get the obsession with Cuphead. It looks like an old Mickey Mouse cartoon from the 20. century. I could buy it on Steam if I wanted but I don't want that. ^^
"i cant really play and record"
yeah sure... its not because of the low framerate and input lag or anything like that..
What was with that Steam window?!?
@phamster the game is being streamed from a pc
I care less about Rainway, and more about Cuphead on the Switch if I'm to be quite honest.
@Bustacap Wonder what the bloody point is then? It is not Cuphead running on a Switch, it is Cuphead being streamed from a PC onto a Switch... I am not sure I'd want that app. I want proper Cuphead ON a switch.
@phamster its a microsoft exclusive, so that obviously wont happen.
this software is designed to play any game that you already have on your pc on your switch (or other supported platforms). rainway just will never be officially released for the switch and is pretty much just a promotional tool. everyone is just interested in the switch version. if the developers would say that it wont come out for the switch, interest in the software would be dead immediately
So can we throw any question of legality out of the window?
There is nothing illegal or questionable going on here.
You have to own a copy of the game on a platform it is released on and then you stream it to a device.
I am not sure how anyone can think that anything illegal is going on. They aren’t hacking in game code, they aren’t modifying hardware to break encryption or copyright protection.
What the questions have to be are would Nintendo or any platform holder allow an application that allows people to stream games bought on other platforms on their own platform. Thats kind of a tongue twister but thats all we are talking about here.
It doesn’t make sense for Nintendo to allow this because no one would buy an indie on the switch again. Everyone would just find a cheap steam key and then stream it. Granted that means you’d have to be connected to wifi at all times so it would tether the Switch.
I just wanted to be clear. There is nothing illegal going on with with app. It doesn’t let you steal games etc. It’s more a matter that Nintendo would be pretty dumb to all it from a business standpoint.
Why this game needs to be Xbox only? Why?!!!
This thing is never coming out.
@frogopus do you have issues with no audio from the steam link, and white screens when your hosting PC monitor goes to sleep, even if the game itself is still running? ive only had my steam link a week but i've had a lot of issues with it
@JJ286 its also on pc
As to everyone saying that Nintendo would never allow the app since it would kill sales, I know several PC gamers that like the Switch, but not enough to purchase it, that said they would absolutely throw down the money to grab one if the Rainway app does come to the system. For them it's more about being able to play games like Civ or Stellaris on the go without buying an expensive gaming laptop to go along with their current rig than it is about cheesing the system to get their indies for half price. I know one of them's looking forward to Metroid Prime 4 as well, so I doubt there'd be a Wii style situation where everyone buys a console but no one buys games for it.
@Shufty Hear hear!
@tebunker I can't imagine this app getting approval. The only economic advantage would be the Switch units sold to people who would have never bought the unit without the Rainway app. Then there is all the money lost from licensing. The only way I could see it getting off the ground is if, per game, you had to pay a small fee.
Such an app would make the Switch a power house--but ultimately Nintendo would suffer.
This game is really good and i would recommend it, plus it is pretty dang modest when it comes to computer standards.
Would be cool to play it on the Switch or PS4 though.
I hope it happen or at least able to get Cuphead to the Switch.
Yes you could play games cheaper through Steam, but it wouldn't be the same than owning them directly on the Switch. You would still need to start/run your PC for it and you would probably loose the ease of access the Switch currently is triumphant in. Second, none of the games can be played outside of your Wifi zone, so they are not truly portable. So I don't see Nintendo taking a big loss with this. On the contrary the prospect of playing your PC games in bed etc. is likely to attract new customers and create more hype around the Switch. I know I would be thrilled to play Skyrim modded in my hands at home.
I really don't understand why this app is a big deal
Shield tablets have been able to do this for years. Furthermore you have to be connected to the same very stable wifi connection for the gameplay to be smooth, which means you can't take the console with you on the go. I see a few people using this app but I'm definitely not one of them. By looking at the gameplay video above it seems like the game is running inconsistently.
Can’t see Nintendo allowing this. In one way it could be a good app, but publishers could then decide not to develop a Switch version and instead say buy the PC version and stream it.
@Minch I completely agree and said as much. It’d be a miracle for Nintendo to approve this.
However it does make one wonder. Valve had tried to push steamboxes a couple years ago and failed because they had no real unifying system/ os support etc. Imagine if they had teamed up with Nintendo and Nvidia on the switch. Yeah they and Nintendo would get less of a cut but it’d be amazing and Valave already has great streaming software. A steam box with Nintendo games would’ve been amazing, for consumers.
I really hope the game comes to Switch!
@Bustacap nobody plays PC. Lol I'm kidding; PC isn't my cup of tea sorry.
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