BT strikes deal with OnLive to offer games with broadband

OnLive, the cloud gaming service, has joined forces with BT in a deal that will see its broadband subscribers able to play online as part of their package.

Although exact dates for availability of the new service are yet to be announced, OnLive will get a US launch on June 17th. The benefit of the cloud gaming service is that customers can play on their TV's and computers via the web, which means that they don't need a games consoles or the discs that play on them.

The new deal adds further weight to the argument that if cloud gaming takes off then it could signal the death knell for the traditional games console, like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation. A full launch for the OnLive service is expected next year and it already has major games publishers like Electronics Arts and Ubisoft onboard.

BT subscribers who opt for the OnLive package will need to use a special console and controller in order to carry out gaming activities, said to be similar to a Freeview box. Depending on their thirst for gaming, subscribers can choose between buying or renting, after first weighing up titles during a short trial period.

Gavin Patterson, CEO of BT Retail, said: “Entertainment is going to be at the heart of what we offer customers in the future. The partnership with OnLive complements our existing BT Vision service. It’s great for our customers. They’ll have access to a huge catalogue of games, available instantly on their TV or PC without expensive hardware.”