Google might be working on better cloud-based gaming, Chrome 94 beta is testing advanced features

Google’s Chrome Beta 94 is currently being tested and it brings with it improved web standards which are expected to change the whole browser experience including the gaming experience on the Chrome browser. According to reports, the gaming experience on the browser will be upgraded by the use of WebCodecs. WebCodecs is a new API that will give developers better access to the codes supported on the browser.

The video encoding/decoding codecs are made for viewing audio/video content on Google Chrome and currently are not designed to support cloud gaming. To be able to support cloud gaming, Chrome will need to be optimised to be able to relay video with minimum latency. And that is the support the WebCodecs is going to bring. The WebCodecs are going to reduce overhead load and facilitate instant steaming of video on the device, on the browser. This tech will make Google Chrome perform better on slower machines as well.

Alongside the WebCodecs, another update coming in with Google Chrome 94 beta is an experimental WebGPU. This WebGPU will allow developers to harness the device’s graphical power by providing access to the native graphic programming interface. The feature is similar to Microsoft’s DirectX 12 and Apple’s Metal. A WebGPU basically allows web pages to interact with the graphic card on a system to deliver better performance, particularly for gaming.

Both the WebCodecs and the WebGPU can also be used for other applications besides cloud gaming. Video conferencing apps can use WebCodecs to decrease the lag users often face with video and audio transmission over the internet. And WebGPU can be used to improve machine learning and generate 3D models on a web browser. This concept is already operational as Google Studio that allows users to live stream games on video devices that are processed on a graphical unit in some other part of the world and not the system it’s being used on.

Google Chrome 94 Beta is currently in early development and testing phase so all these new features might take a while to roll out publicly. While WebCodecs are expected to launch sooner, devs will still have to optimise their web pages to be able to use this. According to reports, Google expects to end the trial phase of WebGPU in 2022.