Antstream Aims to Build a Future by Preserving the Past

Recently, while exploring the Antstream Arcade retro game streaming subscription service, a thought struck us. It is possible to use an Android gaming device to remotely activate an Xbox Series X console on another continent, where it has been left in power-consuming rest mode, and then open the Antstream app to connect to remote servers and play an emulated version of Atari 2600's Combat. This is a remarkable example of interoperability and convenience, yet also raises questions about waste and efficiency. To learn more about the service and its approach, we spoke with Antstream CEO Steve Cottam. Cottam explains that the decision to stream small games is primarily about accessibility. Antstream has an Android native app, which eliminates the need for an intermediate layer, and its collection of 1,500 games includes titles up to the PlayStation era, with some games requiring around 1GB of data. The goal was to create a system that is future-proof and consistent, allowing users to play games without worrying about emulators or device restrictions. Cottam notes that an emulator service that involves downloading games to a client device might not have received the same level of support from publishers as Antstream has. The concerns over emulation are largely related to piracy, but cloud streaming offers a benefit in this regard, as users cannot copy ROMs. Piracy has kept old games alive, but it has also meant that some developers have not earned revenue from their work in decades. Antstream aims to give back to creators by offering a platform for their games. One of the challenges of running a subscription service is providing a steady stream of new content to attract and retain users. Antstream has licensed around 3,000 games, with about half of them currently available on the platform. The service also offers special challenge modes and achievements for games, which have proven to be highly engaging, with users spending significantly more time on these challenges than on the original games. These challenges can also help lesser-known games gain popularity and provide a discoverability tool for users. Antstream operates on a Spotify-like model, where game owners are compensated based on user playtime, and the choice of which games to feature in challenges is carefully considered. Looking to the future, Cottam believes that cloud streaming will become increasingly important in the gaming industry, offering a better experience for users and addressing issues such as hardware limitations and storage space. Antstream plans to continue evolving its service, with new features and challenges in the works, and Cottam is committed to preserving classic games by making them relevant and engaging for new audiences.