OnLive promises a revolution in mobile and tablet gaming

OnLive, a US technology company that provides on-demand, instant-play video game services via the internet, claims that it is bringing console-class gaming to tablets and phones with a revolutionary OnLive app for tablet and mobile platforms.

The latest high-performance games — previously limited to consoles and computers — will be available for instant play via the free OnLive app on over 500 million mobile devices over Wi-Fi or mobile networks in the US and UK, the firm claims in a press statement this week, revealing that an expanding library of 25 console-class games has been adapted for touch-screen control.

Additionally, OnLive’s games are playable with its the new Universal OnLive wireless controller, which is compatible with most tablets and smartphones.

OnLive’s breakthrough in cloud gaming technology has enabled gamers on PCs, Macs and TVs to instantly jump into console-quality games on demand, without discs or lengthy downloads, regardless of the performance of their local device, and this capability is now carried over to tablets and smartphones, despite the fact that these games require vastly higher performance than is achievable on a mobile device.

“Today marks a major milestone: OnLive is now delivering the latest, console-class, top-tier games — literally to your fingertips — on tablets and phones for instant, on-demand play anywhere, anytime,” said Steve Perlman, OnLive founder and CEO. “Through the free OnLive app, tablet and smartphone gamers can play top console and PC titles.

“The fastest-growing consumer product categories in history are now capable of running the highest-end games.”

In addition to play over Wi-Fi, OnLive is also unveiling compatibility with 4G LTE cellular service, enabling full, HD-resolution, low-latency cloud gaming everywhere there is 4G coverage on devices such as the HTC Jetstream, Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Xoom.