Search
SUBSCRIBE
Home Blog Page 1249

The 5 Best Cloud Gaming Services to Try Out in 2022

Our Culture Mag & Partners
-
0
The 5 Best Cloud Gaming Services to Try Out in 2022

If you’re wondering what the future of gaming looks like, then cloud gaming is probably your answer.

Billed as the new alternative to old-fashioned console and PC playing, this new way of gaming does away with all that hardware. Instead, players just need a quality, high-speed internet connection – made much more accessible through 5G – and a browser to play the latest games on the digital cloud.

With every leading gaming and tech corporation launching their own cloud service, there are many options to choose from. Here are five of the stand-out choices as we head into the spring of 2022. And if you’re looking for quality game servers go to these guys.

Xbox Cloud (XCloud) Gaming

The great thing about Xbox is the sheer variety of titles to play. Right now, it boasts over 100 video games in its selection, and this list expands every month.

It also has an adjustable pricing system depending on which region you’re in, so it should never be completely out of reach for consumers in any of its markets. You can get the first month for super-cheap, $1 or the equivalent of whichever currency you use, before the regular price kicks in. Also, you get an EA Play subscription thrown in as part of the deal.

Make sure you have a minimum internet speed of between 7 and 10 Mbps, though, as the complex games it runs can suffer lags. Also, the app on Windows 10 is known to get buggy at times.

Still, as offers go, the Xbox deal is right up there.

Shadow

Shadow doesn’t offer free trials like many of its rivals, but what it does provide is a premium service that allows you to instantly load your games from multiple digital platforms, including Epic, Uplay and Steam. It boasts a very low latency in most regions that it operates in, which is expected to include all of the United States by the end of 2022 as part of its expansion plans. This provides a smooth, lag-free gaming experience, providing you have an internet speed of at least 15Mbps.

That said, Shadow is very resistant to VPNs and proxy servers, so you may have a hard time using it if you’re based outside of the US. For the service to become one of the true big players, it will have to expand its scope before long.

For those who can use it, though, it’s very versatile in terms of software, being compatible with Windows, Android, iOS and MacOS, to name just a few. 

Google Stadia

Google Stadia comes in two versions: a standard gaming platform that lets you instantly play games on the devices that you own; and Stadia Pro, a premium version that gives you free games each month, plus discounts and various support services. Pro comes with a month free trial, which has proved popular among gamers who enjoy the complementary games, even if just for 30 days.

The downside of Stadia is its limited game selection, which is a shame given the wealth of the company that runs it.

If you’re looking to go deeper into the world of cloud computing via Google, then Google’s Cloud Platform (GCP) is one of the most accessible platforms. In the last few years, it’s offered some tempting welcome offers to new customers: one included $300 free credit to spend on its services. It’s a tactic similar to the free bonuses in online casinos that are awarded to players for signing up, and has proved remarkably successful in both industries.

Vortex

If you’re a fan of multiplayer games like Doom and Fortnite Battle Royale, then Vortex’s $9.99 monthly subscription is probably your best bet. It includes 50 hours of gaming to use over its stock of almost 100 games, which you can add to when you buy its Pro and Ultra packages.

All its games come with automatic updates, too, so your gameplay is never interrupted, but you can choose to disable this if you prefer to read what’s in the update.

Vortex isn’t quite the finished article, though. Its desktop app isn’t great, and it doesn’t support the platforms mentioned earlier, like Steam and Uplay. Instead, you get a fixed library to choose from.

GeForce Now

GeForce may annoy people by limiting session times to one hour, but that’s because it’s one of the very few services to offer free membership. It also provides a range of attractive features to make up for it.

As well as a multi-platform integration, it has an unrivalled focus on graphics with its full HD 1080p video quality. The service also lets you choose from over 400 great games, on top of letting you access existing libraries.

You can also upgrade to ‘Founders’ membership, which supplies an ‘ultra-streaming mode’, extended sessions, reduced latency and priority server access. Customers outside of Europe and North America are presently excluded, which is a shame, but this could change as the service becomes even more popular.

Fontaines D.C. Release New Song ‘Roman Holiday’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Fontaines D.C. Release New Song ‘Roman Holiday’

Ahead of the release of their new LP Skinty Fia this Friday, Fontaines D.C. have shared one more single from the album. ‘Roman Holiday’ follows previous cuts ‘I Love You’, ‘Jackie Down the Line’, and the title track. Listen below.

“Roman Holiday makes me think of the wide streets of north London in the Summer and the urge to discover them at night time,” frontman Grian Chatten commented in a statement. “The thrill of being a gang of Irish people in London with a bit of a secret language and my first flat with my girlfriend.”

Jane Inc. Shares New Single ‘Human Being’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Jane Inc. Shares New Single ‘Human Being’

Jane Inc. has released a new single, ‘Human Being’, taken from her upcoming record Faster Than I Can Take. Take a listen below.

“This is a love letter to an audience, and a song about yearning for the performing self — the self that is anonymous in a crowd, and mysterious, glamourous, and performative,” Carlyn Bezic said of ‘Human Being’ in a statement. “It came to me while applying makeup.”

Jane Inc.’s new LP arrives this Friday, April 22 via Telephone Explosion Records. It features the previously shared tracks ‘2120’ (which landed on our Best New Songs segment) and ‘Contortionists’.

Citizen Share Video for New Song ‘Bash Out’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Citizen Share Video for New Song ‘Bash Out’

Citizen have returned with a new single called ‘Bash Out’. It arrives with an accompanying video directed by Mason Mercer, which you can check out below.

Citizen released Life In Your Glass World, their fourth LP, last year via Run For Cover Records. The Toledo-based outfit is heading out on tour next week, performing alongside Turnstile, Ceremony, Ekulu, and Truth Cult.

The Zells Announce New Album ‘Ant Farm’, Share New Single ‘Hell Car’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
The Zells Announce New Album ‘Ant Farm’, Share New Single ‘Hell Car’

Pittsburgh five-piece the Zells have announced their sophomore album, Ant Farm, which will arrive on June 3 via Crafted Sounds. It includes the previously unveiled single ‘Truther Uncle’, as well as a new track called ‘Hell Car’. Check out its music video below.

“This was one of the last songs that we wrote for the album, and it ended up being a good encapsulation of the various themes throughout the record; we took the album name “Ant Farm’ from its lyrics,” the band’s Phil Kenbok explained in a statement, continuing:

I liked the idea of some weird, old king moping around like a Dark Souls or Radiohead character because he has to adapt to a new system that is really just as brutal and nonsensical as the one he was a part of before. You’d think this progressive move from a monarchy would be good, but the whole landscape just rots and gets worse, and regular people are still like ants or whatever. It’s a futile situation that he can’t separate his ego from, like a car on fire that he has to keep driving because it’s his whole life. He’s paranoid because he’s probably going to die horrifically, which I’m also personally very afraid of. I picture him crying in the cold rain and joining the rest of us. That’s the best outcome for him.

Ant Farm was produced and engineered by R.J. Gordon (Baked, Titus Andronicus), with mastering by Amar Lal (Big Ups). It features guest appearances from Adam Reich, Jordyn Blakely, and Davey Jones.

The Zells Cover Artwork:

The Zells Tracklist:

1. Mankey
2. Dummy
3. Finnerty’s Dream
4. Bryan Ray Trout, 1999
5. The Upside
6. JME
7. Truther Uncle 02:40
8. Payday
9. Hell Car
10. Call It Early
11. Suffer + Toil
12. Hard Reset

Zola Jesus Shares Video for New Single ‘Desire’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Zola Jesus Shares Video for New Single ‘Desire’

Zola Jesus has unveiled a new single, ‘Desire’, alongside a music video directed by A. F. Cortes. It’s taken from her forthcoming album Arkhon, following lead single ‘Lost’. Watch and listen below.

“‘Desire’ was written in one sitting at my piano at home,” Nika Roza Danilova explained in a press release. “The song was an exorcism for my pain and lack of closure around heartbreak. Sometimes songs are written simply for the cathartic effect of playing them. This is one of those songs. Performing it feels like the most tangible way to experience that closure for myself. Some days I would sit at home playing this song over and over on my piano, just to provide myself that sense of control over what I was feeling. I recorded the song at the studio in one take, and also got video while I was there to document the memory of the performance. The footage of that day is the core of the video for ‘Desire.’”

Cortes commented on the video: “I’ve seen Zola Jesus perform live many times in the past. Still, nothing prepared me to see the vulnerability of this piece unfolding as it was performed in front of my camera. It was visceral, personal, and profoundly moving. From that first shoot day, I knew I wanted to complement the live performance with a parallel story: A tale of grief, loss, and the capacity of a cathartic metamorphosis to overcome personal trauma. All set in a minimal space, a transitional moment of learning how to let go of the baggage of a previous existence. In making this piece I wanted to capture a unique moment in time that reflects the vulnerability of the music.”

Arkhon, Zola Jesus’ first album in five years, arrives on May 20 via Sacred Bones.

Maria BC Unveils New Single ‘Betelgeuse’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Maria BC Unveils New Single ‘Betelgeuse’

Maria BC has released ‘Betelgeuse’, the latest single from their forthcoming debut album Hyaline. It follows previous entries ‘The Only Thing’ and ‘Good Before’. Give it a listen below.

Elaborating on the track in a statement, Maria said:

Betelgeuse is about coming to terms with one’s role as a victim, bystander, and perpetrator. The narrator of this song recalls a traumatic moment from their childhood: the day a father figure abandoned them and their mother. Now they’re an adult and want to leave home, which means abandoning their mother. They feel cruel for leaving home, but ultimately they follow the path of the man they despise, the ghost of him, their guiding star.

In seventh grade, an astronomer visited my science class and said that Betelgeuse is our only hope for seeing a star explode within our lifetimes. Then in late 2019 early 2020, Betelgeuse dimmed slightly, and people speculated that it was about to burst. That turned out not to be the case (a cloud passed over it, or it farted or something, I don’t remember). It was a let down. And likewise it’s disappointing, when you experience loss, that the world doesn’t stop to admire some new hole that’s been ripped into the universe. There’s no great explosion.

The title “Betelgeuse” has something to do with how grief can bring on this desire for a meteorological or astronomical alignment with your experience. But no, the world doesn’t stop. It makes you want to throw a wrench in the gears, blow something up, get people to notice.

Hyaline is slated for release on May 27 via Father/Daughter Records in the US and Fear of Missing Out in the UK.

Wilco Announce ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’ Super Deluxe Edition With 82 Unreleased Tracks

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Wilco Announce ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’ Super Deluxe Edition With 82 Unreleased Tracks

Wilco have announced a super deluxe edition of their landmark 2002 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which will feature 82 previously unreleased tracks. These include demos, drafts, instrumentals, a live album, a 2001 radio performance, and more. The reissues are out September 16 via Nonesuch. Today, Wilco have shared a 2002 live rendition of ‘Reservations’ from the box set. Check it out below, along with their performance of ‘Poor Places’ on last night’s The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

The super deluxe version is available as a box set of 11 vinyl LPs and one CD or an 8xCD collection. It’s accompanied by a new book featuring an interview with frontman Jeff Tweedy, drummer Glenn Kotche, and mixing engineer Jim O’Rourke, a new essay by journalist Bob Mehr, as well as previously unseen photos chronicling the album’s creation.

 

My Idea Share New Single ‘Lily’s Phone’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
My Idea Share New Single ‘Lily’s Phone’

My Idea, the duo of Lily Konigsberg and Nate Amos , have shared the final single off their upcoming debut album CRY MFER. Check out ‘Lily’s Phone’ below.

“‘Lily’s Phone’ was created in layers. I had made a voicemail with my friends announcing that this was, in fact, my phone, and that you should call me back. Nate heard this and made a track loosely based on the melody of the voicemail, except now the phone belonged to our friend’s dog who was trying to sell Nate drugs (I believe this is an actual dream Nate had),” Konigsberg explained in a statement. “The final version of the song is literally about how I enjoy talking on the phone, which most people my age would not agree with. The rest of the song is made up of abstract facts about me and things going on around me, which is how I was writing at that time. It’s made up of catchy phrasing, swirls of words, and quickly changing topics because that’s where my brain was at that time.”

CRY MFER is out this Friday (April 22) via Hardly Art. It includes the previously released singles ‘Crutch’, ‘Breathe You’, and the title track.

Helado Negro Releases Video for New Song ‘Ya No Estoy Aquí’

Konstantinos Pappis
-
0
Helado Negro Releases Video for New Song ‘Ya No Estoy Aquí’

Helado Negro has released a new single called ‘Ya No Estoy Aquí’, his first new music since 2021’s Far In. Check out the self-directed video for it below.

“‘Ya No Estoy Aquí’ is a song about loneliness and alienation,” Roberto Carlos Lange explained in a press release. “It’s about being lost within yourself and not knowing who you are. Making this song was catharsis; it was a way to get this all out and feel the texture of new perspectives.”

The track was inspired by the independent film Ya No Estoy Aquí. “This movie moved me in ways that nothing else has moved in a long time,” Lange continued. “It is about a young man from Monterrey, Mexico, who gets into trouble and is forced to leave for his safety to New York. The language barrier, the cultural isolation, and his characteristics spiral him more towards his loneliness and isolation. Music was his only solace. Songs that he would dance to by himself and disappear into the memory of being somewhere else with the people he missed and loved.”

1...1,2481,2491,250...1,846Page 1,249 of 1,846

Quick Access

Our Culture

Helpful

© 2026 Our Culture Mag Limited. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/2026) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 1/1/2026). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Our Culture Mag Limited.