After making its original announcement at this year's E3, OnLive has released a new update to its Android and iOS app to bring PC-quality high-definition gameplay to a wide range of smartphones, media players and tablet, including the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and even the Kindle Fire.
Available on Thursday, December 8, the new app will add complete gameplay support for any game offered on the service, which includes some of the richest, most graphically intensive titles available, such as Batman Arkham City, L.A. Noire, Assassin's Creed: Revelations and more.
While the previous version of the app only allowed users to peruse the OnLive marketplace and access the social features of the service, now they can play any game, any time they have access to Wi-Fi or even 3G and 4G LTE connections with a minimum speed of just 1Mbps. For HD resolutions, OnLive recommends users have connection speeds of anywhere between 3Mbps and 5Mbps.
In order to make the experience possible, OnLive has adapted over 25 titles to support a new on-screen overlay that replicates the analog sticks and buttons you would normally find on a controller. Titles that support this feature include DiRT 3, Virtua Tennis 2009, Lara Croft and the Guardians of Light and more.
Additionally, the company partnered with publishers to bring new native touchscreen controls to the OnLive versions of their titles. Five titles will be adapted for mobile controls initially, including Defense Grid Gold and most notably, L.A. Noire.
Unlike the OnLive-produced overlay implemented in other titles, Rockstar is custom tailoring the version of L.A. Noire available on the service to incorporate gesture controls, on-screen cues and more. When investigating crime scenes, users will be able to swipe across the screen to rotate bodies and tap to pick up objects.
http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/12/07/gaming-on-tablets-with-onlive?show=HD
For those who'd prefer a more traditional gaming experience, OnLive has produced a new Universal Controller that pairs with tablets and smartphones via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and other wireless standards. When combined with an iOS or Android device running the OnLive app, the Universal Controller provides complete dual analog controls, triggers, and action buttons with low-latency performance.
The controller can also be used with the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Mac or OnLive's MicroConsole using a USB dongle. Up to four Universal Controllers can be paired with a single USB transmitter.
The app will be free and is expected to be released on the Android Market and the iTunes App Store tomorrow. Users can order the Universal Controller for $49.99.
To learn more about the new OnLive app, check out our hands-on impressions.