GameStop acquired Spawn Labs in early 2011 with the intent of getting into the game streaming business, and now the retailer confirms that its cloud-based Gaikai/OnLive competitor will launch in summer 2013. The service was originally intended to launch on consoles as well as PCs, tablets, and Internet-connected TVs, but Gamasutra reports that the console support has been nixed.
The decision is based on data the retailer obtained from its national private beta, as well as "the imminent launch of new consoles," GameStop president Tony Bartel revealed in a recent investors call. It's worth noting that the original plan had been to launch the game streaming service in 2012, after the beta test, but those plans have apparently changed.
No reason was given for the delay, though Gamasutra rightly points out that the move away from console support puts less pressure on the Sony-owned Gaikai and the Ouya-partnered OnLive services.
