Square takes to cloud gaming with CoreOnline

Square Enix has launched a new cloud gaming service to enable users to play console quality games in the browser.

Developed by GameGlobe studio Hapti.co, the service will support Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Users can either purchase games or specific levels through CoreOnline or access them for free, but will have to put up with various in-game video advertisements.

The first titles available on the service include Hitman: Bloody Money and Mini Ninjas. Other games such as Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Tomb Raider: Underworld and Gyromancer will also be ported to the browser.

If successful, the publisher said it could use CoreOnline for more games in future, despite the fact it would be charging full price for their titles on other platforms.

"Square Enix is at the forefront of experimentation of new business and services models in the game industry," said Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada.

"Through our CoreOnline technology service, users can access our content easily through the browser."