Square Enix has launched a new service called Core Online that streams console-quality games to your browser, with clouds and achievements in the cloud, for free—if you're willing to sit through some ads.
Core Online works in Firefox, Chrome and Internet Explorer, and players will be able to sit through ads and play for free, or purchase individual levels or entire games, according to Square Enix. You'll also be able to start each game at any point, so you can skip right to the end if you want, or play the whole thing backwards.
With a name like Core Online, it's not hard to determine what kind of gamer they're trying to appeal to. Currently, though, the only hardcore game being offered is 2006's Hitman: Blood Money, not a bad game, but certainly not a huge draw anymore. Also planned for the service are Tomb Raider Underworld and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, both years old as well.
Core Online is still in beta, but you can try it out for yourself and let us know how it works and what you think of the business model in the comments or on Twitter.
