Network connected controller for direct to cloud gaming

1. A controller device for user interactivity with a server of a cloud gaming system, comprising:

at least one input interface that generates inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of a video game by the server;

wherein the controller device is a networked device having wireless communications hardware that communicates over a WiFi protocol to an access device for connection to a network that connects the controller device to the server, bypassing a client device that communicates with the server to receive gameplay video for rendering to a display device, so that said inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of the video game are communicated by the controller device over the WiFi protocol to said access device for sending to the server via the network without being communicated through the client device;

wherein the server receives and processes the inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of the video game to render the gameplay video that is transmitted over the network for rendering to the display device that is local to the controller device.

2. The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the gameplay video is encoded for streaming and decoded for said rendering to the display device.

3. The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the controller device communicates directly over a WiFi network to the access device in a local environment in which the controller device is disposed.

4. The controller device of claim 3 , wherein the WiFi network is provided by the access device.

5. The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the access device is a router.

6. The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the inputs are communicated directly over the network to the server, bypassing the client device.

7. The controller device of claim 6 , wherein bypassing the client device reduces input latency for inputs communicated to the server.

8. The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device includes one or more of the following: a button, a joystick, a trigger, a touchpad, a motion sensor.

9. The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one input device includes a button configured to activate a user interface to enable sharing of the gameplay video.

10. The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the client device is integrated with the display device, or wherein the client device is separate from the display device.

11. The controller device of claim 1 , wherein the client device is one of or integrated with one of the following: a gaming console, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a mobile device, a portable gaming device, a cellular phone, a set-top box, a streaming media interface, a television.

12. A controller device for user interactivity with a server of a cloud gaming system, comprising:

at least one input interface that generates inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of a video game by the server;

wherein the controller device is a networked device having wireless communications hardware that communicates over a WiFi protocol to an access device for connection to a network that connects the controller device to the server, bypassing a client device that communicates with the server to receive gameplay video for rendering to a display device, so that said inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of the video game are communicated by the controller device over the WiFi protocol to said access device for sending to the server via the network without being communicated through the client device;

wherein the server receives and processes the inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of the video game to render the gameplay video that is transmitted over the network to the client device for rendering to the display device that is local to the controller device, wherein the gameplay video is encoded for streaming and decoded for said rendering to the display device.

13. The controller device of claim 12 , wherein the controller device communicates directly over a WiFi network to the access device in a local environment in which the controller device is disposed.

14. The controller device of claim 13 , wherein the WiFi network is provided by the access device.

15. The controller device of claim 12 , wherein the access device is a router.

16. The controller device of claim 12 , wherein the inputs are communicated directly over the network to the server, bypassing the client device.

17. The controller device of claim 16 , wherein bypassing the client device reduces input latency for inputs communicated to the server.

18. The controller device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one input device includes a button configured to activate a user interface to enable sharing of the gameplay video.

19. A controller device for user interactivity with a server of a cloud gaming system, comprising:

at least one input interface that generates inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of a video game by the server;

wherein the controller device is a networked device having wireless communications hardware that communicates over a WiFi protocol to an access device for connection to a network that connects the controller device to the server, bypassing a client device that communicates with the server to receive gameplay video for rendering to a display device, so that said inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of the video game are communicated by the controller device over the WiFi protocol to said access device for sending to the server via the network without being communicated through the client device;

wherein the server receives and processes the inputs for controlling interactive gameplay of the video game to render the gameplay video that is transmitted over the network to the client device for rendering to the display device that is integrated with the client device.