We analyze the landscape of gaming streaming via Android phones with our experience in GeForce Now, Nvidia’s cloud execution platform. Very popular these days due to versions as notorious as Cyberpunk 2077, GeForce Now is a great add-on for those who want perform your previously acquired titles anywhere and anytime.
Enjoying Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Cyberpunk 2077 or Immortals Fenyx Rising on an Android mobile seemed impossible a few years ago, but everything has changed with streaming platforms like Nvidia GeForce Now or Google Stadia: smartphones have never been so versatile. Especially with controllers like the Razer Kishi: I combined this accessory with my collection of computer games to expand its possibilities thanks to GeForce Now.
Graphics and story inaccessible in mobile games
It is true that mobile games have evolved in such a way that we can find titles that are very close to what we might call an “ AAA ”, but there will always be differences, both in the quality of graphics as in the expansion of the games themselves. Developers print recognizable cross-platform titles for much longer, and the team involved in developments like Cyberpunk 2077 are much larger than in large mobile games.
I have been testing Nvidia’s streaming system for years, first on the Shield tablet, then on the Shield TV player with Android TV. The platform has evolved to make running games in the cloud as seamless as it is powerful; so that there are no notable differences between launching a game on a dedicated machine (console or computer) and launching it remotely with GeForce Now.
I usually combine all the options to play the exclusives that appeal to me while I have the opportunity to choose the best price on cross-platform titles. This strategy leads me to switch from desktop / computer console to streaming, both using Shield TV and phone. This versatility seems to me of enormous value, especially since the experience of playing with GeForce Now (GFN) is excellent. And with a controller attached as the Razer Kishi experience says it’s not much different from what it means to use a Nintendo Switch, for example. Record distances because the quality of graphics for Nvidia streaming is better (especially when using a Founders account, which enables ray tracing).
Since I usually don’t spend too much time playing every day, during the week I usually use my smartphone instead of taking the game to the TV or computer screen. This is to dock the controller, start GFN and choose the game so that the game is available as I left it; without loss of quality in graphics (GFN looks great on mobile as long as there is a good internet connection), energy saving (the phone consumes much less than a computer / console and large screen) and with the advantage of taking the game anywhere (even with mobile data, even if GFN consumes a lot).
Video game streaming is not exclusive as it combines perfectly with the game being run on a local machine. It just offers more ways to enjoy games
Combine the game in the different machines available depending on the moment, and not to be weighed down by power Since it’s the Nvidia servers that do the runtime work, I think it’s fabulous. And it is precisely this combination that favors streaming: it doesn’t matter what machine you have, because if you have an Android mobile, you can access a good part of your games. Steam, Epic Games, Ubisoft Connect or GoG. I am building up a good collection. And part of it I’m running on mobile with GFN.
The key: enjoy games already purchased
Not only do I combine game acquisition with the various machines that I cherish, but I also combine the two video game streaming services I pay for: GFN and Stadia. Both offer a flawless online quality and playback while internet connection is good, although they maintain one essential difference: Nvidia does not distribute video games, quite the opposite of what Google does. This allows GeForce Now to take advantage of all the purchases that have been made in the usual computer stores.
Before buying a title, I usually ask myself: where am I going to play it? Console games like The Last of Us 2 only have one option since it is an exclusive, but that is not the case with Immortals Fenyx Rising, for example. If I can enjoy it on most of the machines I own, I check if it is compatible with GFN (developers don’t always allow their games to be streamed). What if it is? Then I look for the store that costs me less, the Epic Games Store and Steam (or GoG) have deals with which to save money on cross-platform games.
If, in addition to having the possibility of physically installing the game on my computer, I have the possibility of playing it on my mobile, why not take advantage of this versatility when the price is not excessively expensive? The mobile is a perfect screen for any multimedia support, including games that are not specifically designed for this screen. Sometimes there are menus that do not read well or texts that are too small. For the rest, running the titles on a computer and opening them on the mobile with applications like GFN does not lead to excessive differences. beyond reproduction size.
All the pros: GeForce Now has its downsides too
Playing with GeForce Now can take a long time due to the queue After constantly using the platform, always paid for the subscription since I signed up as a founder when Nvidia released the stable version of GFN, I have racked up hundreds of hours of reading time on Android devices. . Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Control, The Division 2, WatchDogs Legion, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Immortals Fenyx Rising … these are games that I have enjoyed a lot on my smartphone. However, not all are advantages.
- Timeouts. With the launch of Cyberpunk 2077, GeForce Now is seeing an inordinate influx. This results in an increase in the time spent in the server queue, even when paying for the service; something that does not happen in a game running from the computer or console.
- ‘Connections’ from game stores. As Nvidia does not offer games for purchase and its servers run titles downloaded from the various stores, these stores must be accessed each time a game is launched on GFN. Usually the boot data is saved, but this is not always the case. And from mobile, it’s a bit tedious to connect constantly.
- A good quality internet connection is essential. If there is too much latency or the bandwidth is limited, the gaming experience will be bad.
- Game settings. Nvidia preconfigures games, but not always of the highest quality. For those who are compatible with “ray tracing”, it is generally common to have to struggle with the settings to activate ray tracing. And you have to repeat the action every time you continue the game.
- Maximum time in session. Whether the GFN subscription is paid or not, there is a maximum playing time (six hours or one hour). The platform warns that the session will be closed to give time to save the process. And you can always continue to restart the game (with the appropriate wait to access the servers).
- Nvidia does not give out games. GeForce Now only offers streaming, even on the paid account. The only difference between the free option and the founders is the maximum quality of execution, the queue and the session hours. And it lacks that Nvidia sometimes gives a game to the founders, like Google does with Stadia.
GeForce Now also lets you get more from your purchased computer games brings titles to smartphones that would otherwise be impossible to play. It has its drawbacks, of course, but also notable advantages. And, from my perspective, it’s a recommended platform for all seasoned gamers who don’t want to be rooted in one machine.
