If you're interested in game streaming, there is another viable option to challenge the distribution of Stadia and Project XCloud: GeForce Now, a game streaming service from Nvidia graphics experts. GeForce Now has previously provided internal beta functionality, but it is now open to everyone, and the previous waitlist has been removed.
Xbox's Project XCloud is of course based on Xbox games and hardware, while Stadia seems to be a brand new platform, and Nvidia's GeForce NOW is a PC-based game streaming service-which makes sense given that Nvidia is using its own hardware to deliver PC cloud-based game streaming. Compared with Stadia in particular, it has some potential advantages-because it is a cloud streaming service for games that can hook into the ecosystem, store front-end, and game library you already have.
At this launch, you will be able to play GeForce NOW on Windows PC, Mac OS, mobile devices, and TV via Nvidia Shield. Nvidia also plans to add support for playback via Chromebook devices later this year.
The service has hundreds of games you can start right away, including mature retail games and free hit games such as Fortnite and World of Tanks. The game will be automatically updated and patched to the latest version with the latest drivers, and the local installation required to play the game will be less than 100 MB. In essence, the goal is to minimize barriers to entry. Obviously, the service will support keyboard and mouse controls, as well as controllers that make sense for a given game.
Despite the low barriers to entry, Nvidia's position in the gaming streaming space is particularly interesting because, theoretically, this will also provide some of the highest quality products. Since it comes from Nvidia, the service will obviously use GeForce graphics hardware in the cloud server stack-meaning you can run games at high-end, ultra-expensive high-end performance levels. The RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, or at least the performance that matches the RTX 2080-but can be used on almost any device.
This also includes ray tracing-so if you ’re using older gear and do n’t even own a gaming PC, but what Cyber is dreaming of is a journey through Cyber City ’s Night City through ray tracing, GeForce NOW may be your first choice-assuming the game is eventually supported by the service.
Speaking of support, games require Nvidia to review, tweak, and add to the service, so although it is compatible with many existing storefronts, you won't be able to play games through GeForce Now unless they are explicitly part of GeForce Now. service. Nvidia already offers hundreds of games in the service-if a game is supported and you already own the game in your main storefront, you can stream it on GeForce Now without having to buy it again.
After seeing 300,000 beta users playing more than 70 million hours of games in its 2019 beta, GeForce Now is finally ready to release a wider version. It's divided into two levels; the free tier gives you "standard access", and the game session is limited to 1 hour-not enough to accommodate serious hardcore games, but definitely enough for lunchtime games on your phone. Those who are willing to pay can enter the Founders layer, which comes with "extended session duration", although it is unclear how long or for a limited time and priority access to the server. A big additional benefit is that this layer can also access ray tracing in games that support it. The first year of Founders Tier entry price is $ 4.99 / £ 4.99 / € 5,49.
Withdrawing from the beta version of GeForce now can be very exciting. All elements seem to be there, and the price and compatibility with existing stores and libraries immediately make it a more attractive cloud gaming streaming platform than Stadia. As always, how good this is will depend on its performance and practicality under actual conditions. We plan to test this extensively-so please check back later to see our full verdict.
