Video games are better than ever, with glorious open worlds, realistic AI, and gameplay that will keep you glued to the screen for hundreds of hours, but what if you don’t have a PC that can run them ?
After all, not everyone can afford an RTX 3080 Gaming PC to run the best PC games, and even if they can, it’s harder than ever to get a GPU right now without spending a lot more than the selling price to the public.
Previously, these players were forced to run games with sub-optimal or lagging settings, but not anymore. Nvidia’s cloud-based GeForce Now has the potential to revolutionize gaming on a PC, Mac, Android or iOS device.
Here we explain everything you need to know about Nvidia GeForce Now.
What is Nvidia GeForce Now?
Before we get into the details of how you can play the latest AAA rated games on any PC, regardless of their specs, let’s explain what Nvidia’s GeForce Now for PC and Mac is cloud-based. .
First revealed at CES 2017, Nvidia GeForce Now offers gamers the ability to stream the rendered game remotely, without having to worry about local PC requirements – all you need is a long enough internet connection! Fast! Nvidia recommends download speeds between 25 and 50 Mbps, although it can work with a connection as low as 15 Mbps.
Unlike Google Stadia, which requires the purchase of games from the platform store, GeForce Now lets you play games you have on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Uplay.
This allows you to play with your friends as you normally would, without them needing to register at another online store to continue playing together.
Outside of titles free to play (free), like Fortnite, there is a huge library of games available without installation, with more games added to the service each week.
As already mentioned, games are rendered remotely on one of Nvidia’s servers spread across Europe and the United States and deliver graphics performance similar to that of a high-end gaming PC.
In fact, if you go with the priority plan – described below – you will be able to play ray tracing games in real time thanks to enhanced RTX servers.
The only downside compared to other streaming services is the resolution limit; you are limited to [email protected] it doesn’t matter which plan you choose. Nvidia plans to add support for 4K HDR, but there is no output window in sight yet.
How can I access Nvidia GeForce Now?
The advantage of cloud gaming is its accessibility, and GeForce Now is a prime example of cloud gaming technology. The Nvidia GeForce Now app can be downloaded for PC, Mac, Android, Shield TV and Chromebook.
There is no native iOS app due to Apple’s restrictions on cloud gaming apps, but Nvidia has provided a solution in the form of a web app available through Safari, which lets you play games. AAA games on your iPhone or iPad. app.
How much does Nvidia GeForce Now cost?
Such an impressive cloud-based game streaming service has to be pretty expensive, right? Well no. The service was free during the closed beta, and Nvidia maintained that line during the full launch with a free plan alongside the Priority plan (formerly known as the Founders Plan), which is premium but also inexpensive.
The Priority plan, which costs 8.99 per month after an upgrade from the original Founders plan of 4.99, offers access to six-hour streaming sessions as well as RTX support on compatible games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Metro Exodus. In addition to priority access to the service during peak periods.
It’s worth noting that if you signed up for the Founders plan early, you’ll still pay the $ 4.99 per month discount through Nvidia’s Founders for Life program – only new subscribers pay the highest fees.
The free plan is limited to hour-long broadcasts, and while you can sign out and back in immediately, you’ll have to queue to regain access. You’ll still be able to play RTX games like Metro Exodus, but you won’t be able to activate RTX if you’re on the free plan.
Whichever plan you choose, go to the GeForce Now site to sign up and download the client for your platform of choice.
GeForce Now requirements
Nvidia GeForce Now requires the following for use on PC, Mac, Android, and iOS:
- 25 Mbps Internet connection (minimum 15 Mbps) via Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi.
- Any PC with Windows 7 (64-bit) or higher, 4 GB of RAM, a 2.0 GHz or higher dual-core X86 processor, and any DirectX 11 compatible graphics processor.
- Any Mac with macOS 10.10 or higher.
- Any Nvidia Shield TV
- Any Android phone with Android 5.0 or later, 2GB RAM or more. The use of a Bluetooth controller is also highly recommended.
- iPhone or iPad with access to Safari
For other great cloud streaming services, check out our pick of the best game streaming services.
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