Until very recently, Nvidia sold its products via an indirect circuit. The Californian founder distributed graphics chipsets to graphics card manufacturers (for example, MSI). And it is the latter that markets its cards to end users. Shield range was the exception that proved the rule until now.
GeForce Now is another. In beta since early 2018, GeForce Now is a streaming gaming service (or “Cloud Gaming”) that uses the cloud to play games on any compatible platform. Among them, of course, you will also find the Shield TV. Android computers and smartphones.
Commercially released on February 4, 2020GeForce Now offers to play a catalog of games installed (and updated in real time) on the company’s servers. The user receives a video stream of his game. Thanks to this system, not all the power required to run the most demanding games comes from the player’s equipment. this means many connected devices are theoretically compatible. The quality of service (image definition, refresh rate, responsiveness) will largely depend on your connection.
It’s a service that competes head-to-head with Google’s Stadia but avoids some of the flaws noted by testers and gamers. like getting a special license for each gameand the obligation to pay for the service. GeForce Now offers a similar experience to PlayStation Now at Sony and Project xCloud at Microsoft, but unlike the latter, each gamer can only access the games they own (and are available for free). Other competitors include BlackNut, Shadow and Vortex. The economic model is mixed with a free offer and a paid offer. We break down all the details here.
What is the price of GeForce Now?
The GeForce Now service is available in two offerings: one free one paid. The latter sells for 9.99 euros per month or 49.99 euros for 6 months. If you want to take advantage of the full power of the RTX 3080, it will cost €19.99. A novelty for 2022, as this offer was only valid for 6 months before, up to € 99.99.
The free service provides access to all games on the platform, as do players of the paid version. However, there are three restrictions. Before anything else, free version sessions are limited to one hour. After an hour the game is over. It is possible to continue by logging in again. There is no limit to the number of daily sessions.
The second limitation players of the free version must go through a queue to connect to servers. This queue is longer or shorter depending on the number of players present in a session and the players waiting their turn. Finally, free version players do not benefit from ray tracing in compatible. Note that no ads are shown for players of the free version.
The paid service unlocks or expands some of the limitations of the free service. First, ray tracing is enabled. Next game sessions are increased to six hours. After six hours, players are disconnected and must reconnect to continue the game. Players of the paid version only no queues and has priority during busy periods.
The subscription does not include a time commitment. 90-day trial period It is offered to every player who wants to try the services of the paid version and test the limits of their Internet connection.
What platforms does GeForce Now support?
GeForce Now is compatible with many platforms. Theoretically compatible Any system that connects to the Internet, supports Bluetooth game controllers, and plays video in H264 (and soon H265) format. However, initially, client software is required to connect to the servers, which limits the compatibility list.
The list of compatible platforms includes: Some living room decoders under Android TV (including Nvidia’s Shield TVs), all new mid-range and high-end Android smartphonesand computers running Windows and macOS. In early 2022, Samsung announced that it will also offer cloud gaming service in the interfaces of its future TVs. The firm is following in the footsteps of LG, which has been doing the same since 2021.
Chromebooks will be supported later in 2020. A web browser version is also being developed to include platforms such as Linux on the list.
iOS devices (iPhone and iPad) and game consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Switch) not compatible.
Players therefore need to install client software in order to connect to the GeForce Now service. The latter, which weighs about a hundred megabytes on Mac and PC, lets you browse the game library, connect to an external online store (like Steam), and sign up with your Nvidia GeForce Now credentials.
What is the recommended minimum configuration?
Since all the computing power is powered by Nvidia’s servers, the recommended minimum configuration is much lower than the games require. However, some prerequisites are recommended depending on the type of platform used. First, the Internet connection. Must be at least 15Mbps. Then the connection between your modem and device should be fine: ac 5 GHz WiFi connection or Ethernet cable recommended.
If you are using a PC, the minimum configuration is as follows: Windows 7 (64-bit version)4 GB RAM, dual core x86 processor running at 2 GHz and DirectX 11 compatible graphics processor. If you are using a Mac, the minimum configuration macOS 10.10 and a relatively new configuration. The full list of compatible Macs is available on the official website.
If you are using Android, the smartphone or tablet must be running on Android. Android 5.0 Lollipop or higher and have at least 2 GB of RAM. Shield TVs (standard or Pro) released in 2015, 2017 and 2019 are compatible. Using a joystick is highly recommended. Many wireless models are compatible with GeForce Now. In addition to the Shield Controller, Nvidia lists some on its site from brands such as Razer, Junglecat or Steelseries.
What internet connection is recommended to play GeForce Now?
The recommended connection to take advantage of GeForce Now is fiber optic access with a speed of 50 Mb/s. This connection allows you to play all games in Full HD at 60 frames per second without lag. With this setting, GeForce Now consumes 10GB per game hour.
The minimum setting supported by GeForce Now is HD (720p) video streaming at 60 frames per second. According to Nvidia, this image quality requires: 15Mbps connection. A “good” ADSL connection is enough to enjoy it. According to Nvidia, GeForce Now will be playable on the go thanks to 5G networks.
The GeForce Now client, which can be installed on PC and Mac, includes a tool to test the stability and throughput of the connection to the servers. At the end of the test, the tool recommends the most suitable setting based on the results. Note that it is possible to manually adjust the reception quality: optimized, economical or competitive. It is also possible to adjust the image quality yourself.
Finally, according to Nvidia, GeForce Now servers will theoretically be able to stream games in 4K and HDR. But the setting is not enabled due to bandwidth consumption.
Do you have to buy the games available in the GeForce Now library?
There are two types of games available on GeForce Now: free to play titlesfreely accessible, and paid titles. These require the player to have a business license. Second, it may have been purchased from one of the compatible stores: Steam, Epic Game Store, Uplay or Battle.net.
When the player is connected to their GeForce Now account and wants to start a game that is in their personal toy library, the platform confirms the purchase from the relevant store and starts the game as if from a regular gaming PC.
On Stadia, players must purchase a special operating license for games accessible on the platform, even if they own the same game on a different platform. That’s not the case with GeForce Now reuses previously purchased licenses. Note that you can purchase licenses through GeForce Now for games you don’t own. However, even if you cancel your GeForce Now subscription, the game will remain yours. It will be accessible from the store where the purchase was made.
How many games are compatible with GeForce Now?
At launch, hundreds of games are compatible with GeForce Now. However, we must distinguish between two categories: free-to-play and popular paid games. In the first category, GeForce Now has around thirty pre-loaded free gamesIncluding Fortnite, Warframe, World of Tanks and League of Legends.
In the second category, the number of services More than 300 pre-loaded premium gamesIncluding The Witcher 3, Wolfenstein Youngblood, Deliver Us the Moon, Destiny 2 and even Metro Exodus. Games will be added regularly (Nvidia promises new games every week in the premium games category). Some titles are very new, some are a little less so. All genres are represented.
