What is Nvidia GeForce Now? How do I play? How much does it cost?
What is Nvidia GeForce Now?
Nvidia GeForce Now is a cloud gaming or game streaming service. GeForce Now allows you to play video games streamed to your device without the use of a traditional console or gaming PC.
Nvidia GeForce Now is a platform in the cloud where you can play games you’ve purchased through game marketplaces, such as Steam, Uplay, Battle.net, and so on. Accessing Nvidia GeForce Now is free at the moment, but there is also a paid tier that allows you to access their servers in priority queues and extend your play time limit.
To get started, as with all game streaming services, make sure you have good, stable internet and the basic hardware on which to play.
How do I play on Nvidia GeForce Now?
To get started on Nvidia GeForce Now, sign up for an account through Nvidia. Download the GeForce Now client to your device, launch the application, and login to your new account.
If you prefer to get started on your Android mobile device, begin by downloading the GeForce Now app from the Play store.
Once you login to the GeForce Now client on your preferred device, find and add games through the GeForce Now search interface. If your game was purchased through an online marketplace, such as Steam, you will be prompted to login to Steam using your Steam credentials.
Games are either “Instant Access” or “Single Session Download” on GeForce Now. Instant access means the game is already hosted on the platform and ready to jump in and begin playing. Single session download requires you to download the game to your server in order to play. Single session game downloads are generally very speedy and still allow for a seamless experience to jump in and play.
It’s recommended that you have internet speeds of 15 Mbps or greater, which means you should be ready to use about 7 GB/hr of data at minimum.
If you’re streaming at 1080p and 60 FPS, Nvidia recommends internet speeds of 25 Mbps or greater, meaning 11-12 GB/hr of data at minimum.
You’re able to play GeForce Now on a wide variety of devices, which is a large factor in its appeal. Currently you can access Nvidia GeForce Now on Windows, macOS, Android, and Shield TV.
GeForce Now supports most keyboards and mice, Xbox 360 and Xbox One controllers, DualShock 4 controllers, and Shield controllers. A gamepad is required for GeForce Now on mobile, as Nvidia does not provide or recommend on-screen touch controls.
How much does it cost?
Assuming you already own a Windows computer, a macOS computer, or Android device and have stable internet speeds of at least 15 Mbps, getting started on GeForce Now is free, so long as already own the games you’d like to play from other marketplaces. Their free tier offers a 1-hour session limit, after which users can enter the queue again as many times as they’d like.
The Founders Membership, which will eventually roll into the Premium Membership, is $4.99 per month. The Founders Membership allows for an extended session time limit of 6 hours, access to the priority queue for server access, and RTX on.
Nvidia GeForce Now has faced both support and backlash from many game developers and publishers, causing a large, but fluctuating library of games. At the time of writing, there are around two thousand games available to play on the platform, including many popular free-to-play titles.
Questions?
If you have any other questions about getting started on Nvidia GeForce Now, please let us know in the comments! You can also check out our knowledge base for a price comparison for all cloud gaming services, and much more!