GeForce NOW immediately turns almost any laptop, desktop, Mac, SHIELD TV, Android device, iPhone, or iPad into the PC gaming rig of your dreams.
What is GeForce Now?
Nvidia’s cloud gaming service, GeForce Now, allows you to play a selection of games purchased through Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Ubisoft Connect / Uplay on Nvidia’s servers and stream them over the internet.
Games can be played on platforms other than Android, such as iOS, Windows, Mac, select LG TVs, and the Nvidia Shield TV set-top box.
Exact streaming specifications, including accessible resolutions, differ by device.
Given that the fundamental benefit of cloud gaming is the ability to play games from any device, it’s sad that the highest-quality streaming alternatives have previously been limited by technology. However, with 4K streaming no longer limited to Nvidia’s own hardware, having arrived on Mac and Windows in May, and 120fps gaming now widely available on Android, the entire promise of Nvidia’s cloud gaming is slowly becoming a reality.
Unfortunately, there is no indication that 120fps streaming will be available on the iPhone anytime soon. Because of Apple’s stringent App Store restrictions, Nvidia must broadcast via a web app on iOS, which, if I had to guess, makes development on the platform more difficult compared to others where Nvidia may offer native clients.
Nvidia is also introducing a new in-game prize for Fortnite players who play the game via its cloud gaming service over the next few weeks, in addition to announcing the general rollout of 120fps gaming support on Android (until August 4th). The “Dish-stroyer Pickaxe” will be distributed to GeForce Now users who play during this time period and will be delivered on August 11th.
What is GeForce download?
Play the best PC games on your Android mobile.
NVIDIA GeForce NOW is the official software for this renowned cloud gaming service, which allows you to play over a thousand PC games, many of which are big releases from some of the most well-known firms.
What is GeForce NOW membership?
NVIDIA’s cloud-based game streaming service, GeForce NOW, delivers real-time gameplay directly from the cloud to your laptop, desktop, Mac, SHIELD TV, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Connect to your store accounts to play your favorite free-to-play games or stream your own library of games.
How GeForce Now works
To utilize it, use the appropriate app for Android (including phones and televisions), Windows, or Mac OS, or visit the website on a Chromebook, iPhone, or iPad.
Microsoft Edge compatibility is currently in beta, allowing it to work on an Xbox.
There are also over 117 free-to-play games offered.
You start a supported game from one of your game libraries (mostly Steam and Epic Games Store, but also GOG and launchers for Ubisoft Connect and Origin) and begin playing.
The app connects to the nearest data center, which houses the engine that renders and streams the games to you.
The various game launchers, not Nvidia, handle gameplay synchronisation and account maintenance.
Depending on your plans, you might have to wait a little longer than usual.
Including there are still some significant publisher gaps, like Electronic Arts (and its old “FIFA” series), Activision/Blizzard (Call of Duty, Overwatch), Bandai Namco (Elden Ring), and Rockstar Games (Grand Theft Auto).
Nvidia (and Microsoft) have reintroduced Fortnite gameplay on Apple’s mobile devices. Because it’s done through Safari, Apple’s App Store prohibition on Fortnite does not apply.
You may wonder why particular support is required to play your own games via GeForce Now. There are numerous causes, but they all boil down to two: optimization and licensing.
For high-profile titles, both Nvidia and the publisher have an incentive to ensure you get the greatest possible experience. This may necessitate enabling adaptive sync, activating ray tracing, and determining ways to reduce latency.
GeForce NOW Create Account?
You can create an account from any of the websites or applications that support NVIDIA Accounts, or from the NVIDIA Account admin site, which can be found at www.nvidia.com/en-us/account/.
GeForce Now plans
| Free | Priority | RTX 3080 | |
| Price | Free | $50 for 6 months or $10 a month | $100 for 6 months or $20 per month |
| Max quality (up to) | 1080p/60fps | 1080p/60fps, RTX ray-tracing acceleration | 1440p/120fps and 4K/60fps on PC and Mac (1600p on MacBooks; 4K/60fps with HDR and 7.1 surround audio on Nvidia Shield, 120fps on select Android devices; RTX ray tracing acceleration |
| Session length | 1 hour | 6 hours | 8 hours |
| Access type | Standard access to basic servers | Priority access to premium servers | Exclusive access to top servers |
The RTX 3080 costs a minimum of $16.67 per month, which is significantly higher than Amazon Luna or Google Stadia Pro, both of which are $10 per month, or even Microsoft’s $15-per-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (with Game Pass Cloud Gaming), all of which contain games.
(A complete list of system requirements can be found here.) Keep in mind that bandwidth is simply one of the aspects that can impact your experience, and Nvidia does not provide any maximum packet loss, ping, or jitter specifications.
On mobile, the in-app network test specifies less than 2% packet loss (less than 1% suggested), less than 80ms jitter (less than 40ms recommended), and fewer than 80ms ping (less than 40ms recommended).
The network test results for a phone from GeForce Now reveal what it believes to be good network performance.
Even satisfying those requirements does not ensure a great experience, because network conditions change from millisecond to millisecond, and I’ve started with perfect numbers only to have them substantially degrade midgame. That is not unique to GFN, however.
You can test it out for a month for $20 to see if it’s worth it.
GFN, on the other hand, does not offer a la carte subscription fees as Luna and Stadia do for Ubisoft Plus.
However, GFN does not include access to Ubisoft Plus.
Unsurprisingly, playing at 1440p and 120Hz has higher minimal requirements than the lower tiers.
Nvidia recommends at least 35Mbps bandwidth for gaming, and 40Mbps for 4K gaming.
The more expensive the plan, the more resources Nvidia devotes to addressing whatever network difficulties it can.
Nvidia, like its competitors, advises a wired connection for optimal performance.
However, I believe that the requirement to recommend Ethernet for cloud gaming on anything other than a permanent living-room console or device like the Shield is a strike against all of these services, as it is cumbersome or impracticable for most players.
My router is in the living room, however it is far from anywhere where I can comfortably game without dragging a cable across the room (a hospital visit waiting to happen).
How do I log into GeForce NOW?
Login GeForce now app
Navigate to the GeForce Now window’s upper right corner.
There is a ‘login’ option there.
Then enter the necessary information, such as your NVIDIA account and password. After that, you can utilize your GeForce Now subscription to play games.
Reasons Why You Should Use NVIDIA GeForce Now
If you haven’t tried NVIDIA’s GFN yet, now is the moment.
Cloud game-streaming services continue to grow in popularity, with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass and Cloud Gaming clearly leading the way.
They are, however, not the only show in town. NVIDIA’s GeForce Now service has different membership rates, the ability to stream your own game collection, and thousands of games, with more being added every week.
So, here are five reasons why you should start utilizing NVIDIA GFN.
- Multiple Subscription Tiers
First and foremost, yes, NVIDIA GFN is free.
However, there are other subscription packages available that will improve or enhance your experience.
There are three subscription options for NVIDIA GeForce Now:
- Free: Use a basic configuration to play any of your compatible games.
The Free tier has a one-hour time limit, and during busy hours, you may have to wait for a spot on a GeForce Now server to become available.
- Priority: The Priority tier is $8.99 per month or $49.99 for a six-month subscription.
Your session time is increased to six hours while the hardware is upgraded to an RTX-capable GPU with ray-tracing enabled.
Most games can be played in 1080p at 60 frames per second.
- RTX 3080: The RTX 3080 tier costs $19.99 per month or $99.99 for a six-month subscription.
Your session has been extended to eight hours. Your gear will feature NVIDIA RTX 3080 GPUs with ray tracing enabled, allowing for 1440p gaming at 120FPS.
Everyone will find something they enjoy. If all you want to do with GeForce Now is play a casual game or get a short fix, the Free tier is ideal. However, if you want to use GeForce Now as your primary gaming tool, upgrading to the hefty RTX 3080 package may be worthwhile, especially if you have the necessary internet connection and other hardware (a 1440p TV or monitor is required).
How to Tell What GeForce Now Hardware You’re Using
Although most of the time it’s a lottery (unless you subscribe to the RTX 3080 tier), you may verify the NVIDIA GeForce Now hardware you’re currently utilizing from within the app. After you’ve loaded a game, press CTRL + ALT + F6 to see what kind of hardware you’re using. In the top-right corner, the GeForce Now stream information overlay will appear, displaying the current resolution, data rate, and GPU type.
If you can’t tell from the screenshot above, I’m connecting to the NVIDIA GeForce Now server EU-West, using a GeForce GTX 1080d, and receiving approximately 30FPS but only at 720p owing to my network connection.
- Play Your Favorite Games Wherever You Are
NVIDIA GeForce Now is accessible on a variety of platforms, allowing you to take your favorite games with you wherever you go.
GeForce Now is available on macOS, Windows, Chrome OS, NVIDIA Shield, Android, iOS, Android TV, and LG TV, among other platforms.
Although there is no Raspberry Pi version of GeForce Now, hobbyists are bringing the game streaming platform to the little computer.
Although the quality of your experience is still dependent on your device and internet connection, the ability to stream your complete game library to a portable device or another device in your home makes NVIDIA GeForce Now preferable to Google Stadia.
- Minimal System Requirements
As previously stated, your NVIDIA GeForce Now is significantly reliant on your internet connection. Furthermore, while GeForce Now works with a pretty simple set of system requirements, if you want to upgrade to the RTX 3080 tier, you must have access to certain specifications, or it will simply not work properly.
It should be noted that GeForce Now will not assist you in optimizing games that you already possess. If you’re an NVIDIA user, you’ll need to use GeForce Experience or the NVIDIA Control Panel for this.
The main focus is on internet connectivity: GeForce NOW requires at least 15Mbps for 720p at 60 frames per second and 25Mbps for 1080p at 60 frames per second. We also need an NVIDIA data center with a latency of less than 80ms. However, for the greatest experience, keep it within 40ms.
However, according to NVIDIA’s System Requirements page, the requirements for the RTX 3080 tier are much higher:
GeForce NOW requires at least 40Mbps to stream up to 4K at 60 frames per second. A hardwired Ethernet connection or a 5GHz wireless router is also recommended.
Individual requirements for various devices exist as well, but these primarily relate the most recent operating system or software versions.
In principle, you should be able to utilize NVIDIA GeForce Now while connected to a 4G network (with a maximum speed of roughly 100-150Mbps), although connection issues can result in patchy performance. Those with a 5G connection will be able to game with the RTX 3080 tier as long as the 5G connection is operational and fully functional.
- Support for Thousands of Games, Multiple Game Services
Game and library support is one of NVIDIA GeForce Now’s finest features. Connecting GeForce Now to Steam, Epic Games, Uplay, Origin, or GOG is straightforward, allowing you to play any compatible game in your collection over the internet.
NVIDIA’s official Game Support page has a comprehensive list, including support for games that use independent launchers, such as Albion Online or Guild Wars 2.
- Cross-Platform Support
Did you know that NVIDIA GeForce Now supports multiple platforms? Surprisingly, you are not restricted to playing with other GeForce Now users, and when you open your online game, you are playing alongside everyone else, regardless of platform. That means you may wind up playing against someone who is using GeForce Now on Chrome OS, someone who is using their regular PC, and someone who is using macOS.
The cross-platform support for GeForce Now isn’t all that mysterious.
When you utilize it, you launch an instance of the actual host service, such as Steam or Origin, and then run your game from there.
NVIDIA is only supporting the cloud streaming component of it all, so you appear normal in the game.
It’s Time to Start Using NVIDIA GeForce Now
The company’s continuous commitment to GeForce Now development should demonstrate how much time and effort it is willing to put into its cloud gaming platform.
While not the first to market, GeForce Now provided a game streaming service that functioned right out of the box.
For many customers, it was the first time a cloud gaming service had done exactly what gamers had been asking for years: access to their existing game library through the cloud, without having to repurchase titles or become locked into a fancy new ecosystem that might not stay.
While the Free tier may not suit you if you play a lot of cloud games, you can subscribe to a premium subscription, making GeForce Now an ideal alternative for gamers of all skill levels.
GeForce Now Fortnite: Can it play on Fortnite?
All current Fortnite game modes, including Battle Royale, Zero Build, Impostors, Save the World, and community-made games, are available to play on GeForce NOW from the cloud on Windows PC, macOS,Android TV,NVIDIA SHIELD TV, and LG TV.
Is GeForce now trustworthy?
The Nvidia GeForce Now experience is undeniably one of the best available right now, not only in terms of low latency performance but also visuals, frame rate, and detail, but much of that experience is dependent on whatever GFN tier you subscribe to.
Is GeForce NOW Linux?
Nvidia’s GeForce NOW game streaming service has a Linux desktop client. GeForce NOW is a game streaming service that allows you to play a large range of games from numerous stores on any device, including the most demanding titles, without the need for powerful hardware.
FAQs
Is GeForce NOW free?
Join GeForce NOW and get started for free. Alternatively, you can upgrade your subscription to have faster access to our cloud gaming servers and longer gameplay sessions.
Is GeForce NOW free 1 hour per day?
The Free tier has a one-hour time limit, Priority subscribers get up to six hours per session, and RTX 3080 subscribers have eight hour sessions. There is no predetermined limit to how many sessions you can start in a single day.
Can my PC now run GeForce?
Nvidia’s service is also accessible via Safari on Macs, Chromebooks, Nvidia’s Shield TV video player, Android devices, and iOS devices. Chrome is also compatible with Windows and Mac.
Is GeForce NOW any good?
The Nvidia GeForce Now experience is undeniably one of the best available right now, not only in terms of low latency performance but also visuals, frame rate, and detail, but much of that experience is dependent on whatever GFN tier you subscribe to.
Is GTA V on GeForce now?
GTA V is not yet available on GeForce Now at the time of writing.
This appears to be a long-standing issue, as tweets from May 2020 asked whether GTA V would be included.
It’s possible that Rockstar made a deal with Google Stadia.
Can you play Fortnite on GeForce now?
After signing up for the service, you can use a native GeForce NOW app or a web browser to play Fortnite via cloud streaming on GeForce NOW.
Individual apps are available for Windows PC, macOS, Android, Android TV, and LG TV.
Is GeForce NOW free download?
The free subscription only allows you to access the basic servers and play in one-hour sessions, but it will be more than enough to see if you enjoy the experience.
Can you play GeForce NOW on browser?
To begin, navigate to https://play.geforcenow.com(Opens in a new window) in your Chrome browser.
In our study, we found GeForce Now to be similar to game-streaming competitors like Google Stadia and Amazon Luna—”a versatile and welcoming service for playing PC games you already own on your non-gaming-PC devices.”
Can you play GeForce NOW mobile device?
It certainly is. When playing Fortnite on GeForce NOW, Android players will gain access to on-screen touch controls and related game menus when using the GeForce NOW Android app.
