Nvidia has officially launched its cloud game streaming service, GeForce Now, here in the UK. But what is GeForce Now, how does it work, what games can you stream, how do you sign up and is it worth it?
What is GeForce Now?
In Nvidia’s own words, GeForce Now is basically a Netflix-style service for games. You pay a monthly fee and then can stream a catalogue of over 50 games as much as you like, direct from Nvidia’s servers to your Nvidia Shield device.
These games aren’t downloaded or installed on your Shield device; they actually run on those beefy cloud servers, meaning you don’t need to fork out for expensive new tech to run the very latest, super-demanding titles. Here in the UK we’ll be streaming from Nvidia’s Dublin servers and quality is impressive, with up to 1080p graphics at 60fps possible.
GeForce Now is actually more like Amazon Prime Video than Netflix, however, as the catalogue of free games is supplemented by some of the very latest titles which you have to pay extra for. Games such as the Witcher 3 cost pretty much the same as their Steam counterparts, and after paying that one-off fee you can stream your chosen game as often as you like, as with the other GeForce Now games. Most of these games also come with a download code, so you can grab a local copy if you end your GeForce Now subscription.
Nvidia has already had a beta-style crack at cloud gaming, in the form of Nvidia GRID. GRID was a huge success, offering up zero latency for a smooth and satisfying experience. Check out our full review for an idea of what to expect.
What games can I stream and buy on GeForce Now?
There are over 50 games on GeForce Now to stream, including lots of big titles. The Batman series, Borderlands, Lego games, Homefront, Grid and indie games such as Stacking and The Vanishing of Ethan Carter are all present and correct, with new titles added regularly by Nvidia.
Nvidia also removes titles that don’t get much love, so make sure you play your favourites first in case they disappear.
The latest games including The Witcher 3, Saints Row: Gat out of Hell and Resident Evil: Revelations 2 can be bought to stream also.
How do I get GeForce Now?
GeForce Now is available on Nvidia’s Shield devices. Bag yourself an Nvidia Shield TV from October 1st here in the UK and you can stream direct to your telly.
How much does GeForce Now cost in the UK?
GeForce Now is free for the first three months so you can make sure you like it before stumping up any cash. After your trial period ends, the Now service costs £7.49 per month.
Should I get GeForce Now?
GeForce Now is a great little service that gives gamers of all ages a range of titles to play, at little cost compared with the price of a hot new game. Built-in parental controls also make it a good service for anyone with younger kids, as you can make sure they only play games suitable for their age.
Of course, you should make sure that your internet connection is strong enough to handle game streaming, which is where the three month trial comes in handy.
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