Cloud game-streaming services go from strength to strength, and Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass and Cloud Gaming are certainly the front-runners in this competitive field.

However, they're not the only show in town. NVIDIA's GeForce Now offers multiple subscription tiers, the option to stream your own game library, and supports thousands of games, with more added each week.

So, here are five reasons why it's time for you to start using NVIDIA GeForce Now.

1. Multiple Subscription Tiers

First up, yes, NVIDIA GeForce Now is free. However, there are also multiple subscription tiers available that boost or enhance your experience.

NVIDIA GeForce Now has three subscription tiers:

  • Free: Play any of your compatible games on a basic configuration. The Free tier has a time restriction of one hour, and during peak times, you may have to wait for a slot to become available on a GeForce Now server.
  • Priority: The Priority tier costs $8.99 per month or $49.99 for six months. Your session length extends to six hours, while the hardware upgrades to an RTX-capable card with ray-tracing enabled. Most games are playable in 1080p at 60FPS.
  • RTX 3080: The RTX 3080 tier costs $19.99 per month or $99.99 for six months. Your session length extends to eight hours. Your hardware is guaranteed to use NVIDIA RTX 3080 GPUs with ray tracing enabled, enabling 1440p gaming at 120FPS.

There's something for everyone. If you're only using GeForce Now to play a casual game or for a quick fix, the Free tier works really well. However, if you're going to use GeForce Now as your main gaming tool, upgrading to the meaty RTX 3080 package could be worthwhile, especially if you have the internet connection and other hardware to support it (you'll need a TV or monitor capable of 1440p).

How to Tell What GeForce Now Hardware You're Using

Although it is a lottery for the most part (unless you subscribe to the RTX 3080 tier), you can check the NVIDIA GeForce Now hardware you're currently using from within the app. Once you load a game, press CTRL + ALT + F6 to reveal what hardware you're using. The GeForce Now stream information overlay will appear in the top-right corner, showing the current resolution, data rate, and type of GPU you're using.

nvidia geforce now server information on screen

If you cannot read what's going on in the above image, it says I'm connected to NVIDIA GeForce Now server EU-West, using a GeForce GTX 1080d, getting around 30FPS, but only at 720p due to my network connection.

2. Play Your Favorite Games Wherever You Are

NVIDIA GeForce Now is available on heaps of platforms, meaning you can take your favorite games anywhere. GeForce Now really is everywhere, and you'll find the app on macOS, Windows, Chrome OS, NVIDIA Shield, Android, iOS, Android TV, and LG TV. And although there is no specific Raspberry Pi version of GeForce Now, that hasn't stopped enthusiasts bringing the game streaming platform to the tiny computer.

Although the quality of your experience still relates to your device and internet connection, having the option to stream your entire game library to a portable device or another device in your home makes NVIDIA GeForce Now well worth using over a platform like Google Stadia.

3. Minimal System Requirements

As above, your NVIDIA GeForce Now depends heavily on your internet connection. Furthermore, while GeForce Now does work with a relatively pared-back set of system requirements, if you want to upgrade to the RTX 3080 tier, there are certain specifications you must have access to, or it simply won't work properly.

Note that GeForce Now won't help optimize games you already own. For that, you need to use GeForce Experience or the NVIDIA Control Panel if you're an NVIDIA user.

The biggest focus is internet connectivity:

GeForce NOW requires at least 15Mbps for 720p at 60 FPS and 25Mbps for 1080p at 60 FPS. We also require less than 80ms latency from an NVIDIA data center. However, for the best experience, we recommend less than 40ms.

However, according to NVIDIA's System Requirements page, those requirements jump significantly for the RTX 3080 tier:

GeForce NOW requires at least 40Mbps for streaming up to 4K at 60 FPS. We also recommend a hardwired Ethernet connection or 5GHz wireless router.

There are also individual requirements for specific devices, but these largely concern the latest operating system or software versions.

In theory, you should be able to use NVIDIA GeForce Now while using a 4G connection (which has a maximum speed of around 100-150Mbps), though connection issues can deliver spotty performance. Those using a 5G connection will be able to game using the RTX 3080 tier, so long as the 5G connection is working properly and to its full capacity.

4. Support for Thousands of Games, Multiple Game Services

One of NVIDIA GeForce Now's best features is its game and library support. It's simple to connect GeForce Now with Steam, Epic Games, Uplay, Origin, or GOG, meaning you can play any compatible game you own in your library over the internet.

NVIDIA's official Game Support page features a full list, including support for games with standalone launchers like Albion Online or Guild Wars 2.

nvidia geforce now home page with game listings

5. Cross-Platform Support

Did you know that NVIDIA GeForce Now also includes cross-platform support? Interestingly, you're not limited to playing with other GeForce Now users, and when you launch your online game, you're playing alongside everyone else, regardless of platform. That means you could actually end up playing against someone using GeForce Now on Chrome OS, versus someone on their regular PC, versus someone else using macOS.

nvidia geforce now settings page

GeForce Now's cross-platform support isn't actually that big a mystery. Each time you use it, you're launching an instance of the actual host service, like Steam or Origin, then running your game from there. NVIDIA is just facilitating the cloud streaming aspect of it all, which means you appear like normal within the game.

It's Time to Start Using NVIDIA GeForce Now

NVIDIA's ongoing dedication to GeForce Now development should illustrate how much time and effort the company is willing to put into its cloud gaming platform. While it wasn't the first to market, GeForce Now delivered a game streaming service that worked out of the box, first time.

For many users, it represented the first time a cloud gaming service had done exactly what gamers had requested for years: access to their existing game library via the cloud, without having to rebuy games or get stuck within a fancy new ecosystem that may not last.

And while the Free tier might not suit you if you're playing heaps of cloud games, you have the option to upgrade for a premium service, something that makes GeForce Now an excellent option for gamers of all calibers.