Cloud Gaming Services, Speeds and Setup

Cloud gaming lets you play games that run on powerful computers in a data center, with the video streamed to your screen and your controller inputs sent back over the internet. It means you can play demanding games on a basic laptop, a phone, a smart TV or a cheap streaming device, without buying a console or gaming PC. Whether it works well depends mostly on your internet connection.

The main services

• NVIDIA GeForce NOW streams games you already own on stores such as Steam and Epic, with free and paid tiers.
• Xbox Cloud Gaming is included with the top Xbox Game Pass subscription and streams a rotating library of games.
• PlayStation Plus Premium includes streaming of a selection of PlayStation games.

Not every attempt has lasted. Google's Stadia service closed in January 2023, about three years after launch, and Google refunded players' hardware and game purchases. Its closure is a reminder that buying games tied to a single streaming service carries some risk.

How it works behind the scenes

When you press a button, the input travels to a data center, the game updates on a server's graphics card, the new frame is compressed into video, and the video travels back to your screen to be decoded and shown. All of this happens dozens of times a second. Each step adds a few milliseconds, which is why distance to the data center and the quality of your home network matter so much. Services invest in data centers spread across many regions to keep that round trip short.

What you need

• Speed: services generally recommend at least 15 to 25 megabits per second for smooth 1080p play, and considerably more for 4K. Check your plan's real speed with a speed test at the times you usually play.
• A wired or 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection: an Ethernet cable is best. If you use Wi-Fi, connect to the 5 GHz or 6 GHz band and sit near the router.
• Low latency: latency, or lag, is the delay between pressing a button and seeing the result. Living closer to the service's data centers helps.
• A data allowance: streaming games uses a lot of data, often several gigabytes per hour at 1080p and much more at 4K. People on capped mobile or broadband plans should check their limits.
• A controller: most services support common Bluetooth controllers.

What it's good for

Cloud gaming works well for single-player adventure games, role-playing games, strategy and casual titles, where a small delay is barely noticeable. It's also a good way to try a game before buying, or to keep playing on a laptop while traveling.

Where it struggles

Fast competitive games, such as online shooters and fighting games, are less forgiving. Even a few dozen milliseconds of extra delay can matter to competitive players, and video compression can blur fine detail during fast movement. Busy home networks, with others streaming video at the same time, can cause stutters.

Cost compared with a console

A subscription spreads the cost over time instead of a large upfront purchase. Over several years, subscription fees can add up to more than the price of a console, but there's no hardware to replace when a new generation arrives. Many players use both: a console or PC at home and cloud streaming on the go.

Where you can play

Most services run in a web browser on Windows and Mac computers, through apps on Android and iPhone, and on many recent smart TVs and streaming sticks, including models from Samsung, LG and Amazon Fire TV. Some cars with large screens have also added cloud gaming apps for use while parked or charging.

Owning versus subscribing

With subscription libraries, games come and go. A game you're halfway through may leave the catalog, though services usually give advance notice and sometimes let you buy it at a discount. GeForce NOW takes a different approach by streaming games you own on other stores, so your library stays yours even if you stop using the service.

Tips for a smoother experience

• Close other streaming and downloads on the network while playing.
• Turn on any "game mode" setting on your TV to reduce display lag.
• Choose a lower streaming resolution if the picture stutters; smoothness matters more than sharpness.
• Use the service's built-in network test to find the best settings.