Nvidia announced some new features for its cloud game service in the process virtual CES press conference. The company is upgrading its premium plan by adding new servers with better hardware components. Users in the $19.99 plan should expect better performance for more demanding games.
The company is currently using GeForce RTX 4080 graphics processing units on its high-end servers. Prior to today, users paying for the most expensive subscription could access servers with server-grade GPUs comparable to GeForce RTX 3080 GPUs.
As a reminder, GeForce Now lets you play your own games from the cloud. The game is running in a data center near you, and the video feed is then forwarded to your device. GeForce Now supports Windows, macOS, Android (as well as Android TV) and several web browsers (including Safari on iPhone and iPad).
GeForce Now customers still have to purchase games on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and other digital stores — they own the game even if they stop subscribing to the service. But the biggest problem with the service is that some game publishers refuse to let Nvidia support their games on GeForce Now. Current 1,500 games supported, including Fortnite, League of Legends, Cyberpunk 2077, and many Ubisoft games. But you can’t play Overwatch 2 or Elden Ring, for example.
Customers can try GeForce Now for free. There is a queuing system and you are limited to 60-minute gameplay sessions. If you want to use the service daily, a ‘Preferred’ membership lets you launch the game instantly and play for up to six hours at a time for $9.99 per month. You are limited to 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second.
Last year, Nvidia added a premium tier called GeForce Now RTX 3080 for $19.99 per month. Due to today’s update, this level will have a new name. The company is now calling it GeForce Now Ultimate.
In addition to access to more powerful servers, GeForce Now Ultimate supports 4K resolutions. If you have a gaming monitor, the Ultimate membership now also supports 240Hz (up from 120Hz). Users can also enable Nvidia-exclusive features, such as DLSS 3 and Nvidia Reflex.
If you have an Nvidia G-Sync monitor, GeForce Now will adjust your streaming speed depending on how many frames per second you get in your Nvidia Reflex-compatible game. That’s neat! But if you have an Nvidia G-Sync monitor, it’s likely that you also have a gaming PC so you may not need GeForce Now.
Existing GeForce Now RTX 3080 members will be automatically upgraded to the GeForce Now Ultimate plan at the end of January. GeForce Now Ultimate will still cost $19.99 per month.
