Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Deals

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Play AAA games anywhere and on nearly any device with NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW

By

This content was produced in partnership with NVIDIA.

Gone are the days where you have to splurge on an expensive PC, or parts to build one, just to enjoy the latest games. Yes, you can still do that, but you can also utilize a streaming platform to play on just about any device, anywhere. With NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW you get the latest generation of PC gaming on a system of your choosing, all accessible and streaming from the cloud.

GeForce NOW upgrades nearly any device to a powerful gaming PC with a GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card or GPU. It delivers 1440p gaming at 120 frames per second on PC and Mac, and immersive gaming sessions in 4K HDR on NVIDIA SHIELD TV. No more obsessing over that frame count. Check it out for yourself below, or keep reading to learn more about how it all works and why you should give it a try.

Start Playing Now

Why use NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW instead of a traditional rig?

Playing games with GeForce Now on a laptop.

If you already have a rig with decent hardware, capable of playing all modern games, then GeForce NOW probably won’t seem enticing to you up front. But because of how it works, you may opt to use GeForce NOW as an alternative. You see, GeForce NOW allows you to play on any device you wouldn’t normally, including smart TVs, Android smartphones, Chromebooks, and more. You can stream and play AAA games at 60 fps on just about any device. Imagine picking up where you left off during a commute, at a friend’s place, on break, or remotely from any location where there’s internet access available. It means you can keep on gaming even when you leave that beautiful rig of yours behind.

If you don’t already have a powerful gaming rig, and can’t stomach the cost of getting one, listen up because you’re going to like this. Gamers with the Priority membership get access to a premium rig that’s powerful enough to deliver beautiful, cinematic ray-traced graphics with RTX ON gaming at up to 1080p and 60 fps. The maximized RTX 3080 tier takes your gaming to the highest level with exclusive access to an RTX 3080-powered server and 4K resolution gaming at up to 120 frames per second via the PC and Mac applications. So, even if you have to dust off that dingy old laptop or Mac you own, or you just want to game from a Chromebook or a newer Mac GeForce NOW is one of the most convenient ways to make it happen with exceptional performance. It’s not just about being able to play from anywhere, but also being able to play from virtually any device.

Gamer playing on a smartphone with GeForce Now while away from home.

Consider for a moment, the Mac owner who swapped to the Apple ecosystem but misses the gaming experience of a PC. Or, the gamers who want to play the latest games, but don’t have 2k+ to drop on a brand new custom rig, pre-built, or a gaming laptop. What if you’re just tired of game updates and keeping track of all the games you own across so many different launchers? GeForce NOW fixes all of those potential issues, because it updates in the cloud over time, so there are no upgrades needed, just a reliable internet connection. You can connect and play games on nearly anything you own, old or new, and you don’t have to worry about meeting minimum specifications for the latest titles. The GeForce NOW servers handle the performance load and stream it directly to you.

Moreover, because you’re not upgrading hardware, buying new systems, or even consoles, it’s a much more affordable option for those on a budget. You don’t have to worry about updating all of your software or games when you get a moment to play either. That’s all done via the cloud on GeForce NOW’s side, so when you’re ready to play, just launch the dedicated app, connect, and off you go!

What’s up with the sessions?

You can start a gaming session from any compatible device so long as you have a reliable internet connection. While that sounds great, you’re probably wondering how it works. Here’s the breakdown:

  • When you start gaming, that is called a “session.”
  • You will be connected to the appropriate server and can start gaming right away, utilizing the full power of the remote machine.
  • For your entire session you can enjoy high-resolution and high-frame-rate gaming with no interruptions, provided you have a reliable internet connection.
  • At the end of the session, determined by your tier, you will be disconnected from the server.

Starting with the free tier, you only get a one-hour session length each time. You can always rejoin after the session, but how long you have to wait in the queue depends on how busy the GeForce NOW servers are. The next tier, Priority, gives you six-hour sessions, while the RTX 3080 tier supports the maximum eight-hour sessions. So, the longer the session length, the longer you can play each time before potentially entering a queue.

What about the games?

NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW is meant to provide you access to games you already own, and compatible free-to-play games. You also get the latest and greatest titles coming to the service every GFN Thursday, a weekly celebration of the service, new features, the latest news, and much more.

You can see a full list of games available at NVIDIA’s site.

Rig or no rig, GeForce NOW is still great to have

Woman playing games on a smartphone with GeForce Now in coffee shop.

At the end of the day, NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW cloud platform is going to allow you to continue gaming anywhere, even while on the go, but not from some underpowered, less-than-stellar portable computer. You get full access to a capable gaming rig, which includes an RTX 3080 if you want one, at 60 to 120 fps, on nearly any device — your smartphone, smart TV, laptop, and more. Playing from a coffee shop? Check. Playing while visiting friends and family? Check. How about playing during some downtime while in class or at work? You can do that too. Don’t have the money to upgrade your custom rig or grab a new pre-built? No problem, you don’t have to worry about specs, you can play from old devices, mobile devices, and much more.

After signing up, all you have to do is log in, choose your game, and off you go. Depending on the tier you’re subscribed to, you’ll get up to eight hours of gaming time before you have to reconnect to the server. And don’t worry, it’s never a surprise — you will receive countdown alerts and warnings to make sure your games are saved before you’re disconnected.

From someone who owns a custom-built PC and spends a lot of time in their office, this service is a real treat to use. Why not at least give it a try now, and see how much you like it?

Start Playing Now

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Briley Kenney
Briley Kenney
Senior SEO Copywriter
Briley has been writing about consumer electronics and technology for over a decade. When he's not writing about deals for…
Best Buy 48-hour flash sale discounts Dyson cordless vacuums
Dyson V15 Detect

Best Buy's 48-hour flash sale includes price cuts for various models of Dyson cordless vacuums, so if you've had an eye on these cleaning devices for a while, now's your chance to get one for much cheaper than usual. There are a lot of options to choose from though, so we've gathered our favorite Dyson deals to help you with your decision. You shouldn't wait until the last minute of the sale to make your purchase because stocks may be gone by then, so if you see an offer that you like, you should buy it immediately.
Dyson V7 Advanced Origin -- $300, was $400

The Dyson V7 Advanced Origin is one of the brand's more affordable cordless vacuums, but it still has what it takes to keep your whole home clean with its powerful suction and whole-machine filtration that captures pet allergens and fine dust while expelling clean air. The cordless vacuum also features a detangling Motorbar cleaner head, which deep cleans carpets and hard floors while clearing pet hair from the brush bar using hair removal vanes. It quickly switches to a handheld vacuum with one click, and it can run for up to 40 minutes on a single charge.

Read more
GoPro Hero 11 Black action camera is $100 off at Best Buy
The GoPro Hero 11 Black on a rock with barnacles next to the ocean.

If you've been waiting for a discount on the GoPro Hero 11 Black, check this out -- the action camera is down to $400 from Best Buy, for savings of $100 on its original price of $500. GoPro is still the most trusted name in the action camera space, so we expect this offer to attract a lot of attention and possibly sell out quickly. If you want to get the device for cheaper than usual, you're going to have to proceed with the purchase as soon as you can.

Why you should buy the GoPro Hero 11 Black
The GoPro Hero 11 Black looks very similar to the GoPro Hero 10 Black, which is a pro-consumer move because that means you can keep using accessories from the older model when you upgrade. All of the improvements are under the hood though, including a larger sensor that will let you shoot horizontal and vertical footage at the same time without having to choose between the two formats. The GoPro Hero 11 Black can shoot 5.3K video at up to 60 frames per second, 4K at up to 120 frames per second, and 2.7K at up to 240 frames per second for super slow-motion.

Read more
HP printers are heavily discounted in Best Buy’s flash sale
The HP - OfficeJet Pro 8034e Wireless All-In-One Inkjet Printer on a desk with a smartphone.

There’s good news in store if you’re looking to land a new printer at a discount this weekend. Best Buy is having a 48-hour flash sale on HP printers, with several that can compete with the best printers seeing some good prices. HP is almost always one of the best laptop brands, and it’s one of the same when it comes to printers. So if you’re looking for a new home or office printer, read onward on how to save on an HP printer at Best Buy.
HP DeskJet 2755e — $60, was $85

The HP DeskJet 2755e is a good entry-level printer. It’s got you covered if your printing needs are pretty basic, or if you don’t need to print in mass. This is a color InkJet printer, which makes it good for almost all uses. It can also make copies and scan in color, and it has mobile and wireless printing functionality. You can get set up quickly and easily with the HP Smart app that guides you through the setup process, and you can also use this app to print, scan and copy documents from your phone.

Read more