With a new generation of video gaming looming on the horizon, gamers are bracing for an exciting, albeit potentially awkward, transitional phase. Most crucially, with many major console and PC component manufacturers setting their sites on game streaming, most are left wondering if it’s time to opt-in to services like Google Stadia and Project xCloud, or if that kind of tech still isn’t quite ready for the primetime.
The recently launched GeForce Now, helmed by longtime PC parts and peripherals manufacturer Nvidia, boasts some interesting innovations when compared to the competition, but could a fragmenting market and a relatively high barrier to entry keep if from succeeding? Let’s find out!
10 Succeed: It’s Inexpensive
When Google Stadia’s premium edition first launched in late 2019, it was more or less declared dead on arrival, and a major reason for that was its numerous, bizarre paywalls. Alongside paying for the service, users are also charged full price for every game they purchase, and there’s no guarantee that they’ll be refunded should the service be shut down.
When it comes to entry fees, Nvidia is cheap at five dollars per month for the premium edition, with a totally free edition—which is limited to one hour per session—also available. As of early 2020, it’s one of the most cost-effective game streaming options out there, though there are still caveats.
9 Fail: Publishers Pulling Games
Though Nvidia claims to boast a suite of compatible titles across Steam, Uplay, and the Epic Games Store, it’s no secret that several high-profile titles have recently disappeared from the service.
That’s because companies like Activision Blizzard and Bethesda are presumably looking to either partner with another game streaming platform or launch their own. This means that exceedingly popular titles like Overwatch, Doom Eternal, or any of the Call of Duty games won’t appear on the service. This could definitely negatively impact Geforce Now’s future, as a platform that primarily advertises access to your personal games library shouldn’t be riddled with exceptions.
8 Succeed: Nvidia Shield Support
Originally launched in 2015, Nvidia Shield was a suite of game streaming devices intended to make PC gaming more accessible to casual players. Shield made it possible to stream games from a PC to a TV via a wifi connection without sacrificing visual fidelity or playability. It could also work with apps like Netflix and Hulu and was billed as an all-in-one entertainment device.
GeForce Now ensures that players no longer need a powerful gaming rig to stream new titles, and, with various handheld offerings, the service could provide the game streaming on the go experience we’ve all been waiting for.
7 Fail: Serious Competition
GeForce Now would seem like a successful—albeit niche—service were it totally unique, but, given the competition against which it must contend, breaking the mold and attracting gamers will be tough.
At the moment, Google Stadia seems to have captivated the attention of many, and, though most of the press is negative, the fact that it’s being talked about at all distracts from Nvidia’s efforts. Additionally, with Microsoft’s Project xCloud, PlayStation Now, and smaller-scale endeavors like Apple Arcade and Shadow vying for visibility, Nvidia may not be able to pull ahead of the pack, even if they offer a superior service.
6 Succeed: Works With You Game Library
As previously mentioned, one of the most notable failings of Google Stadia was the fact that premium users still had to purchase their own games. It was far from the Netflix for games situation it was billed to be, and it’s a far worse of a value than services like Xbox Game Pass or even PlayStation Plus.
In contrast, Nvidia GeForce Now is designed to integrate the gaming libraries you likely already have on platforms like Steam, Uplay, and the Epic Games Store. Plus, should GeForce Now eventually fold, users won’t lose all of their games, which is another major worry for Stadia players.
5 Fail: Internet Speed Issues
We don’t mean to keep ragging on Google Stadia, but it happens to serve as a great example of how not to launch a game streaming service. When the servers went live in November of 2019, gameplay was slow and laggy for most, with some users outright unable to play a few of the platform’s marquee titles.
GeForce Now may face similar issues, as it requires a 15mb download speed to play at 720p, and a 25mb download speed to play in 1080p at 60 FPS. Those aren’t benchmarks all consumers will be able to meet, and it will remain a major issue for game streaming for years to come.
4 Succeed: The Future Of Gaming
It may seem silly to champion game streaming as “the future” right after panning it for requiring fairly exclusive minimum internet speeds, but, the truth is that, as network infrastructures improve across the world and faster internet speeds become available to more people, this method of game delivery may, in fact, become more popular.
While those who already have gigabit internet speeds and beefy gaming PCs aren’t likely to see the appeal of such methods, gaming newcomers with recently-upgraded internet may see GeForce Now as a more approachable, affordable alternative, and this could well lead to the service’s widespread success.
3 Fail: Doesn’t Support All Games
Nvidia may boast that GeForce Now is compatible with hundreds of games, but the fact remains that some consumers will be turned away because the service doesn’t support absolutely everything. From extremely niche indie titles to AAA titles removed from the service by competing publishers, fear of missing out may play a factor in some gamers’ decision to forgo a GeForce now subscription.
of course, this will always be an issue for Cloud Streaming platforms, and limiting gamers’ digital libraries is a definite problem. Still, Nvidia’s offerings far exceed most of the competition, and only time will tell how impactful these problems will be.
2 Succeed: Name Recognition
Though they aren’t known for games so much as they are for gaming hardware, the fact remains that Nvidia is a recognizable brand name, and that could mean the difference between success and failure in GeForce Now’s early stages. With big-name competitors like Microsoft and Google in the mix, it would be tough for a brand-new startup to get off the ground.
That’s not to say that some smaller companies like Shadow and Rainway haven’t been making waves in the game streaming space, but, to best out some of the gaming scene’s heaviest hitters, it would be best for a streaming service to be tied to an established brand.
1 Fail: Target Audience
Another major hurdle for game streaming stems from the fact that many gamers aren’t likely to give up their consoles or dedicated gaming rigs any time soon. Those who’ve already invested hundreds or thousands of dollars in the hobby aren’t likely to ditch it all in favor of a new streaming service, and it seems that GeForce Now should do better were it targeted toward a more casual audience.
It may not seem like an issue for newcomers, but it’s difficult to envision hardcore PC gamers paying a monthly fee for the privilege of playing some of their games on a TV or tablet in the living room.
NEXT: Activision Blizzard Just Pulled All Its Games From Nvidia GeForce Now
