Best Cloud Gaming Services: GeForce Now vs. Xbox Cloud Gaming

The main selling point of the few cloud gaming services currently available is the ability to play recent, high-quality video games on essentially any type of PC. People with a reliable internet connection can use these services to access remote servers and play a wide variety of video games, even if their local computer hardware isn't powerful enough to execute them. To help you decide which cloud gaming service is best for you, we spent considerable time testing the industry leaders. Find out what these cloud gaming services have to offer, from their game library and user experiences to the quality of their graphics, and more by reading on!

Processing power is essential for video games, but it comes at a high price. Pricing for the new consoles begins at $300, while gaming PCs can easily run several thousand dollars. But there is an affordable option that is gaining popularity.

Streaming services make you feel like you're sitting in front of a gaming PC or console, even though the hardware is actually situated in a server farm across the nation. For a monthly charge, you can use these services to access powerful gaming hardware with only a basic computer or mobile device. Here, we'll explain how these services function, how much they cost, and which ones we've found to be the most effective.

What Is a Cloud Gaming Service?

With game streaming, you can view the servers' hardware from afar. Rather than playing games on your personal computer, you can access powerful servers via the internet and play them there. The client's only function is to relay your video and audio inputs to the server for processing into in-game commands, and it does this in real time. In essence, you are manipulating the on-screen actions of a computer that is not physically in front of you.

How Do You Stream Games?

As you might expect, having a speedy Internet connection is essential for making the most of these offerings. You will suffer slowness and problems in your game as a result of poor internet connection. Any delay of more than a few milliseconds between issuing commands and receiving responses might ruin a game.

You'll need a connection speed of at least 5Mbps to 20Mbps to stream games online. In addition to 5GHz Wi-Fi, a cable connection is also helpful. If a fiber connection is available in your area, it is highly recommended that you use it for these services rather than a wireless router.

A connection that is both fast and stable can make the gameplay feel like it's happening in real-time, with input lag measured in milliseconds. With this, you can play just about any game, however competitive play may be too slow. Every frame counts when you're in control of a multiplayer shooter or fighting game, so you may not want to use a streaming service.

Which Streaming Service Provides the Best Video Games?
Most services offer clients for Windows 10, which may transform a low-end work laptop into a powerful gaming rig. Additionally to supporting wireless networks, PC clients also work with Ethernet. Whether it's through a specialized app (GeForce Now, PlayStation Now, Shadow) or a web browser, Windows 10 users have access to every publicly available game streaming service (Stadia, Amazon Luna). However, you can try out the cloud gaming function of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via your browser if you don't have Windows 10 (it will be included to the Xbox app later this year).

Most streaming providers also support playing games on a smartphone. Except for PlayStation Now, every service has an Android app, while the iOS game streaming ecosystem is much more precarious due to disagreements about which services should be allowed to function on Apple devices. Remember that the tiny screen of your smartphone or tablet can make playing games designed for a console or PC feel strange.

Using specialized technology, several of these services can also be streamed directly to your television. For instance, Google's Stadia may be accessed on a TV with a Stadia controller and a Chromecast Ultra (the service isn't yet compatible with Chromecast with Google TV, but support is coming later this month(Opens in a new window)). A PlayStation 4 or PS5 is required to use PlayStation Now. All you need is an Amazon Fire TV device to use Amazon Luna.

Read: Google Is Shutting Down Stadia Games Service

1. GeForce Now

GeForce Now is the best choice for an all-around good time. Even though you have to buy many of the games that you can play on this service, GeForce Now has some of the best visual quality, a huge list of games that work with it, and a free membership plan. With these things in mind, there's almost no reason not to jump in and at least play some free games like Destiny 2 or Fortnite to see if it works for you.

Also, if you decide you want to buy some games to play with GeForce Now, you are not stuck with the service forever. The games you play in GeForce Now are accessed through Steam, Epic Games Store, or another service that you'll be able to load locally on your own computer if/when you get your own gaming PC. So, if you're just getting started with PC gaming or just want to try out cloud gaming in general, we recommend starting here for free.

2. Xbox Cloud Gaming

There may be disagreements about which big gaming brands make the best hardware, but for most people, where they play games come down to the games themselves. Xbox Cloud Gaming is a part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that lets you play all of the games in the Xbox Game Pass library. This library is impressive and always growing.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $14.99 per month and lets you play over 350 games, like Skyrim, Deep Rock Galactic, Boyfriend Dungeon, Battlefield V, and many more. Even though cloud gaming can sometimes have a lot of compression artifacts, it still lets you play some of the best games out there without having to spend too much money.

3. Amazon Luna

Amazon Luna is an expansion of Amazon's efforts in the gaming industry, and it offers a superb and seamless user experience together with an affordable niche selection of games. Amazon Luna divides its available games into multiple channels that may be purchased independently, making it one of the cheapest and most expensive subscription models on this list, depending on your goals.

Notably, Amazon Luna offers a robust selection of retro and family-friendly games, allowing you to indulge in nostalgia or play games with your family without needing to purchase and connect outdated game systems. In addition, with a free rotation of games for Prime members and an exceptional discount on playing Jackbox Games, it might be a terrific choice for parties both locally and online.