Introduction to Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming is fascinating on paper. By streaming games from remote servers, cloud gaming services allow you to play high-end games even if you don’t have a high-end PC or console. All you have to do is connect a controller to your laptop, PC, phone, or TV. That’s it! However, with so many cloud gaming services available, finding the right one for you can be confusing. Between Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and others, each service has its own unique catalog of compatible games, along with varying levels of video quality and device support.
Cloud Gaming Services Compared
To help you make sense of the different cloud gaming services, we’ve put together a handy comparison chart. The chart includes prices and features for Nvidia GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, PS5 Cloud Streaming, Boosteroid, and Utomik. You can view the chart directly or click to expand the image. Note that we’ve only included gaming-specific providers, as services that provide access to a full-blown PC in the cloud tend to be pricier and are really only worth it if you’re using them for more than just gaming.
Subscription-Based Cloud Gaming Services
Many cloud gaming services have adopted the Netflix model: a subscription plan with a rotating catalog of games. This approach makes sense if you aren’t an enthusiast with high-end gaming devices and just want a quick way to play lots of titles on low-power devices. Some popular subscription-based cloud gaming services include:
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate: includes more than 400 games for $20 per month and is required to stream via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
- Amazon Luna: offers two main subscription tiers: Prime subscribers get a small selection of games at no extra charge, while Luna+ subscribers get 100+ games for $10 per month.
- PlayStation Plus Premium: includes access to more than 1,200 streaming games, with a price of $18 per month or $160 per year.
- Utomik: includes nearly 400 games with streaming support as part of its $9 per month Personal + Cloud subscription.
Cloud Gaming Services that Let You Stream Your Own Games
If you already own a gaming PC or handheld (such as the Steam Deck), you might prefer a streaming service that lets you play the games you’ve already paid for on stores like Steam and GOG. Some cloud gaming services that support this include:
- Nvidia GeForce Now: supports games from Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Store, Ubisoft, and Battle.net.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming: supports games from the Xbox Store only, and you still need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
- Amazon Luna: supports game purchases from Ubisoft and GOG, requiring either a Prime or Luna+ subscription to play them.
- PS5 Cloud Streaming: supports games from the PlayStation Store only, and you’ll need a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription to access them for streaming.
High-Quality Cloud Gaming Services
As of this writing, only two cloud gaming services support video quality in excess of 1080p at 60 FPS. Both of these options are pricey, but they’re potentially more economical than spending thousands of dollars to build your own capable high-end gaming rig:
- Nvidia GeForce Now: offers ultrawide monitor support and can stream 4K at 120 FPS (or 1080p at 240 FPS) with GTX 4080 graphics on its $20-per-month Ultimate plan.
- Boosteroid: supports 4K at 120 FPS on its €17.89-per-month plan.
Free Cloud Gaming Services
Cloud gaming services can be susceptible to input lag—that is, the delay between pressing a button and seeing a response in the game on the screen—so in an ideal world you’d be able to try the service for free and see how it fares for you. Unfortunately, most game streaming services don’t offer free tiers or trial options without commitment. However, some services that do offer free options include:
- Nvidia GeForce Now: has an ad-supported free tier with one-hour play sessions, after which you get disconnected.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming: offers free access to Fortnite, no subscription needed.
- Utomik: currently offers a seven-day free trial that doesn’t require a credit card for signup.
Device Support for Cloud Gaming Services
Even the best cloud gaming service is useless if it doesn’t work with the devices you have. Here’s how each service compares on device support:
- Nvidia GeForce Now: Web browsers, Windows, Mac, Android, Android TV, Samsung TVs, LG TVs.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming: Web browsers, PC, Android, Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max, Samsung TVs, Xbox consoles.
- Amazon Luna: Web browsers, Android, Fire TV, Samsung TVs, LG TVs.
- PS5 Cloud Streaming: PlayStation 5, PC (for PS4 games only).
- Boosteroid: Web browsers, PC, Mac, Linux, Android, Android TV, LG TVs.
- Utomik: Android, Samsung TVs, LG TVs.
Finding Games on Cloud Gaming Services
Cloud gaming services are only as good as the list of games they support. To help you find your favorite games on cloud gaming services, you can use Cloud Gaming Catalogue, a useful database of games supported by each major cloud gaming service. You can filter by service, browse by genre, or search for a specific title—usually with more efficiency than by browsing the lists published by each provider.
Conclusion
Cloud gaming is a fascinating and rapidly evolving field, with many services offering a range of features and pricing plans. By understanding the different options available, you can choose the cloud gaming service that best fits your needs and budget. Whether you’re looking for a subscription-based service with a large catalog of games or a service that lets you stream your own games, there’s a cloud gaming service out there for you. With the ability to play high-end games on low-power devices, cloud gaming is an exciting development that’s sure to change the way we play games in the years to come.
