for Fortnite, Origin for Apex Legends and so on. When you quit
GeForce Now, you will also have to log in to that storefront again
when you relaunch. Also, you can’t quit one game in NOW and
then launch another – you need to leave the virtual machine
entirely and launch the new game from the GeForce NOW
menu. This process is much fiddlier than on Shadow, where
the virtual PC is essentially yours to use like your home rig.Gaming performance
Fiddly setup aside, the gaming performance is very impressive,
provided you have a fast and stable connection. Nvidia
recommends 15Mb/sec for 60fps gaming at 720p, and twice
that for the same frame rate at 1080p. Ideally, you also want to
be connected to your router via Ethernet. In reality, you’re going
to want a faster connection though. We tested it on a desktop
PC with an Ethernet connection averaging download speeds
of 76Mb/sec, and our experience was mostly excellent.
We tested several games, including Metro Exodus,
Borderlands 3 and Apex Legends. We were able to get a
smooth experience on all three titles, with perfectly playable
image quality at 60fps in 1080p. That said, even in these
ideal circumstances, there’s a slight watery texture to the
image for each game.
This was most notable on realistic-looking games such
as Metro Exodus, but less of a problem with the cartoonish
visuals of Borderlands and Apex. However, when taxing the
network connection (by deliberately starting downloads
and streaming on other devices), the image became much
grainier, and a warning for a ‘Spotty connection’ repeatedly
appeared on the right side of the screen.RTX on a phone
Of course, using GeForce NOW on a high-end desktop PC is a
bit like watching Netflix in a cinema. It isn’t the right situation to
appreciate its potential. With this in mind, we also downloaded the
Android app, and tried playing Metro Exodus on a phone. In other
words, the least suitable device for playing this type of game.
In this scenario, GeForce NOW’s potential is much more
apparent. Being able to play Metro Exodus with RTX enabled
on a 7.5in phone screen feels like wizardry, even with the Honor
7’s virtual gamepad clogging up the screen (ideally you want to
buy a bespoke gamepad to play like this properly). The key issue
here is the switch from a tethered connection to a wireless one.
When sat close to the router with a clean line, the experience
was remarkably smooth, although we’d encounter points
where the image would pixelate and occasionally stutter.
The further we moved away from the router, however, the
more GeForce NOW struggled to maintain the connection –
you ideally need to be in the same room. Streaming YouTube
on a second phone caused much more interference,
rendering the game not quite unplayable, but certainly not
pleasant to play, even close to the router.Conclusion
From a technological perspective, GeForce NOW impresses,
and the overall package makes it the best PC game-streaming
service currently available. Nonetheless, it’s
difficult to see its target market. Dedicated PC
players simply won’t stand for the varying image
quality and queuing for servers, while the UK’s
current Internet infrastructure makes it too
unreliable as a mobile gaming platform. If you have
a strong Internet connection, a low-end laptop and
want to play high-end PC games without forking
out for all the kit, then GeForce NOW is an ideal way
to do it. Otherwise, you’re currently better off with a
dedicated gaming PC or laptop.
RICK LANEThe menu lacks a
comprehensive
rundown of the
games that are
compatible with itStreaming Metro
Exodus on a phone
is quite remarkable.
Don’t try to play
it with the virtual
gamepad thoughThe complex visuals
of Metro Exodus
translate less well
over streaming,
although that’s
partly down to those
blurry ice texturesfor Fortnite, Origin for Apex Legends and so on. When you quit
GeForce Now, you will also have to log in to that storefront again
when you relaunch. Also, you can’t quit one game in NOW and
thenlaunchanother– youneedtoleavethevirtualmachine
entirelyandlaunchthenewgamefromtheGeForceNOW
menu.Thisprocessis muchfiddlierthanonShadow,where
thevirtualPCis essentiallyyourstouselikeyourhomerig.
Gamingperformance
Fiddlysetupaside,thegamingperformanceis veryimpressive,
providedyouhavea fastandstableconnection.Nvidia
recommends15Mb/secfor60fpsgamingat720p,andtwice
thatforthesameframerateat1080p.Ideally,youalsowantto
beconnectedtoyourrouterviaEthernet.In reality,you’regoing
towanta fasterconnectionthough.Wetestedit ona desktop
PCwithanEthernetconnectionaveragingdownloadspeeds
of76Mb/sec, and our experience was mostly excellent.
We tested several games, including Metro Exodus,
Borderlands 3 and Apex Legends. We were able to get a
smooth experience on all three titles, with perfectly playable
image quality at 60fps in 1080p. That said, even in these
ideal circumstances, there’s a slight watery texture to the
image for each game.
This was most notable on realistic-looking games such
as Metro Exodus, but less of a problem with the cartoonish
visuals of Borderlands and Apex. However, when taxing the
network connection (by deliberately starting downloads
and streaming on other devices), the image became much
grainier, and a warning for a ‘Spotty connection’ repeatedly
appeared on the right side of the screen.
RTX on a phone
Of course, using GeForce NOW on a high-end desktop PC is a
bit like watching Netflix in a cinema. It isn’t the right situation to
appreciate its potential. With this in mind, we also downloaded the
Android app, and tried playing Metro Exodus on a phone. In other
words, the least suitable device for playing this type of game.
In this scenario, GeForce NOW’s potential is much more
apparent. Being able to play Metro Exodus with RTX enabled
on a 7.5in phone screen feels like wizardry, even with the Honor
7’s virtual gamepad clogging up the screen (ideally you want to
buy a bespoke gamepad to play like this properly). The key issue
here is the switch from a tethered connection to a wireless one.
When sat close to the router with a clean line, the experience
was remarkably smooth, although we’d encounter points
where the image would pixelate and occasionally stutter.
The further we moved away from the router, however, the
more GeForce NOW struggled to maintain the connection –
you ideally need to be in the same room. Streaming YouTube
on a second phone caused much more interference,
rendering the game not quite unplayable, but certainly not
pleasant to play, even close to the router.Conclusion
From a technological perspective, GeForce NOW impresses,
and the overall package makes it the best PC game-streaming
service currently available. Nonetheless, it’s
difficult to see its target market. Dedicated PC
players simply won’t stand for the varying image
quality and queuing for servers, while the UK’s
current Internet infrastructure makes it too
unreliable as a mobile gaming platform. If you have
a strong Internet connection, a low-end laptop and
want to play high-end PC games without forking
out for all the kit, then GeForce NOW is an ideal way
to do it. Otherwise, you’re currently better off with a
dedicated gaming PC or laptop.
RICK LANEThe menu lacks a
comprehensive
rundown of the
games that are
compatible with itStreaming Metro
Exodus on a phone
is quite remarkable.
Don’t try to play
it with the virtual
gamepad thoughThe complex visuals
of Metro Exodus
translate less well
over streaming,
although that’s
partly down to those
blurry ice textures