Keen gamers will be hoping to see slicker, lag-free cloud gaming and cheaper subscription fees in the future, as the increased level of competition should hopefully make this come true. Another important advance is likely to be the introduction of new game cloud gaming companies, leading to a more diversified market with specialized services for each type of gamer. The history of cloud gaming goes back over a decade, with the OnLive service that was launched in 2010 usually described as the first cloud gaming service.

Players can download these games directly to their console and play as long as they keep their subscription. PlayStation Plus Premium is the top tier of Sony’s subscription service. It costs $14.99 per month and offers the most features compared to other PlayStation Plus tiers.

Unlike other services, it doesn’t just focus on games – it gives you a complete Windows PC in the cloud. This flexibility means you can play virtually any PC game you own. Speeds and costs vary between services like Xbox Game Pass, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Shadow PC.

How Does Cloud Gaming Performance Compare Across Different Platforms?

From well-known services like Nvidia to up-and-coming platforms, we’ll explore the features, game libraries, and performance of each app. Cloud gaming is a method of playing video games using remote servers in data centers. There’s no need to download and install games on a PC or console. Instead, streaming services require a reliable internet connection to send gaming information to an app or browser installed on the recipient device.

You can upgrade to Power for $34.99 for the first month and $49.98 per month after, which gets you ray tracing and DLSS. The cheapest plan is Discovery, which costs $9.99 for the first month and $19.99 per month after, but you only get access to a budget gaming PC that will struggle to run any demanding games. Unfortunately, if you don’t own a PlayStation, you’re limited to streaming older games, which include PlayStation 4 games or those in the Classics catalog. This might not be a dealbreaker if you don’t want the latest and greatest games, but it’s definitely worth keeping in mind.

If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance platform that integrates with your existing library, GeForce NOW is a top choice. Cloud gaming works in a similar way on PCs and phones, but you’ll notice some key differences when it comes to performance, connectivity and user experience. While toto21 picked Game Pass to go at the top of this list, and believe it to be the best cloud service, they all do slightly different things, so other services will be better than it in certain ways. Henry is a seasoned tech writer with a passion for making complex technology topics accessible to everyday readers. With over a decade of experience in the tech industry, Henry has become a trusted source of information for his readers. The app offers a digital space that is reserved especially for you.

Instead, cloud gaming allows you to stream the game from remote servers via an internet connection on any compatible device, such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone. With Stadia, players can stream games up to 4K resolution and 60FPS on their Android devices. The app is free to download, but you will need to purchase games to play on the service.

The service is still in beta, but it’s already impressing users with its smooth performance and low latency. The app also includes a feature that allows players to use their Xbox controller with their phones. Once you know which providers have your desired game, it’s time to choose a service. If there are multiple options, it’s worth comparing the features, pricing structures and different types of cloud gaming services. It is a tiered subscription service offered by Sony Interactive Intertainment that offers its users different features based on the tier of the subscription they have selected.

Unlike other streaming services, Apple Arcade focuses on premium mobile games. These games can be played across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV devices. The service offers powerful performance that rivals expensive gaming PCs.

Users can access cloud saves, take screenshots, and make in-game purchases while streaming, with all content saved locally on their devices. Cloud gaming services have emerged as an elegant solution, allowing Mac users to play demanding games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Cyberpunk 2077 without worrying about local hardware limitations. These services run games on powerful remote servers and stream them directly to your Mac, requiring only a stable Internet connection and a compatible controller. Cloud gaming works by giving users access to powerful gaming hardware — and in some cases a game library — via their internet connection. Even though technically still in beta, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate comes in a close second in our cloud gaming services roundup. Despite only supporting up to 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, it has no issues maintaining that frame rate even when you set games to higher-detail settings thanks to its powerful hardware.

Hardware

If you’re looking into the best ways for you to experience games, read our best gaming console guide. You also might like to take a look at our list of the best games of all time and use that as a point of reference to compare against the libraries on these services. It doesn’t add any extra cloud-based features to the service though. The service catalog contains games from Steam, Uplay, and other services. Steam Link is another best free Cloud gaming app on Android that positions itself as one that can transfer your games from your PC to your Android devices.

GeForce Now provides different membership tiers, including a free option. The free tier gives players a taste of cloud gaming without any cost, though it comes with session time limits and potential waiting queues. It seems like Google still hasn’t figured out what to do with it as a service. The underlying technology is solid, but the service feels like it hasn’t evolved at all in the interim, still offering only 51 titles for the subscription tier. As it currently stands, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate remains the best video game streaming service around.

The premium options deliver graphics that match high-end gaming computers without the hardware investment. The subscription also includes other benefits beyond cloud gaming. These include Xbox Live Gold for online play, EA Play membership, and game discounts. The service combines the best of Xbox gaming with cloud capabilities.