CES 2017 | Nvidia Geforce Now is your GTX 1080 in the cloud

According to Nvidia, at least one billion active PCs and Macs are not powerful enough to run the latest 3D games. This is an untapped market of users who could be willing to game if not for the intimidating prices of gaming systems or DIY know-how required to build a capable system from the ground up. The upcoming GeForce Now game streaming service for PCs and Macs will cater directly to these users and will be launching late March in the US with other regions to follow.

The chipmaker has been developing GeForce Now for at least five years when it was initially in a beta stage for Shield devices. The service will require the end-user to install the GeForce Now app to immediately turn an otherwise timid computer into a gaming machine with the graphics power of a GTX 1060 or 1080. Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang is promising that both paid and free-to-play titles from Steam, Origin, and Uplay will all be instantly compatible with the service. Titles will be stored in the cloud and can synchronize with local game files as needed.

Engadget has already previewed the service with The Witcher 3 on a MacBook Air and found it to be an overall positive experience. Instead, it's the very high price of entry that will likely turn away most casual gamers. At least two options will be available for subscribers based on the streaming quality: The GTX 1060 or the GTX 1080. Users who want to stream GTX 1060-level graphics will have to pay $25 USD for every 20 hours of gaming while the GTX 1080 option will cost users double that amount at $50 USD for the same number of hours. To entice newcomers, the first eight hours and four hours will be free with the GTX 1060 and 1080 options, respectively.

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