Shadow lets you rent and stream a GeForce GTX 1080 gaming PC for $11.99 a month

Despite the broken promises and massive PR blunders of Google Stadia, companies are still moving ahead and betting big on game streaming. Project xCloud will likely be a key player in the future of XBox and GeForce Now recently launched to positive reviews in terms of performance. Shadow is yet another game streaming service albeit with a twist compared to the aforementioned examples.

At its core, the Shadow service lets you rent one of their remote high-end Windows 10 PCs for a monthly fee. You are then free to access and use the remote PC from your tablet, smartphone, computer, or even some LG TVs. From there, you can install any PC game that you already own on the remote system via Steam, UPlay, Epic Games, or others. The games will then be streamed to your device just like a regular game streaming service. As shown by the table below, the specifications of the remote PC can range from a GeForce GTX 1080 with just 256 GB of storage up to a Titan RTX with 1 TB of storage depending on how much you're willing to pay.

Though the concept is simple, it's unclear if the model will succumb to the same issues that GeForce Now is currently facing. Major publishers like Bethesda and Activision have barred Nvidia from streaming their games on GeForce Now and the same could happen to Shadow at any time. We asked a representative from Shadow if the games we install on their remote PCs can be pulled down by their publishers at a future date and we received a cloudy, indirect non-answer:

“Shadow has a unique cloud computing approach: we provide users the capabilities of a full Windows 10 computer, allowing users to install and play their own games, but also run any other software. It means that, like a local computer, Shadow does not interfere with gamers and the games they enjoy playing. It’s a unique, agnostic service that differentiates Shadow from other cloud gaming competitors.”

Regardless, the service may be worth checking out if you have a passive interest in PC game streaming.