Image: Orva Studio / Unsplash
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!
So, if cloud gaming was meant to simplify modern gaming, then why is it so confusing? Between Nvidia GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and others, finding the right cloud gaming service for you can feel like an ordeal unto itself.
Some cloud gaming services offer a big catalog of games for one subscription fee, while others let you bring your own games from Steam and other storefronts. Every cloud gaming service has its own unique catalog of compatible games, along with varying levels of video quality and device support. It’s a lot to consider.
But when it works, it’s glorious. Last year I swapped my $1,000 desktop tower PC for a $300 mini PC, and cloud gaming gives me the flexibility to play games on my office ultrawide monitor instead of just relying on my Steam Deck or hiding out in the basement.
Before you jump in and sign up, here’s everything you need to know about the various cloud gaming services available, the pros and cons of each, and which one might be best for you.
Cloud gaming services, compared
Below is a handy chart I made comparing the prices and features for Nvidia GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, PS5 Cloud Streaming, Boosteroid, and Utomik. You can either click to expand the image or view the chart directly via Google Sheets:
Jared Newman / Foundry
Jared Newman / Foundry
Jared Newman / Foundry
Note that I’ve only included gaming-specific providers. There are some other services—such as Shadow—that provide access to a full-blown PC in the cloud, but they tend to be pricier than cloud gaming services and are really only worth it if you’re using them for more than just gaming.
That said, let’s dive a bit deeper into some specific comparisons between these different cloud gaming services.
Which cloud gaming services have subscription catalogs?
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.
Here are your subscription cloud gaming options:
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.Amazon also sells separate subscriptions for third-party publishers: Ubisoft+ includes 45+ games for $18 per month (plus downloadable games on Xbox and PC), and Jackbox Games includes 50+ party games for $5 per month.PlayStation Plus Premium includes access to more than 1,200 streaming games according to Cloud Gaming Catalogue, 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.
Which cloud gaming services 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.
Unfortunately, only a subset of games from each storefront is compatible with streaming, and each cloud gaming service supports a different roster of digital storefronts, so you’ll need to choose wisely.
Here are your stream-your-own-games options:
Nvidia GeForce Now supports games from Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Store, Ubisoft, and Battle.net. Access is free for one-hour play sessions (with ads), $10 per month for up to six hours at a time, or $20 per month for up to eight hours at a time.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.Boosteroid supports games from Steam, Epic Game Store, Xbox Store, Battle.net, and Wargaming.net, with access via subscriptions starting at €9.89 per month.
Which cloud gaming services support 4K, ultrawide monitors, and high framerates?
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.
Which cloud gaming services let you stream games for free?
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.
There are, after all, a variety of factors that contribute to the cloud gaming experience: the speed and stability of your internet connection, the use of wired Ethernet, your proximity to the gaming service’s servers, etc.
Sadly, most game streaming services don’t offer free tiers or trial options without commitment. Here are the ones that do:
Nvidia GeForce Now has an ad-supported free tier with one-hour play sessions, after which you get disconnected. You’ll also be playing on a weaker gaming rig than the paid tiers.Xbox Cloud Gaming offers free access to Fortnite, no subscription needed. Unfortunately, that’s it.Utomik currently offers a seven-day free trial that doesn’t require a credit card for signup.
Which devices do these cloud gaming services support?
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.
Find your games in the cloud
Cloud gaming services are only as good as the list of games they support. That’s why I’m thankful for 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. It was helpful in creating this story and seemed worth sharing.
For more practical tech advice, check out my Advisorator newsletter.
Author: Jared Newman, Contributor
Jared has been a freelance technology journalist for more than 15 years and is a regular contributor to PCWorld, Fast Company, and TechHive, where he’s written a weekly cord-cutting column since 2014. His Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter has more than 30,000 subscribers, and his Advisorator tech advice newsletter is read by nearly 10,000 people each week. Jared has a master’s degree in journalism from NYU and specializes in making complex tech topics easy to understand, from streaming and cord-cutting to neat apps and useful tech tricks. He is based in Cincinnati, OH.
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