Nvidia has announced a soft launch of enhancements to its GeForce Now Ultimate cloud gaming service, now featuring RTX 5080 graphics. This update is available for select games, with more titles expected to be supported in the future. The service, priced at $20 per month, will also add thousands of games via a self-install option, and introduce new modes for ultra-fast displays, including a 360Hz desktop mode and a 90Hz version of its Steam Deck application.
Nvidia’s GeForce Now operates by providing remote access to powerful gaming rigs, allowing users to connect their existing gaming accounts (Steam, Epic, Ubisoft, Xbox, and Battle.net) to access their game libraries. Customers can opt for a free tier or a performance upgrade, but the latter two options may not be as effective for high-demand games.
Benchmarks from games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed Shadows show that the RTX 5080 servers deliver 25-50% improved frame rates compared to the older RTX 4080 servers at 4K resolution. However, there is a noticeable limitation in the number of RTX 5080-enabled games currently available, raising questions about the breadth of support at launch.
Additional testing with Nvidia’s Install-to-Play feature revealed that users could install games from Steam that were previously unsupported. Though the installation times were quick, the integration yielded only a modest increase in playable titles in the user’s library. Reports of software glitches and login issues also emerged during testing.
In summary, Nvidia’s updates to GeForce Now aim to enhance the cloud gaming experience, though the extent of improvements depends on the availability of RTX 5080-compatible titles and the overall stability of the service. Further evaluations will be necessary to assess the longevity and effectiveness of these upgrades in the evolving gaming landscape.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/hands-on/775222/nvidia-geforce-now-rtx-5080-hands-on