NVIDIA accelerates the pulse of cloud gaming with a GeForce NOW tuning focused on the performance and image qualityThe company ensures that its new servers, based on Blackwell architecture, deliver an experience comparable to a RTX 5080 local, with frame rates and resolutions that target the high end of the market.
Far from a simple card change, the move involves a redesign of the SuperPOD, improvements to the encoding chain, and a suite of technologies designed to smooth streaming, reduce latency, and expand device compatibility. The goal is that the user forget you're playing remotely.
Blackwell lands on GeForce NOW: RTX 5080-like performance profile
The new infrastructure combines Blackwell architecture GPU with abundant graphics memory and data center-level latency optimizations. NVIDIA is talking about a jump of up to 30% compared to the previous generation in comparable scenarios, and an output ceiling of 5K to 120 FPS, plus 1440p and 240 FPS y 1080p and 360 FPS on the Ultimate plan.
According to official figures, the Ultimate servers reach 62 TFLOPS of compute and 48 GB of frame buffer, which, together with DLSS-4, Reflex and neural rendering, allows for responsiveness and fluidity closer to that of a well-tuned physical system. NVIDIA even compares its offering to next-generation consoles, stating that far exceeds its theoretical power in computation.
Cinematic Quality Streaming: Sharper, more stable image
The new way Cinematic Quality Streaming (CQS) It seeks to address common compromises in game streaming, such as loss of detail in dark scenes, washed-out colors, and motion artifacts. To do so, NVIDIA is integrating a set of end-to-end enhancements into the video chain.
The pillars of CQS include YUV 4:4:4 to preserve color and fine text, compatibility with HDR10 and a profile SDR10 richer in tones, coding AV1 with RPR for smoother resolution transitions and a AI video filter which cleans noise and reduces artifacts in fast-paced scenes.
The service also raises the bandwidth ceiling up to 100 Mbps where the connection allows, and adds DPI awareness to improve sharpness on high-resolution laptop screens. The image quality is closer to play locally than a traditional streaming.
Latency and Response: Reflex, L4S, and G-SYNC Cloud
The other leg of the announcement focuses on the end-to-end latency. With Low Latency Streaming (LLS), GeForce NOW combines NVIDIA SLR on the server, the protocol L4S on the network and compatibility with G-SYNC Cloud on the client to keep the interaction as close to the ideal “click-to-pixel” as possible.
In internal tests cited by NVIDIA, the Ultimate mode with "5080 type" profile can reach around 30 ms total latency in competitive titles running at 360 Hz at 1080pThe company compares these figures with those obtained in Steam deck, where it reports longer times under similar conditions.
More devices, more modes: from Steam Deck to LG TVs
The performance jump is also noticeable outside the desktop PC. The native app in Steam deck goes from 60 to 90 FPS to make better use of the OLED panel, while Lenovo Legion Go S You can reach 120 Hz in streaming. In both cases, NVIDIA emphasizes a lower consumption versus running native on these devices.
In the living room, the televisions LG compatible become the first to offer streaming to 4K and 120 Hz with HDR from the app, and the LG OLED monitors can reach up to 5K when connected to Windows or macOS. Peripheral compatibility is also improved, including Logitech wheels with haptic feedback.
Install-to-Play, Library, and Cloud Storage
With Install-to-Play, GeForce NOW allows you to install data directly to the cloud, expanding the advantages of the service. NVIDIA assures that this innovation has doubled the number of playable games and that the library now exceeds 4.500 titles, with weekly updates.
Each session has 100 GB temporary on NVMesh storage, and users who require to maintain progress can hire extra space: 200GB for €2,99, 500GB for €4,99 o 1 TB for €7,99 monthly. The goal is to keep the games in good condition and saved games even without using third-party cloud sync.
In addition to expanding the catalog, NVIDIA highlights the integration of support for DLSS 4 and multiframe generation, facilitating the group game and access to communities.
Prices and availability
The company confirms that this update will begin in September, with a gradual arrival by region. Prices remain the same: GeForce NOW Ultimate by € 21,99 per month and the plan Performance by € 10,99 per month, with different payment options.
In this initial phase, some titles will have optimized configurations specific to the new infrastructure, and the rest will receive improvements in the weeks following their deployment, as more servers are enabled.
With the arrival of Blackwell and improvements in video and latency, GeForce NOW aims to offer an experience close to that of a high-end PC without the need for powerful local hardware. The combination of higher resolution, FPS, CQS, LLS and the Install-to-Play function with expanded storage capacity allow the proposal to evolve significantly, maintaining current rates and an implementation schedule that begins this fall.
