GeForce Now opens up the RTX 3080 level to everyone who can’t find a real graphics card

There are no signs that the graphics card shortage is going to end anytime soon. With that being the case, more than a few gamers are turning to the novel alternative to locally powered hardware: game streaming via Xbox Game Pass, Stadia, and GeForce Now. The latter now offers an even more intense level of service, allowing gamers to stream PC titles played on a remote RTX 3080 card at up to 4K or 120fps resolution. Previously available as a pre-order only, the RTX 3080 tier is now open to everyone at a costly $ 99.99 for six months.

GeForce Now works a bit differently than its competition at Google, Microsoft, and even Amazon. Nvidia’s servers allow you to log into your Steam, Epic, Uplay, and GOG.com accounts, and then stream the games you’ve already purchased and associated with those stores. It’s an excellent choice for someone who has spent years building a collection of digital PC games, although I hasten to point out that GeForce Now only offers a curated selection of the games sold in these stores. New games are added every week and the list is now over 1,100, but notable absences from the catalog include titles from EA, Bethesda, Activision-Blizzard, Warner Bros, Microsoft, and 2K. Here’s the full list of updated titles if you’re looking for something specific.

GeForce Now is divided into three tiers as of today: Free, Priority, and RTX 3080. Anyone can access the free tier for basic streaming up to 1080p / 60fps, but more elaborate images are disabled and gaming sessions are limited to an hour. (after which you can go back up if the servers are not full). The priority tier is $ 10 per month (or $ 50 for six months) with more impressive RTX-enabled graphics, though still limited to 1080p / 60fps. It’s powered by the equivalent of an RTX 2080, although Nvidia can lower your hardware when playing less intense games. Streaming sessions with premium priority access can last up to six hours, and subscribers get a free copy of Crysis to show off.

The new RTX 3080 tier costs $ 100 for six months (no monthly option) with graphics driven by a remote RTX 3080 “team”, 8-hour streaming sessions, and graphics up to 1440p / 120fps on a PC or Mac. Subscribers who also have an Nvidia Shield set-top box can stream games to their TV in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (if their broadband connection can support it). GeForce Now is also available on mobile devices via the Android app or the dedicated iOS web portal, and is playable with controllers or mouse and keyboard on all platforms. For more details, check out our in-depth initial coverage of the GeForce Now RTX 3080 tier.

To celebrate new high-end graphics options, Nvidia is offering a sale on its Shield TV add-on box. The Shield and standard Shield Pro are discounted by $ 20 ($ 30 CAD, € 25, £ 20 in other regions) for a limited time, with a free six-month Peacock Premium subscription available in the US. With everything included in streaming, Shield’s Android TV operating system can also stream games on Stadia and Xbox Game Pass.