Purchasing and hosting the servers that power cloud gaming isn’t free. Because of this, cloud gaming services like NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW (even if they don’t provide any games for free) typically charge users a monthly fee in order to recoup their costs and make a little extra money for growth. Let’s take a look at the costs for using NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW.
Ladies and gentlemen, gamers of all ages, step right up to the greatest show in cloud gaming!
Welcome to the NVIDIA GeForce NOW pricing extravaganza, where the global cost structure will dazzle folks all over the world. Grab your popcorn, your credit card, and perhaps a stiff drink.
Act I: The Tiers of a Clown
Let’s start with the star attractions of this circus, the different tiers that NVIDIA has bestowed upon us to satisfy the different budgets of every citizen in the big top. Prepare to be amazed, astounded, and possibly just a little confused! But, have no fear, we are here to clarify everything for you.
1. Free Tier – “I’m Just Window Shopping”
Cost: Free! Well, it may cost you your dignity, patience, and first-born child (okay, not that last one… yet)
Perks: With the Free Tier, you can play for up to an hour at a time for no cost! You get to taste the sweet nectar of cloud gaming for a whole hour before being unceremoniously booted back to reality. It’s like speed dating, but with games and more frustration. Perfect for those with commitment issues or a masochistic streak.
But wait, there’s more! You’ll also enjoy:
- The thrill of queueing! Because who doesn’t love waiting in line? Before your game session starts, you’ll likely have to wait anywhere between a few minutes and an hour.
- Ads. While you are waiting in the queue, you’ll be viewing ads.
- A resolution that may make you squint. There is no guarantee of HD resolution on this tier.
- Less than 60 FPS frame rates
2. Priority Tier – “I Actually Want to Finish a Game”
Cost: Roughly the price of a fancy coffee every week, or your avocado toast budget for the month. See below for precise global prices.
Perks: Extended playtime, prettier graphics (up to 1080P and 60FPS), and the privilege of skipping ahead of the freeloaders in line. It’s like having a FastPass at a theme park, except the rides are all in your living room and you’re still in your pajamas.
The features include:
- The ability to play for six hours at a time! Because sleep is for the weak.
- Priority access to servers, making you feel like gaming royalty
- RTX ON for supported games; so, you can finally see your character’s reflection in a puddle!
3. Ultimate Tier – “I Want a Pro Gaming Rig that Follows me Everywhere I GO”
Cost: About half your monthly streaming service subscriptions budget. See below for precise global prices.
Perks: The crème de la crème of cloud gaming. Powered by RTX 4080s, you’ll get Ray tracing so realistic you’ll be checking your room for light sources. You’ll also have frame rates smoother than a politician’s promises.
But that’s not all! You’ll also get:
- Eight-hour sessions, perfect for those who’ve forgotten what the sun looks like
- Access to the elusive RTX 4080 rigs, because who needs a real GPU when you can rent one?
- Up to 4K resolution at 240 FPS(!!) for when you want your games to look better than real life
Act II: The Global Pricing Rollercoaster
Hold onto your hats, folks, because we’re about to embark on a whirlwind tour of GeForce NOW’s global cost structure.
United States of America:
- Free: $0
- Priority: $9.99/month or $49.99/6 months
- Ultimate: $19.99/month or $99.99/6 months
United Kingdom: Where Cloud Gaming Costs More Than a Proper Cup of Tea
- Free: £0
- Priority: £8.99/month or £44.99/6 months
- Ultimate: £17.99/month or £89.99/6 months (still less than a London pint)
European Union:
- Free: €0
- Priority: €9.99/month or €49.99/6 months
- Ultimate: €19.99/month or €99.99/6 months
Japan: Where Cloud Gaming Is Cheaper Than a Bowl of Ramen (Almost)
- Free: ¥0
- Priority: ¥1,980/month or ¥9,900/6 months (cheaper than a night in a capsule hotel)
- Ultimate: ¥3,960/month or ¥19,800/6 months
Australia:
- Free: AU$0
- Priority: AU$19.99/month or AU$99.99/6 months
- Ultimate: AU$39.99/month or AU$199.99/6 months (still less than a ticket to escape the island)
Canada: Where Cloud Gaming Is Paid For In Maple Syrup and Apologies
- Free: CA$0 (sorry)
- Priority: CA$12.99/month or CA$64.99/6 months (sorry, eh?)
- Ultimate: CA$24.99/month or CA$129.99/6 months (really sorry about that)
Turkey:
- Free: ₺0 (as free as advice from your local bazaar merchant)
- Priority: ₺90/month or ₺450/6 months
- Ultimate: ₺180/month or ₺900/6 months
South Korea: Where Cloud Gaming Is Faster Than Your League of Legends APM
- Free: ₩0 (as free as K-pop on the streets of Seoul)
- Priority: ₩12,000/month or ₩60,000/6 months
- Ultimate: ₩24,000/month or ₩120,000/6 months
South Africa: Where Cloud Gaming Costs More Than a Braai for the Whole Neighborhood
- Free: R0
- Priority: R199/month or R999/6 months
- Ultimate: R399/month or R1999/6 months
Act III: The Fine Print
But wait, there’s more! Isn’t there always? Let’s dive into the wonderful world of caveats, conditions, and other clauses that make up the GeForce NOW experience:
Is It Really 4K?
GeForce NOW offers 4K gaming – and you absolutely can achieve that on the right setup. But, it requires supported devices and will require a “strong enough connection.” You’ll want an NVIDIA Shield or a PC with at least a reliable 100 mbps connection. If you are travelling, you may need to wait for the stars to align… and Mercury to be in retrograde.
The “Regional Restriction Roulette”:
Depending on where you live, you might have access to all of GeForce NOW’s features, some of them, or be left staring longingly at a “Not Available in Your Region” screen. Where NVIDIA provides the service itself, you are pretty much good to go. But, if you are relying on one of NVIDIA’s global partners, your mileage may vary. That brings us to the next point…
In some regions, GeForce NOW is only available through specific telecom providers. It’s like being forced to buy your concert tickets from that one sketchy website, except the concert is in your living room and the sketchy website is your internet provider.
The “Device Compatibility Dance”:
GeForce NOW works on PCs, Macs, SHIELD TV, Android devices, and even some smart TVs. It’ll also work on just about anything with a browser. That cutting-edge toaster with a built-in screen? It’s worth a try.
Act IV: The Grand Finale
Ladies and gentlemen, our show now comes to a close. As you leave our big top of binary entertainment, remember: prices may vary, terms and conditions apply, and NVIDIA reserves the right to change their prices in the future.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a 4K, Ray-Traced, 120 FPS appointment with my favorite hidden object game.
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