Nvidia unveiled a major update to GeForce Now (GFN) at Gamescom 2025, layering a significant hardware and software refresh on top of its cloud gaming service.
Key upgrades and features
– Pod and hardware refresh: The top-tier GFN server clusters, known as “pods,” are being upgraded with RTX GeForce 5080-equivalent GPUs to boost performance for Ultimate subscribers. Nvidia is also upgrading the network pipeline to deliver faster streams with lower latency.
– Install-to-Play: Available to Premium and Ultimate members, Install-to-Play lets users “install” Steam games that aren’t already in GFN’s optimized library to a cloud-based virtual machine. This is faster than downloading to a local device, since the install happens over high-capacity network connections and is then streamed to the user. The feature includes 100GB of temporary storage per session, which is cleared when the session ends.
– Persistent storage options: For longer-term installations, Nvidia offers paid persistent storage—200GB for $3/month, 500GB for $5/month, and 1TB for $8/month.
– Visual and performance upgrades for Ultimate: GeForce Now Ultimate gains higher frame-rate and resolution capabilities via Multi-Frame Gen technology, supported by the Blackwell-based 50-series GPUs. Steam Deck users can see up to 90fps, and a new 1080p/360fps option is introduced (likely requiring a compatible display and NVIDIA Reflex). LG TV support enables up to 4K at 120Hz, and 5K support is available for LG OLED monitors on Windows or Mac. Logitech racing wheels are now officially supported.
– Cinematic Quality Streaming (CQS): For Ultimate members, CQS uses up to 100Mbps bandwidth to deliver higher bit-depth HDR (YUV 4:4:4) and higher native-resolution output with sharpening optimized to reduce blur and improve text clarity.
– Availability: All of these upgrades are slated to roll out beginning in September.
– Play Instantly on Discord: Later in 2025, Nvidia plans to launch Play Instantly on Discord, starting with Fortnite. This feature lets streamers invite viewers to launch a game as a 1-hour trial directly from a live stream without requiring an account.
– Upcoming titles: Notable titles arriving with or after launch include Borderlands 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and The Outer Worlds 2.
Other tech and feature notes
– RTX Hair: The first implementation arrives in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in September. RTX Hair uses path tracing with linear swept spheres to render hair and fur more realistically with less performance impact. RTX Remix modders will be able to apply path-traced particles to older games for enhanced visuals.
– The Oversight Bureau: Nvidia introduced a voice-driven puzzle game from Iconic that leverages speech-to-text to feed commands to the game, combining prerecorded dialogue with AI-driven contextual responses.
– AI and app improvements: Minor optimizations to the G-Assist AI app reduce memory usage and add laptop-focused features to improve battery life. The Nvidia App (which merges the GPU driver with GeForce Experience) gains DLSS global overrides and some restored legacy 3D control panel settings.
Additional context and value
– The upgrade strengthens GeForce Now’s competitive position by delivering higher-quality streaming, broader support for hardware and devices (including LG displays and Logitech peripherals), and new ways to access games (Install-to-Play and Discord Play Instantly).
– For publishers and developers, the expansion of streaming performance and higher-frame-rate options could enable more ambitious game designs to run well in the cloud, potentially broadening the audience for PC titles that aren’t natively optimized for cloud streaming.
– Subscribers gain flexibility with storage options for longer installs, plus more high-fidelity streaming modes for a premium experience.
Summary
Nvidia is pushing GeForce Now toward a higher-end cloud gaming experience with stronger hardware, lower latency, broader device support, and new ways to access and showcase games. The combination of Install-to-Play, Cinematic Quality Streaming, increased frame rates and resolutions, and Discord-enabled Play Instantly positions GFN as a more capable platform for both casual and power users as September rollout begins, with further enhancements and partnerships on the horizon.
A hopeful takeaway
This expansion could broaden access to demanding PC titles for more players, reduce time spent waiting on downloads, and deliver richer visual fidelity across a wider range of devices, contributing to the ongoing growth and viability of cloud gaming.