It wasn’t long ago when cloud gaming used to be considered a gimmick. GeForce NOW took a long road before it got to where it is today, and after five years of beta testing from 2015 (and five more on the market), NVIDIA may have landed on a current sweet spot for cloud gaming. Using its cloud gaming software, GeForce NOW allows users to deploy a hardware equivalent of an advanced GeForce RTX GPU (with PC components included) without hardware setup. GeForce NOW has been outfitting devices that are not ready for battle to run at the speed equivalent of a GeForce gaming PC, all using the power of streaming from the cloud.
This is precisely what NVIDIA is seeking to bring to the mobile platform with the new GeForce NOW Steam Deck app. After a relatively easy setup (including a trip through the Steam Deck’s desktop mode), the GeForce NOW platform then appears in the Steam Game Library as any other title would. For transparency’s sake, my trial period was with the Ultimate service tier, and over the past two weeks of use, it did not require an update once. For the uninitiated, users should note that a GeForce NOW subscription doesn’t include playable titles as part of the deal; it allows you to play titles you already own.
After getting set up, I was able to link a few of my accounts to bolster my GeForce NOW library. Connecting an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate account immediately gave access to 169 games out of the 2200+ available on the service. It also allows users to connect a slew of accounts to the platform to further add to that number. GOG.com accounts, Steam, Epic Games, and more can be used in tandem with GeForce NOW for Steam Deck. GeForce NOW on Steam Deck essentially transforms the portable Deck into a five-tool player for all titles compatible with the service in a PC user’s library. But how does it run?
It’s safe to say GeForce NOW on Steam Deck is modern-day sorcery. By using the NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU from the cloud, the Steam Deck performs better than it normally does using the Steam platform in tandem with the Deck’s native hardware. The included Ultimate membership with GeForce NOW includes access to the upgraded RTX 4080 SuperPODS, powered by Ada Lovelace GPUs, including 64 TFLOPS of performance available. What this means is NVIDIA has brought high-powered and high-performance gaming on par with an RTX 4080 GPU to devices that normally can’t perform as well, which includes the Steam Deck.
The first title I dove into on GeForce NOW was The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. NVIDIA allows users to check on the performance of their stream by having a small statistics window, which can be toggled between on, off, and compact, open, showing the details. Everything from Stream FPS, Game FPS, PING, and total bandwidth usage can be monitored to the user’s content — or it can be ignored all the same. GeForce NOW allows users to utilize 4K and HDR10 display options, but these visuals aren’t available with the Steam Deck’s stock display.
“GeForce NOW on Steam Deck essentially transforms the portable Deck into a five-tool player for all titles compatible with the service in a PC user’s library.”
With a GeForce NOW-equipped Steam Deck, users can now pick up and play their save files like magic. My Argonian character, which I started from the launch of Oblivion Remastered, was just available to play as if I started up my Xbox Series X console with no extra intervention aside from logging in. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered runs at a crisp 60 FPS using GeForce NOW on Steam Deck, even during the heavier load sections. A certain quest that requires fighting off waves of goblins while helping a farmer almost always staggers to a halt — even in the 2006 original — so it was impressive to watch the Steam Deck power through this segment without issue.
Similarly, the pick-up-and-play feature works just as well when using Steam on PC. I booted up my Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker save and was able to load in exactly where the last save point was used. This utility is understated and functions like a better-performing Wii U gamepad. The main TVs and PCs in a house can all be occupied, but by using GeForce NOW on the Steam Deck, gaming can be done from the cloud without stirring any hives in a household (and without the ability to use a larger display).
But if users have a dock for their Steam Deck, and a 4K HDR compatible TV (or equivalent display), a GeForce NOW Steam Deck can drop onto household displays and use the previously inaccessible HDR10, Ultrawide, and 4K graphic options. Powering up DOOM: The Dark Ages on a monitor like the ViewSonic XG275D-4K Monitor gives users access to those higher-fidelity visuals.
For a real test, I powered up CI Games’ Lords of the Fallen on the native Steam Deck hardware and used GeForce NOW cloud gaming on the Steam Deck to compare results. From 100% battery life (and similar configurations with max brightness), the Steam Deck performed similarly, but the GeForce NOW run hit 0% well after 2.5 hours (almost three), whereas the native Steam Deck local usage survived closer to the 2-hour mark. Battery efficiency was better when using NVIDIA’s cloud gaming option.
“It’s worth mentioning that GeForce NOW also allows Steam Deck users to run games that it normally wouldn’t be able to.”
Performance-wise, GeForce NOW plowed through two Lords of the Fallen bosses, sitting at a stagnant 60 FPS with a <5 PING. This felt like exploring Mournstead on a console or a high-end PC. Using the onboard Steam Deck hardware, I had to tinker with resolution settings before the game would run at a sub-optimal 30 FPS. It’s worth mentioning that GeForce NOW also allows Steam Deck users to run games that it normally wouldn’t be able to. Using GeForce NOW, the Steam Deck can comfortably run Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Monster Hunter Wilds, and even Path of Exile 2, proving the cloud’s the limit.
GeForce NOW on the Steam Deck’s best feature, hands down, is the ability to run games without a download. I was able to start multiple games straight from the service without a steep loading or installation time, which has become the norm with titles getting progressively larger over time. Cyberpunk 2077 (possibly one of the largest games on the service, clocking in at around 70GB used on Steam) can start and play within minutes, and without having to spend the storage real estate. The only true downfall of GeForce NOW cloud gaming is the need to have a strong and stable internet connection at all times. This removes a portion of the Steam Deck’s allure. A Steam Deck, housebroken.
GeForce NOW for the Steam Deck is a force to be reckoned with. Using GeForce NOW on the Steam Deck allows the Steam Deck to reach a higher potential than with the Deck’s included operating specs (provided the user has a stable internet connection). While GeForce NOW has been constantly improving since its inception in 2015, NVIDIA continues to update the service on GFN Thursdays, adding titles to the already 2200+ large library. GeForce NOW adds another tool to the Steam Deck’s growing arsenal and brings utility to an Xbox or PC gamer who wants to use their Steam Deck more. GeForce NOW for Steam Deck rocks, provided the user can afford it.
