Today gaming has become an expensive hobby. This is because every day some new game is released. Apart from this, the requirement of the system also keeps on increasing every year which also requires advanced computer hardware like processors and graphic cards.

 

And when it comes to gaming consoles, their upgrade cycle seems to be increasing rapidly. They often come with new hardware and software. If you are a true gamer and want to enjoy the latest game with great graphic experience then you have to upgrade everything somehow. However, the fact remains that not everyone can afford the money to upgrade gaming stuff to the latest versions. And here comes the new word cloud gaming scene.

What is Cloud Gaming?

As the name suggests, cloud gaming is a technology that promises to let you use any device to play the most demanding games at the highest settings.

 

The best part about it is that the server does all the heavy gaming processes. So you basically need a device that is compatible with this technology with a super-performing display.

 

This frees the high-end devices from overheating due to high power consumption. Cloud gaming solves both of these issues because all the hardware-demanding stuff is handled by the servers.

 

You can also play online multiplayer games like Valorant, PUBG, Change different settings, Set Best PUBG names, etc. but you may experience some lag. But as technology is increasing day by day, I believe this problem will also be fixed someday

 

The companies that offer these streaming services are constantly developing new ways to reduce input lag and deliver powerful performance to deliver an enjoyable multiplayer game experience.

 

Alright guys, now on the basis of performance, I have listed some of the best cloud gaming services which are strong enough to rule the cloud gaming market.

Cloud Gaming Services

XCloud

Microsoft's Project xCloud cloud gaming is all set to become the best cloud gaming service in the industry. As of now, the service is mainly available for Android phones or tablets.

 

However, as per the report, Microsoft has already started sending out early-access invitations for PC users. PC users will get full access very soon. Currently, it offers around 250 games that can be streamed flawlessly which is just insane.

 

xCloud supports many branded games like MLB The Show 21, Outriders (recently released), Dead by Daylight, Sea of Thieves, and many other latest AAA games. Several upcoming new first-party games will also be included in xCloud. The pricing is quite reasonable to get access to all these games. It uses Azure's vast networking system with data centers spread across North America, Asia, and Europe.

Google Stadia

Google Stadia was launched in November 2019, and it looks extremely versatile for a couple of reasons. It's very easy to use for a reason that you can play high-end games with just one click with a controller or keyboard and mouse on your PC.

 

You can use Google Stadia on Android or iOS with just your 4G connection, and it's been pretty stable even on 4G connections. You get to enjoy the console-quality performance at 4K resolution with 60FPS. It will make you feel like you are playing on a native console.

 

Buying a $9.99 Stadia Pro subscription will give you access to over 100 free high-end games. These titles are only available on its native Stadia library, and cannot be downloaded to any other digital game library. Although it has over 100 free games in its library, it is still a limited collection.

 

With a pro membership, you will get access to some of the big games like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, Doom Eternal, Red Dead Redemption II, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice, and many more.

 

The main 2 reasons to position it above anything else are the performance and pricing model that works best for any gamers like me.

 

Currently, the service is available in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the US. limited to such countries.

The NVIDIA Remote Gaming service currently known as GeForce Now is completely different from all similar cloud gaming services.

 

Unlike previous products xCloud and Google Stadia, GeForce Now doesn't give you access to video games you don't own. So in order to play, you'll need to link your own library to a GeForce Now account.

 

It provides streaming of Nvidia compatible games for PC, Mac, Android, and iOS mobile devices. This means you don't have to worry about keeping your drivers updated or having the latest gaming rig to play the best games in 1080p without any noticeable lag.

 

Basically, you're renting a cloud PC somewhere to play your own games on Steam. You only need at least 12 Mbps for 720p. Like Stadia, it is extremely versatile where you can play games on different devices.

 

Talking about the price plan, it is quite reasonable at $9.99. Additionally, you will also get free tier games but for that, you will have to wait in queues to gain access with a limit of one hour.

 

GeForce currently has over 2,000 games. But keep in mind that you have to buy most of these games

 

It is very good in terms of visual quality and performance. It is equipped with a bunch of games that support 1080p resolution and 60FPS.

 

For anyone with a large library of video games and who wants to enjoy games at the highest possible settings, GeForce Now is the right choice.

 

You will enjoy the extra level of experience of some of the high-end games like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, Death Stranding, Control, Ghostrunner.

Amazon Luna

Jumping into the newest player in the market we have Amazon Luna. It's in beta and at the time it's limited to the US only.

 

Its subscription price starts at only $5.99 per month for Luna Plus. Additionally, you can also purchase the Ubisoft Plus library that will cost you $14.99. So overall you have to spend an amount of $21-$22 bucks and get access to 1080p (4K 60fps) with just a 10 Mbps connection. Although you don't get the full 100 games from Ubisoft, it gives a clear indication that the library is still much smaller with either Luna Plus or Ubisoft with over 50 games and both giving you around 80 games in total.

 

So Luna Plus controls some excellent games from Resident Evil 7, Metro Exodus and Ghost Runner, GRID, and even the recently released Assassin's Creed Valhalla.

 

You can run the Luna app on desktop PC, Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Luna has access to iOS and some Android but not all Android devices. It works perfectly fine with some Bluetooth gamepads, but the Luna controller is the best way to enjoy the real GameCloud game experience.

 

 

On the other hand, you can definitely play through Fire Stick TV. The performance is actually pretty impressive through Ubisoft Plus in games like Six Sieges, Resident Evil 7, etc. Although it is in beta, if you are looking for games that are only available with this cloud service, then you should definitely go for it.

Blade’s Shadow Cloud Streaming

Finally, we have Shadow PC, and it is one of my favorites on the list because it differs from its competitors in every aspect. Essentially you are renting a quality gaming PC and you are controlling it through Windows 10. It has three different levels with three different performances. The top tier is close to $40 per month with the highest delivery performance

 

The Shadow is top-notch in terms of picture quality, as it plays games in 4K resolution at 60 fps or full 1080p (HD) at 144 fps. However, it seems that they have a problem with developing their app on IOS devices.

 

The only catch is that you need at least a 15 Mbps internet connection. Its combination of design and drivers renders some of the highest quality games available on the market

 

Overall if you are looking for top-level games with your own PC library, Shadow by Blade is totally recommended. And if you want to do any stuff outside of gaming like video editing or just plain old internet browsing, I recommend the Shadow PC.

 

Overall this is a cloud gaming service designed for customers who want the performance of a high-end gaming PC without actually spending thousands to build one.

Wrapping it up

All the cloud gaming services that we have listed above are a very good option to go for. Among all the 5 cloud gaming services, Shadow tops the list of commercially available cloud gaming options, but if you are lucky enough to have a GeForce Now, definitely go for it without any hesitation.

 

Although cloud gaming is in its starting phase, somewhere deep inside the heart, we know this is the future of gaming, no doubt about it.

 

Despite being in the beta stage, cloud gaming platforms are in the process of becoming a phenomenon in the gaming industry

Now every cloud gaming server is being designed to give the best gaming service to the end-user

 

Which cloud gaming service are you going to sign up for? Are you ready to wait for GeForce Now? Tell us in the comments below and as always, thanks for reading.