Share Play functionality extends cloud gaming’s social NAGA169 potential. Invite friends to join your streamed games or hand over control remotely, creating collaborative gaming sessions across different devices and locations. Sony’s cloud service brings PlayStation exclusives to devices that never supported them.

cloud gaming

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With Microsoft’s Azure technology powering low-latency gameplay, Xbox Cloud Gaming offers a premium experience at an affordable price. Some games are available on multiple services, so we would be sure to play the same game across multiple services to see if things like responsiveness felt the same between them. Additionally, we would compare the cloud gaming experience to just playing the same game locally on the test rig to see if anything did feel notably off. The results are subjective and are likely to be more noticeable for more experienced players, especially in the competitive gaming space.

 

Whether you’re looking to see what you’ve been missing in the puzzle game space or are looking for the next game to test your brain power, here are the best puzzle games on Xbox Series X. Cloud gaming has been around since the late 2000s, but the technology and internet speeds were not optimized for its implantation until several years later. It works, via an app or web browser, on Android; Windows and Mac OS; Chromebooks; Chrome, Safari (for iPad and iPhone) and Edge web browsers; and Some TVs natively, all TVs via Nvidia Shield. Plus, with a browser it can be coaxed to run on more novel devices as well, such as the Xbox or Valve Steam Deck. Fast-paced games like shooters need better performance than strategy games or RPGs. It allows up to eight Nintendo Account holders to use the service, even on different Switch consoles.

 

It costs $14.99 per month and offers the most features compared to other PlayStation Plus tiers. The service works through channels that offer different game collections. Prime members get free access to select games including Fortnite and Trackmania. Paid tiers remove these restrictions and add features like RTX graphics and longer play sessions. The premium options deliver graphics that match high-end gaming computers without the hardware investment.

 

Of The Best Cloud Gaming Platforms

 

Xbox Cloud Gaming requires an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership to access, even if you’re wanting to play cloud-supported games that you own. As we mentioned up above, Xbox’s streaming service has been closely tied with Game Pass since its inception, and accessing any cloud titles needs a GPU subscription. Since cloud streaming is finally coming into its own, there’s a lot of competition on the market. That also means that sometimes cloud streaming services don’t work out—the most notable being Google’s announcement to shut down Stadia. If streaming services are slowing down on new releases, you might want to consider that a red flag, and look into different platforms for your gaming. Game streaming is similar to other types of streaming, like Netflix or Hulu, except instead of streaming shows and movies, you’re streaming games.

 

It works right in your web browser without any downloads needed. The service updates its game library every Thursday, regularly adding new titles. This keeps the selection fresh and gives players more options to enjoy. The service offers powerful performance that rivals expensive gaming PCs. Users praise GeForce Now for its high-quality streaming experience, with many considering it the best in cloud gaming. Nvidia GeForce Now stands out as a top cloud gaming service in 2025.

 

What’s Cloud-based Gaming?

 

PlayStation console owners have probably heard of PlayStation Plus. If you’re into streaming games via the cloud, consider the Premium tier. If you own a PlayStation console, you can stream a massive selection of games at up to 4K resolution at 60fps. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate isn’t the most affordable compared to other gaming services, coming in at $16.99 per month after the first two promotional weeks.

 

Play your favorite games with Luna controller or connect a controller you already have via Bluetooth or USB. If you don’t have a controller you can try Luna by using your smartphone as a controller via the Luna controller app or use on-screen touch controls for your smartphone or tablet. By subscribing you are authorizing recurring payments made to Microsoft at the intervals you selected, until cancelled. To stop being charged, cancel your subscription in your Microsoft account (account.microsoft.com/services) or on your Xbox console, before the next billing date.

 

This game is then streamed to the user’s console or PC via an internet connection and in real-time. Think of it as something between playing an online game and watching Netflix. You are connecting to a server somewhere on the internet, and that server has the hardware that your account and game is running on. The video feed of that game is then being streamed back to your device, where you send controls back through your connected controller or mouse & keyboard. In this setup, it’s important to have both a stable, high-speed internet connection and low latency to the cloud gaming service. GeForce Now explicitly references the importance of latency in its service, and we agree.

 

Charges may be increased on at least 30 days notice as described in the Microsoft Store Terms of Sale. “Stream Your Own Game” was promised for years and finally began rolling out last year, with an initial batch of 50 games. Regular updates have grown this library to over 200 titles, including recent additions like Final Fantasy 16 from Square Enix. I’ve never noticed significant latency issues or lag, but it depends heavily on what you’re playing, where you’re located, and what kind of internet service you have.