NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW is becoming more accessible on Linux. After launching a native app at CES earlier this year, and previously announcing support for the Steam Deck, it’s now expanding to standard desktop Linux versions, beginning with Ubuntu 24.04 and newer.
NVIDIA previously upgraded its cloud gaming systems with RTX 5080 GPUs, allowing for high-quality graphics – up to 5K resolution at 120 frames per second, or 1080p at a super-smooth 360 FPS – with minimal lag. This latest update is a bigger deal than just improving the graphics on smart TVs and portable devices.
GeForce NOW is similar to Xbox Cloud Gaming – it lets you play games remotely. Instead of renting a console, though, you’re essentially borrowing a powerful gaming PC from NVIDIA. Plus, it brings all your games from different stores, like Steam and PC Game Pass, together in one place.
Testing GeForce NOW for myself
GeForce NOW works well for free games like Fortnite, and this Linux version is particularly useful because it lets you play popular games that don’t have versions specifically made for Linux. Plus, I can even link my Battle.net account and stream games like World of Warcraft on almost any device, which is handy if I need to quickly complete some in-game tasks.
GeForce NOW is becoming remarkably responsive, and it’s finally delivering on its promise of very low lag.
I’m really impressed with how quickly GeForce NOW is responding – it’s almost unbelievably good! It’s finally delivering on the promise of low latency that we’ve seen in its ads, and now even fast-paced games are perfectly playable. I used to only use cloud gaming for slower games like turn-based RPGs, but that’s starting to change.
I tested Bazzite on a different operating system besides Ubuntu and SteamOS, and it’s not quite ready yet. GeForce NOW launches and lets me sign in, but it’s unreliable and crashes after about a minute. It’s not a major problem for me personally, as I mostly do cloud gaming on my Steam Deck, but I plan to continue testing it.
I’m especially interested in testing how quickly mouse and keyboard inputs register after the recent GeForce NOW improvements, and Linux seems like a good place to do it. I won’t come close to NVIDIA’s 100-hour streaming limit, so I can repeatedly launch the same game – or any game, really – to compare the experience to playing PC games directly on Windows.
Currently, if you use Ubuntu and have a GeForce NOW account, you can try the free tier for a limited trial – it lets you play for up to one hour at a time. If you’re using a different Linux distribution, it might not work perfectly, as it’s not officially supported. However, many experienced Linux users will likely see this as a fun challenge rather than a problem. Feel free to share your results in the comments if you get it working!
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2026-01-29 17:12