A relatively new addition to the gaming industry, game streaming services give players remote access to some of the best titles on the market. Each service works a little differently than the latter, but in essence, these services allow users to stream video games like Netflix or Hulu to their screens.
This means that you do not need a fancy PC or more storage space on your console to play high-end games — instead, you need a stable internet connection.
Anyone looking for a relatively affordable way to access hundreds of games without upgrading their hardware will love these services. Although the technology is new, the market is already crowded with companies looking to do the next big thing.
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Here are the best game streaming services currently available.
Xbox Game Pass (Xbox One, *PC)
Kicking off the list is arguably the best example of a streaming service, Xbox Game Pass. The other services on our list rely on streaming technology to deliver your games, but Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass works a little differently. For $10 per month, a subscription to Xbox Game Pass gives you access to more than 100 games, and you download them onto your Xbox One’s storage device just like you would with any other digital game.
This means you don’t have to worry about your internet speed affecting the quality of your gaming experience, and even if you lose your connection, you’ll still be able to play games, so long as you remain a member.
And the games — the games. Xbox Game Pass has perhaps the best library of free games of any service on our list. From Rise of the Tomb Raider to Gears of War 4, nearly every notable Xbox One game you can think of is included through the program, and a selection of Xbox 360 games also is available through backward compatibility. The service isn’t limited to Microsoft-published games, either, with a variety of third-party games also available.
The kicker, however, is Microsoft’s policy for future Xbox exclusives. All first-party Xbox games going forward are included with an Xbox Game Pass subscription at no extra charge on launch day. That means games like Halo Infinite, the next Forza Motorsport, Gears, and the mega-popular Grounded are all available on day one through Game Pass. Speaking of Grounded, that’s a great example of a game that’s available through Microsoft’s Game Preview program — which allows users to play a game in what is effectively beta form.
* Only Xbox Play Anywhere games are also available on PC through Xbox Game Pass.
PlayStation Now (PS4, PC)
Sony has some of the best first-party video games around, but you previously needed to own one of the company’s consoles to be able to play them. With PlayStation Now, you can play a wide variety of exclusive PlayStation games from your PC or your PlayStation 4.
On PC, all you need is a DualShock 4 controller with either a wireless adapter or USB mini cable, as well as a PlayStation Network account and at least 5Mbps of internet download speed. PlayStation 4 users need the same internet speed on their game console, and with either a seven-day free trial or a paid subscription, you’re ready to play the best PlayStation exclusives. For PS4 players, a PlayStation Now subscription includes full access to multiplayer support, even if you have not subscribed to PlayStation Plus. Your save files will be compatible with both PC and PS4.
PlayStation Now features some older PlayStation exclusives, including the first three Uncharted games, Killzone: Shadow Fall, The Last of Us, Until Dawn, God of War III: Remastered, and Bloodborne. The service also supports a number of third-party games, such as Dishonored, the Batman: Arkham games, the BioShock trilogy, and Saints Row IV.
PlayStation Now also looks to be getting a potential upgrade, thanks to a partnership made between parent company Sony and Microsoft. The two companies will work to integrate Microsoft’s Azure cloud technology — the same technology powering Project xCloud — into Sony’s streaming and A.I. services.
As we approach the next generation of consoles, Sony also is planning to allow players to use PlayStation Now on more devices, including mobile platforms. Content quality will, according to Sony, reach 1080p and beyond, putting it in line with services such as Nvidia GeForce Now, but trailing the capability of Google Stadia and Project xCloud.
GeForce Now (PC, Mac, Nvidia Shield)
Own a Mac, Nvidia Shield, or a low-end PC, but want to play the latest AAA games? With GeForce Now, you can play the latest and greatest from major publishers without having to worry about your computer catching fire or, worse, running Bootcamp.
GeForce Now is not a content service like many of the other services on our list. You have to purchase the games you want to play through a digital store, such as Steam, Uplay, or Blizzard’s Battle.net. Once you’ve installed the app on your machine, GeForce’s cloud-based processors will allow you to run the game on any device, independent of their specs.
The service requires a higher internet download speed than GameFly Streaming — 15Mbps minimum and 25Mbps are recommended — and you must have MacOS 10.10 or higher or Windows 7 64-bit or later in order to run it.
Either an Ethernet connection or a Wi-Fi connection using a 5GHz router is required, and you can use either a mouse-and-keyboard setup or one of several gamepads. Sessions are capped at four hours per player before you have to start a new session to keep the servers available for other players.
GeForce now is compatible with a huge assortment of games, though you do have to buy them to use them with the service. The list includes Assassin’s Creed Origins, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Injustice 2, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War, to name a few. Even behemoths like the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 will be available to play through this service. GeForce Now has exited beta testing and is available in three different tiers.
The free version offers standard access with a one-hour play session cap. The $4.99-per-month Founders option gives priority access, extended session lengths, and enables RTX. There’s also a limited-time high-end option that costs $24.95 for six months, and offers all the benefits of the Founders version but adds special Hyper Scape perks and exclusive content.
Google Stadia
Google Stadia is Google’s take on a streaming service, boasting the ability to stream games in 4K from a Chrome browser. Available to stream on devices such as Android (and eventually iOS) phones, laptops, tablets, and televisions via Chromecast Ultra, Google Stadia effectively replaces the traditional game console. You have access to several of the biggest AAA games on the service, including Mortal Kombat 11, Destiny 2, Borderlands 3, and Darksiders Genesis, and updates are handled on the server-side so you never have to wait before playing your games.
Stadia will receive timed exclusive games, with a few hundred titles added to the service overall, and it continues to be updated with new features. However, the service has a long way to go if it wants to compete directly with xCloud or with the upcoming PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
Stadia is certainly one of the most robust game-streaming services today, but we would still suggest waiting until it receives a better game lineup. Still, if you don’t own a traditional console, it’s a quick way to jump into AAA gaming, and you can cancel your subscription if you decide Google Stadia isn’t for you. You can currently access the free version, which caps its games at 1080p resolution. The Pro option costs $10 a month and allows 4K streaming, along with a library of “free games” each month and discounts.
The main issue with Stadia is in its library, which is currently limited to just over a hundred games — a tough sell when competing with entire libraries of thousands of games across PS4 and Xbox One. Though, it is comparable to those platform’s services — PS Now and Xbox Game Pass — at least in terms of price.
xCloud
Google isn’t the only company that wants you to be able to play console-quality games regardless of your location. Microsoft first unveiled its Project xCloud (now known as xCloud) service back in 2018, and it aims to eliminate the hardware barrier between its library of games and potential players.
Using Microsoft’s 54 Azure data centers, xCloud allows users to stream games originally made for Xbox One or PC on their device of choice. Everything from the Xbox One and PC themselves to mobile phones and tablets will be supported eventually, and you will be able to access your games wherever you have a network connection. You will also be able to use your own Xbox console as a server through xCloud without having to pay at all.
Unlike Stadia, which ties your controller of choice to your Wi-Fi connection, xCloud does so via Bluetooth, which theoretically will lead to low latency during gameplay. Xbox One (and Series X) controllers made after 2016 will be supported on your device of choice, and you will also have access to custom touch control interfaces when gaming on a mobile device.
More than 100 titles are available to stream on an Android phone or tablet, PC, or Xbox console. You can also use it on a Smart TV through the Game Pass app.
Because xCloud is built on the same backbone as Xbox Live Gold and the Xbox Play Anywhere program, it supports cross-platform cloud save data. This means that if you are playing a game on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X, and need to leave, you can pick up your mobile device and resume your progress.
The coolest thing about xCloud is that it will tie to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which costs $15 a month, but gives you access to all the benefits of Xbox Game Pass and Games With Gold (as well as a Gold subscription to play online with others). So, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will gain access to xCloud at no additional cost — and it’s something Microsoft is aiming to be as ubiquitous as possible, regardless of if you own an Xbox console or not.
Amazon Luna
It seems many companies are trying the gaming subscription business model. Recently, Amazon launched its own gaming subscription service called Luna, which allows users to stream games via the cloud. It’s currently in early access form, but at the time, Amazon Luna offers 75 games, many of which are recent releases such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion, and Immortals Fenyx Rising. The lineup will also feature the launch of Far Cry 6.
Amazon Luna has an introductory price of $6 per month, and Luna is usable on Windows PC, Mac, Fire TV, iPhone, iPad, and “select” Android devices. You can play games on the service with a dedicated Amazon Luna controller, or any compatible gamepad such as Xbox One, DualShock 4, or even mouse and keyboard.
You’ll need an internet connection speed of at least 10Mbps to stream games at 1080p, or 35Mbps to stream games at 4K. However, the company has implemented an option for 720p, which has a lower internet speed requirement. Therein lies the issue with many streaming services. The premise sounds appealing, but to effectively play many modern games at high resolutions, internet speeds need to be fast, which isn’t a viable option in many areas, even in the United States.
Since Luna is in early access right now, you must request an invitation to join. Upon its full release, Amazon says Luna will have more than 100 playable titles. The company touts being able to play games instantly without the need for downloading, though its performance will be based on your internet connection. It’s unclear when the full release is scheduled.
Nintendo Switch Online
Finally, let’s briefly touch on Nintendo Switch Online. This isn’t technically a streaming service, but the premise is similar enough to Xbox Game Pass and PS Now, so we wanted to mention it. For $20 per year, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers gain access to online play for Switch games, just like Xbox Live. But beyond that, Nintendo grants subscribers with an ever-expanding library of NES and SNES games, some of which have been updated to include online play.
While the list of playable games is arguably lackluster, the fact that it’s so much less expensive than its competitors is an easier pill to swallow. Of course, fans are hoping for a wider selection of games on the service, like titles for N64, GameCube, and beyond, but given Nintendo’s reluctance toward game preservation, you probably shouldn’t go in with high expectations.
