GeForce NOW adds RTX 5080 GPUs and cinematic streaming

NVIDIA expands GeForce NOW with RTX 5080 GPUs, 5K streaming and new features as September rollout nears

GeForce NOW gains RTX 5080 GPUs and cinematic quality streaming

GeForce NOW will deploy RTX 5080 GPUs in September, enabling 5K streaming at up to 120 fps and 1080p at 320 fps for demanding titles. The upgrade remains in the Ultimate tier at 20 dollars per month, keeping 100 hours of monthly playtime and 15 hours rollover, with access to DLSS features including Frame Generation. NVIDIA claims RTX 5080 servers run up to 2.8 times faster than RTX 4080 due to 4X Frame Generation, while the 4080 supports up to 2X Frame Generation. At launch, games such as Doom The Dark Ages, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Cyberpunk 2077 and Flight Simulator are supported, with more titles to come.

NVIDIA also introduces Cinematic Quality Streaming to improve color fidelity with YUV 4:4:4, AV1 streaming, AI artifact filtering, and automatic DPI detection for high DPI screens. With CQS on, streaming can reach up to 100 Mbps, a requirement that favors users with fast internet but may exclude those with caps or slower connections. The company adds Install-to-Play, giving 100 GB of free cloud storage, with paid tiers to 1 TB. It projects up to 2,300 pre installed games this year and more than 4,500 with Install-to-Play. The service will work across devices, with up to 90 fps on Steam Deck, 5K streaming on select LG monitors, and a native LG TV app supporting 4K 120 Hz. Testing notes indicate easy game launches and smooth performance across laptops, TVs and PCs, with expectations for RTX 5080 performance at launch.

The upgrade signals a shift in how cloud gaming is perceived. NVIDIA uses speed and fidelity as twin selling points, addressing two classic cloud gaming criticisms: lag and image quality. The move toward large and high fidelity streaming is likely to push competitors to raise their own performance and pricing. Yet the updates also raise questions about accessibility, given the higher bandwidth needs and the premium Ultimate tier. If the market continues to accept cloud options at near PC levels of quality, a growing share of players may skip building a powerful PC. The real test will be reliability across homes with varied internet connections and the long term impact on game pricing and storage costs.

Highlights

The cloud is inching toward the punchy choice many players have long wanted, with progress measured in bandwidth as much as pixels.