GeForce Now Is Capping Play Hours

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GeForce Now Is Capping Play Hours

Key Takeaways

  • GeForce Now will cap playtime at 100 hours a month, with additional hours available for purchase.
  • The platform offers games from other digital stores, and even offers Xbox Game Pass integration.
  • Some gamers are unhappy with the new limit due to future paywall concerns.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming experience under my belt, I must say that I find Nvidia’s recent decision to cap GeForce Now playtime at 100 hours a month a bit disheartening. Having grown up with the concept of “unlimited” in the digital realm, this sudden shift towards pay-to-play feels like a step back.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got some news: GeForce Now is introducing a playtime limit of 100 hours per month starting now. If you find yourself gaming for longer sessions, you’ll need to upgrade to a premium service. GeForce Now, Nvidia’s innovative cloud gaming platform, has been around since February 2020, following over four years in beta. It’s safe to say that this service has proven its mettle and become one of the most enduring and successful platforms in its category.

GeForce Now stands out because it’s not a digital store itself, but rather a service that allows gamers to stream games they already own from platforms like GOG, Epic Games Store, Steam, and even some Xbox Game Pass releases. The collection of available titles is continuously expanding. Recently, Xbox.com has integrated with GeForce Now, giving gamers the option to launch their compatible Xbox PC games either through Nvidia’s service or Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Nvidia’s cloud gaming service comes in three levels: a free, ad-supported version called GeForce Now; a Performance tier (formerly known as Priority), which allows gaming up to 1440p resolution with RTX, and Ultimate that offers all the premium features like 4K HDR, 240 FPS, and RTX 4080 graphics. Starting in 2025, new subscribers will be limited to a maximum of 100 hours per month for playtime, with the possibility to buy more time in 15-hour increments at $2.99 for Performance and $5.99 for Ultimate. Any unused playtime up to 15 hours will automatically carry over to the next month.

Nvidia argues that despite a 100-hour limit seeming restrictive, it will offer ample playtime for 94% of GeForce Now users. The system records the hours each user plays in the cloud, which can be monitored through the user account portal. Notably, existing members and those who sign up to GeForce Now before December 31, 2024, will enjoy cap-free usage throughout 2025.

When Does GeForce Now’s 100-Hour Playtime Cap Begin?

  • Current subscribers: January 1, 2026
  • New subscribers before December 31, 2024: January 1, 2026
  • New subscribers after December 31, 2024: January 1, 2025

Cost to Purchase Additional Playtime Hours

  • Performance tier: $2.99 for 15 hours
  • Ultimate tier: $5.99 for 15 hours

Lifelong unlimited gameplay hours for Founder members will persist, provided their membership remains active without expiration. This exclusive GeForce Now member category can optionally advance to Ultimate, where a playtime limit applies, and then return to the Founders tier whenever desired, reclaiming the unlimited play benefit once more.

It’s clear that not everyone is happy with the recent adjustment to GeForce Now, despite some recognizing they may not directly feel the impact of the 100-hour playtime limit. Some are concerned that this could signal a pattern of paywalls for access or features, such as charging for raytracing or 4K capabilities. Others argue it might set a precedent for other streaming services like Netflix to institute usage caps. For those who were on the fence about subscribing to Nvidia’s cloud gaming service, they now have the option of a day pass, allowing them to test the service before making a decision.

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2024-11-08 15:07