Unlock AAA Gaming on the Go: An In-Depth Review of Nvidia GeForce Now for Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is a popular handheld gaming device, but its limits are becoming clearer over time. While it’s affordable and offers a great display—especially in the OLED model—playing demanding games can be challenging. That’s where game streaming comes in. Nvidia’s GeForce Now now has a dedicated app for the Steam Deck, which has quickly become my go-to for enjoying the latest titles from my couch.

Performance matters, but the Steam Deck excels with less demanding games. However, with titles like Doom: The Dark Ages, getting smooth gameplay can feel impossible. I spent 90 hours playing Metaphor: Refantazio on it, and even though the game isn’t very graphic-heavy, I faced slowdowns in open areas.

Nvidia announced plans to bring the GeForce Now app to various platforms, including the Steam Deck. I was lucky to get early access, and it’s been a game changer. While I enjoyed Razer Cortex for streaming, GeForce Now offers a far simpler experience on a SteamOS handheld. Nvidia has not confirmed whether the app will work on the new Lenovo Legion Go S, but many expect support will come.

Before the dedicated app, accessing GeForce Now on the Steam Deck required some effort. Users had to run it through a browser and manually set controls. Now, downloading the app is straightforward, making battery life more manageable. I typically get two hours out of a demanding 3D game on my Steam Deck, but with GeForce Now, that’s extended to four or five hours.

The browser version had limitations, capping display resolution at 1440p. However, the app allows 4K resolutions and supports up to 60 fps with the Ultimate subscription. Though it doesn’t match the PC app’s potential for 120 fps, the handheld version still offers great features like HDR10 and Nvidia Reflex. There are talks about increasing the max fps to 90, but for now, 60 fps works well for handheld gaming without noticeable visual distortion.

While the Steam Deck is designed to access your Steam library, it can be tricky to play games from platforms like Xbox and Epic Games Store due to compatibility issues. GeForce Now simplifies this, enabling smoother access across platforms. Xbox recently started allowing game streaming through GeForce Now, making it easier to use my Game Pass subscription for titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, proving more stable than the browser option. However, Doom: The Dark Ages still requires a driver update to run.

The Nvidia app also enhances the experience when combined with a 4K display. The Steam Deck version goes beyond 1440p but needs at least a 45 Mbps internet connection for optimal performance. I docked my Steam Deck to my TV and found it more enjoyable to navigate through SteamOS with a controller rather than using a keyboard and mouse. Still, the 60 fps limit in docked mode means it can’t fully match capabilities available on PCs or an Nvidia Shield.

For streaming on a TV, it’s my top choice. That said, at $100 for the Ultimate subscription, it may not be the best starting point if you’re focused solely on using GeForce Now with the Steam Deck. The free version limits sessions to one hour and resolutions to 1080p, which is still workable since the Steam Deck’s max is 1,280 x 800. Yet, the ads on the free version push many toward the $30 six-month “Performance” subscription. With the rising costs of more powerful handhelds, game streaming becomes an increasingly attractive option.

In conclusion, the Steam Deck’s charm lies in its portability and affordability, but game streaming is a fantastic way to extend its capabilities. As technology improves, it will be exciting to see how cloud gaming evolves and enhances the handheld gaming experience.

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