NVIDIA just announced its biggest update ever for GeForce NOW, bringing its new Blackwell architecture to the cloud. That means gamers can now stream with GeForce RTX 5080-class GPUs, complete with DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation, up to 5K resolution at 120 frames per second, and a stack of AI-powered features.
This upgrade effectively turns GeForce NOW into a full RTX 5080 gaming rig without raising membership costs. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang called the move “the biggest leap in cloud gaming ever,” promising even higher frame rates, more realistic visuals, and latency so low that it rivals a gaming PC sitting in your living room.
One of the standout additions is Cinematic-Quality Streaming. Backed by Blackwell hardware, it brings sharper text, more accurate color reproduction, smoother motion thanks to AV1 encoding, and even higher bitrates up to 100 Mbps. NVIDIA says it will make games look crisper on everything from laptops with high-DPI screens to 4K and 5K displays.
The performance jump is serious. RTX 5080-class servers offer 62 teraflops of compute power with a 48GB frame buffer, outpacing the PlayStation 5 Pro more than three times over. Combined with AMD Zen 5 CPUs and NVIDIA’s latest networking tech, the result is faster load times, AI-boosted rendering, and click-to-pixel response times as low as 30 milliseconds.
Of course, graphics power isn’t the only big change. NVIDIA is doubling the GeForce NOW game library to more than 4,500 titles. A new Install-to-Play feature mirrors the feel of a local gaming PC by letting members bring over more of their Steam collections with cloud storage support. GeForce NOW Ultimate and Performance subscribers will get 100GB of cloud storage included, with options to expand up to 1TB for a monthly fee.
Major publishers are backing the push, too. Borderlands 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and The Outer Worlds 2 are all confirmed to stream at launch. Games like Dying Light: The Beast and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 will also take advantage of Blackwell’s enhanced ray tracing and AI rendering. Indie titles are included as well, meaning this isn’t just a win for blockbuster franchises.
The reach of GeForce NOW also continues to grow. Steam Deck players will see boosted performance at 90 fps, while supported LG TVs can stream at 4K 120Hz with HDR. Racing wheel support has been added for a more authentic driving experience, and even Mac users will be able to tap into the new Blackwell-powered servers.
NVIDIA is also teaming up with Discord and Epic to make game discovery and streaming easier. A new integration will let Discord users try Fortnite and other games instantly in-app without downloads, installs, or even a GeForce NOW membership, thanks to a limited-time Performance trial.
The Blackwell upgrade rolls out starting in September. GeForce NOW Ultimate remains $19.99 per month or $99.99 for six months, while the Performance tier stays at $9.99 per month or $49.99 for six months. Annual plans will also be available at $199.99 and $99.99.
Look, folks, NVIDIA isn’t just bringing higher frame rates and prettier graphics. It’s essentially redefining what cloud gaming can be by combining raw horsepower with smart features, bigger libraries, and broader accessibility. For anyone who has ever doubted the cloud as a real alternative to owning a gaming PC, this might be the moment that changes minds.
