LG TVs are getting a huge boost in support of cloud games, with the OLED TV manufacturer confirming that both Google Stadiums and Nvidia GeForce Now will be coming to their screens in the coming months.
Both of these game streaming services – which allow players to stream games over an internet connection, rather than handle massive downloads – would be striking news in themselves, but bringing both in the same year is definitely a big game.
Google Stadium started off with a bit of hype in 2019, although growth was somewhat slow, with a limited range of Stadium games and a pay-per-title business model rather than an all-you-can-eat buffet (though Destiny 2, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Cyberpunk 2077 can get it). You can get 1080p streaming and stereo sound at the free / basic level, but you have to pay a monthly fee to get 4K resolution and 5.1 surround sound.
Nvidia GeForce Now was launched around the same time, due to a handful of delays, but it’s a much more accessible service up front. There’s a free level that allows you to stream games you already own on Steam without Stadia’s monthly subscription fee; the paid Founders edition ($ 4.99 per month in the US) tracks you past server ropes and even enables jet tracking (something you won’t find on Stadiums).
Stadia has a slightly slimmer interface, as well as a stylish Stadia controller, but the ability of GeForce Now to stream games you already own can tempt many people to opt for it over Google’s service. Either way, the fact that LG opted for both, rather than using one service, will only be good for consumers in the long run.
A long time to come
LG has made no secret of its gaming ambitions, with its 2020 OLED TVs with a slump of less than 1 ms and with Nvidia’s G-Sync technology to reduce screen splitting for PC-connected gaming.
This last feature definitely affected only a minority of gamers – something that our computer editor strongly viewed negatively. However, it seems to have laid the foundation for a more fruitful collaboration between Nvidia and LG.
Of course, there is competition for both services, with Microsoft’s Cloud Gaming service (formerly Project xCloud) now merging for free with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and you can stream Xbox Game Pass games on a multitude of different devices. If you’re in the Xbox ecosystem, that’s not wise, but we expect that in the long run there will be room for more than one game streaming service (though PS Now will hardly watch these days).
PS5 and Xbox Series X game consoles also offer competition, with LG’s 2021 OLED TVs featuring four HDMI 2.1 ports, VRR (variable refresh rate) and a “Game Optimizer” feature to keep the input delay below 1 ms.
Both Google Stadiums and Nvidia GeForce Now will end up on LG TVs in the second half of 2021. We’ll keep you posted when more specific timings are announced.
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