Nvidia has recently announced that ads will be introduced to the free tier of its cloud gaming service, GeForce Now. Users will now see up to two minutes of ads while waiting in the queue to start a gaming session. This change is expected to help pay for the free tier of service and reduce average wait times for free users over time.
The free tier of GeForce Now has been criticized for being the least impressive version of the service. It does not showcase the true capabilities of cloud gaming offered by Nvidia. To experience the full potential of the service, users are encouraged to try out the Ultimate tier, which offers the power of an RTX 4080 in the cloud, reduced latency, and G-Sync monitor support. However, the Ultimate tier comes at a cost of $20 a month with no free trial available.
One concern is the absence of a $7.99 day pass, which would provide a better trial option for users interested in trying out the Ultimate tier. It is unclear why Nvidia has not introduced this option despite promising it earlier. The company plans to inform all free-tier users about the introduction of ads through emails on February 27th.
Price Hikes and Operational Costs
In October, Nvidia increased the price of GeForce Now in countries outside the US, citing the need to account for increased operational costs in those regions. This move is in line with the trend of streaming services raising prices and introducing ad-supported tiers to sustain their operations.
Overall, while the introduction of ads to the free tier of GeForce Now may help improve service quality and reduce wait times, concerns remain about the lackluster performance of the free tier compared to the Ultimate tier. Users are looking for more affordable trial options, such as the promised day pass, to experience the full potential of Nvidia’s cloud gaming service. It is essential for Nvidia to address these concerns and provide transparent communication with its user base to maintain customer satisfaction.
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