Streaming a game is a lot like streaming a movie, except this movie is listening to your controller. That one difference explains almost everything.
Short version
- The game runs on a server in a data center; your device sends inputs and plays back video.
- A stable, low-latency connection matters more than a fast one.
- High-quality streams can use several gigabytes an hour, which adds up on capped plans.
- Streaming gives you access, not a copy: catalogs change and services can close.
When you play a game in the cloud, it isn’t running on your device at all. It runs on a powerful computer in a data center. Your phone, laptop, TV or console sends your button presses up to that computer, which renders the next frames and streams them back to you as video.
That’s why a five-year-old laptop can run a brand-new game. Your device only has to decode video, which almost anything can do.
The catch is the round trip
On a console, your button press reaches the game in a few milliseconds. In the cloud it has to travel to the data center, the game responds, the frame is compressed, sent back and decoded. Good services hide most of that delay. None can make it disappear.
You’ll notice it most in fast shooters, fighting games and rhythm games. You’ll barely notice it in a strategy game or a slow-paced RPG.
Two kinds of service
| Model | How it works | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Catalog subscription | Stream games from a rotating library included in the subscription | Xbox Cloud Gaming through Game Pass; cloud streaming in PlayStation Plus Premium |
| Stream what you own | Stream PC games you’ve bought on stores like Steam | NVIDIA GeForce NOW |
With stream-what-you-own services, the game’s publisher decides whether it can be streamed, so not every game in your library will be available. Which subscription tiers include cloud play changes from time to time, so check the current terms. We compare the subscriptions themselves in our guide to game subscriptions.
What your connection needs
- Stability first. Each service publishes a minimum speed, with higher figures for 1080p and 4K. Aim for the recommended number rather than the minimum, and remember that jitter and packet loss hurt more than a slightly slower line. The fixes in our lag guide apply here too.
- A short trip to the data center. Most services run a quick network test when you start. Pay attention to the latency it reports.
- Enough data. High-quality streams can use several gigabytes per hour. On a capped home plan or a mobile plan, a few long sessions a week add up quickly.
- Wired or close to the router. Ethernet is best. If you’re on Wi-Fi, use 5 GHz or 6 GHz and sit near the router.
Who it suits
It’s a good fit if you want to try games without buying hardware, mostly play slower games, or want to keep playing on a laptop or tablet away from your console. It’s a poor fit for competitive players chasing every millisecond, for busy shared Wi-Fi, and for anyone on a tight data cap.
Try before you pay
- Use a free tier or trial if there is one. Free tiers often come with queues and time limits, which is fine for testing.
- Run the service’s network test from the room where you’ll play.
- Play the kind of game you actually play, at the time of day you usually play.
- Check that the specific games you want are available on the service.
Worth knowing
Streaming doesn’t give you a copy of anything. When a game leaves a catalog or a service shuts down, your access goes with it. Google closed Stadia in January 2023 and refunded players’ purchases; not every operator will be so generous. Our guide to what you own when you buy digital explains why.
Quick questions
Can I use cloud gaming on a phone?
Yes. The major services have apps or browser versions for phones and tablets. A controller makes most games far more playable than touch controls.
Does it work on hotel or public Wi-Fi?
Sometimes. Shared networks are often congested, and some block the kind of connections streaming needs. Treat it as a bonus rather than something to count on.
Do my saves carry over between the cloud and my console?
Often, when the service shares an account with the console, as on Xbox and PlayStation. With services that stream games you own on PC, saves depend on the PC store’s own cloud sync.
Why does the picture sometimes turn blurry?
The service drops the video quality to keep the game responsive when your connection dips. If it happens a lot, Wi-Fi or a busy home network is the usual suspect.
Store policies, subscription terms and platform features change often. This guide is general information for players in the U.S., not legal advice; check the current terms on the store’s or platform’s own help pages before relying on them.