Cloud games. What used to be a trendy word has now become mainstream. The game is no longer limited to PCs and consoles; From Linux-enabled devices to Chromebooks and to modern Android tablets and to smartphones You can publish the latest versions on almost anything nowadays. With a good internet connection you can play some of the best looking games.
Google Stadia, one of the leading cloud streaming services, looked promising with 4K support and a seemingly affordable $9.99 monthly subscription plan. However, many games required a full retail price entry cost, which overshadowed the service’s potential knocking it out the door. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Google Stadia expires on January 18, 2023.
But you don’t have to give up on your preferred game style. From well-known services like Amazon’s Luna and Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming to more obscure cloud computing streams like Shadow, there are competitive options out there, so we’ve rounded up the best alternatives to Google Stadia.
Amazon Luna
If you are looking for an alternative to Google Stadia with games with rotation, look no further than Amazon Luna. For starters, Prime members have access to an ever-changing selection of games at no additional cost. Upgrade to a $9.99/month subscription; Luna+ provides access to newer and sought-after games like Resident Evil 2 and Medium. Meanwhile, fans of classic games like Castlevania, Metal Slug, and Street Fighter 2 can enjoy streaming for as little as $4.99 per month for the Retro plan.
Family and Jackbox subscriptions are $5.99 and $4.99, respectively, and cater to those looking for more family-friendly and party games. Finally, if you’re prepared to pay $18.99 per month for Ubisoft+, you’ll get access to the latest Ubisoft titles, including Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6.
There are many reasons to try Amazon Luna, including flexible subscription plans and extensive controller support. Much like Google’s Stadia, Luna offers its own proprietary low-latency joystick for sale, but you can also use a compatible PlayStation or Xbox joystick. Plus, Luna works on most devices, including PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks. Currently streaming performance peaks at 1080p 60 FPS, but it’s more than adequate when playing on a portable device.
Nvidia GeForce Now
Founded in 2015, Nvidia GeForce Now is one of the oldest surviving cloud streaming platforms. Unlike many other cloud streaming services, Nvidia GeForce Now doesn’t give you direct access to games. Instead, it gives you access to a powerful remote gaming rig.
The cost of making full use of the service is 120 TL per month; This gives you priority access to 6 hours of gaming sessions with up to 1080p performance at 60 FPS. It offers 4 different purchasing options. Some are advantageous in bulk payments. Surprisingly, Nvidia offers a free subscription plan, albeit with a big caveat: 30-minute sessions and long queue times. But you can think of it as a nice “try before you buy” option. All current package details from here you can reach.
When you subscribe, Nvidia GeForce Now brings games from game libraries like Epic Games and Steam and lets you play them via the cloud. It can be a particularly attractive service for anyone who doesn’t have a powerful gaming PC or just wants to play their games remotely, on a phone or laptop.
Xbox Cloud Gaming
Over the past five years, Microsoft has built a strong presence with its gaming services options. Xbox Cloud Gaming comes with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. In other words, you can access hundreds of Xbox and PC games and cloud streaming for just $14.99 per month.
The deal could get even sweeter with Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Bethesda and pending Activision Blizzard. Imagine playing games like Doom, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and possibly even Call of Duty on any device you want on release day.
Xbox Cloud Gaming works on a wide variety of devices, including Android and iOS phones, Steam Decks, and even Samsung TVs. The service also supports an equally accessible list of first- and third-party controllers from Microsoft, Razer, and PowerA.
As a downside, not all games are available for streaming via the cloud at the moment, so consider that before making a purchase.
PlayStation Plus
The streaming service, formerly known as PlayStation Now, was merged with PlayStation Plus in 2022. Simply put, PlayStation Plus is Sony’s answer to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. PlayStation Plus comes in three different packages: Essential, Extra and Premium.
Benefits range from online multiplayer access and exclusive member discounts to cloud storage and monthly games that you can keep for as long as your subscription lasts. However, if you want access to cloud streaming, you’ll have to book the Premium package, which starts at $40 per month (PlayStation Plus Essential).
PlayStation Plus comes with a significant advantage over its competitors: PlayStation-exclusive games. If you want to play games like Horizon and God of War, a monthly subscription from Sony is the best way to go. However, PlayStation Plus only supports PS4 era and earlier games, there is currently no support for PS5 games.
Alternatively, you can take advantage of the PS Remote Play app to stream content from your PS5 or PS4 to a smartphone or PC.
shadow
With the widespread use of remote work, it becomes more and more important not to be tied to a place or a device. Shadow is not a game service per se, but you can use it as a game service. Similar to Nvidia’s GeForce Now, Shadow gives you access to a powerful Windows PC with the addition of pretty much everything that comes with it. The platform supports a wide variety of devices and peripherals such as keyboards and mice. All you need is a supported display.
Sounds good, right? But the convenience comes at a pretty steep price of $29.99 per month. Plus, for an additional $14.99, you get access to a more powerful remote PC with up to 4K resolution and hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing performance for gaming.
Steam Link
Steam Link is probably the newest streaming service on this list. It was released as a free service to Valve’s Steam Machines in 2015. Basically, it connects your computer to transfer your Steam library to an external device like a monitor or smartphone. The app supports a variety of devices including Android smartphones and Android TV-enabled devices, as well as Linux and Mac.
On the hardware side, Steam Link supported almost all popular controllers, including Xbox and PlayStation, as well as USB and HDMI connections. Unfortunately, the hardware portion of Steam Link was retired in 2018 due to poor selling performance of Steam Machines. That said, if you can get your hands on the device, it’s an interesting but somewhat unnecessary piece of technology that you can take advantage of even today.
Which cloud streaming service is best for you?
What really matters is your needs and your budget. Each service offers different games and options, different price structure of course. If you’re migrating from Google Stadia, Amazon Luna offers the most cost-effective and flexible access to cloud gaming.
Xbox Cloud Gaming comes at a higher price as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but not to mention all the first-party privileges that come with it, it offers flexibility in how you play games. If you have an extensive Steam game library, Nvidia GeForce Now or Steam Link might be for you. Finally, thanks to Nvidia GeForce Now’s servers located in Turkey, you can find the opportunity to play games at a much more affordable price than their fluent rivals.