GeForce Now to Cap Streaming Hours as Nvidia Holds Off on Raising Fees

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Nvidia is introducing a wave of updates to its GeForce Now cloud gaming platform, marking a significant shift in how the service will operate for both new and existing members. One of the most noticeable changes is the rebranding of the Priority membership tier, which will now be called the “Performance” plan. This refreshed plan brings new features designed to enhance the gaming experience, including 1440p streaming capabilities, support for ultrawide resolutions, and a new function that lets users save their personalized graphics settings across streaming sessions. These upgrades are tailored to improve the visual and immersive quality for users, giving them more control and continuity in their gaming experience.

Another major change is the introduction of a playtime limit. Starting January 1, 2025, new GeForce Now subscribers who join the Performance or Ultimate membership tiers will be subject to a 100-hour monthly playtime cap. This cap translates to roughly three hours of gameplay per day, on average, across the month. Nvidia explained that this limit is being introduced to help keep membership costs stable without the need for price increases. According to Nvidia, this cap will only impact a small segment of users — estimated at less than 6% of the member base — and is intended to sustain the high performance, low latency, and short wait times that paying members expect from the service.

For existing members, Nvidia is offering a transitional grace period. Current paid subscribers will continue to enjoy unlimited playtime until January 1, 2026, at which point the 100-hour cap will apply to all members, with the exception of those holding Founders memberships. Founders members, who were promised lifetime benefits as long as they maintain an uninterrupted subscription, will retain their unlimited playtime. Nvidia has confirmed that if a Founders member temporarily upgrades to the Ultimate plan, they can revert to their original Founders plan and keep their unlimited hours, provided they maintain continuous payments without any breaks.

Nvidia is also introducing some flexibility around the new playtime cap by allowing unused hours to carry over. If a member doesn’t use their full 100 hours in a given month, up to 15 unused hours can roll over into the next month. This feature offers a bit of leeway for users who may want more intensive gaming sessions during certain months. For members who do reach their playtime cap, Nvidia will offer the option to purchase additional hours. These can be bought in 15-hour blocks, with Performance members paying $2.99 per block and Ultimate members paying $5.99. This add-on option provides an alternative for users who need extra time but don’t want to drop down to the Basic tier, which operates on less powerful servers.

To incentivize early adoption, Nvidia is also offering a limited-time discount on its day passes for both the Ultimate and Performance tiers. Until November 22, 2024, these passes will be available at a 25% discount, allowing users to explore the service at a reduced rate. Additionally, members who sign up for a monthly or six-month recurring plan will lock in a year of unlimited playtime through 2025, helping ease the transition to the new capped model in 2026.

This suite of changes underscores Nvidia’s commitment to sustaining the quality and affordability of GeForce Now amid a growing and increasingly competitive cloud gaming market. By introducing these caps selectively and giving existing members a transitional period, Nvidia aims to maintain a balance between operational costs and user experience. The enhancements to graphics and resolution, combined with more predictable membership fees, signal Nvidia’s strategic focus on providing a premium gaming experience that appeals to a broad audience while being mindful of the long-term sustainability of its cloud infrastructure.