Nvidia's cloud gaming service needs high-speed WiFi to work right

Mobile gamers who want to avail of graphics card maker Nvidia's upcoming cloud-based gaming service may have to look for a high-speed WiFi connection.

 

Nvidia has recommended an Internet connection of at least 10 megabits per second to use the "Grid" gaming service, Recode.net reported.

 

"The streaming happens over Wi-Fi, and Nvidia recommends Internet connections of at least 10 megabits per second," the report said.

 

Earlier, The Verge said Nvidia is to launch an improved version of the Grid service Nov. 18, initially for North America.

 

It will then roll out the service to Western Europe and parts of Asia in 2015, for users of Nvidia's Shield tablet or a portable console.

 

Grid general manager Phil Eisler said gamers using Nvidia devices may want to use a USB to Ethernet adapter to plug to a hard line Ethernet port.

 

Under Grid's system, games will be pulled down from the cloud, similar to Sony’s PlayStation Now service.

 

Eisler noted PlayStation Now is based on PS3 chips, "which Nvidia designed about 10 years ago.”

 

Nvidia claims Grid will be 12 times as powerful and will ofer twice the frame rate as games streamed over PS Now.

 

Netflix for games

 

Nvidia described Grid as a “Netflix for games,” Recode.net said.

 

While the initial library of games is small at 20, Nvidia's devices can also access Android apps or play games streamed from the user’s home PC over Wi-Fi.

 

Grid, which will launch as a free preview for Shield Tablet and Portable users “for the foreseeable future,” will likely be free for Shield owners in the first half of 2015.

 

No game saves for now

 

But Recode.net noted Grid does not support exporting game save data for now, meaning games started in Grid cannot be picked up and resumed outside Nvidia’s ecosystem.

 

However, Eisler said such a feature has been discussed “a couple times.” — Joel Locsin/TJD, GMA News