Cloud gaming lets you play games that run on powerful remote servers, streamed to your device over the internet like a video. Cross-platform gaming lets you play with friends and keep your progress across different devices, such as a PC, a console, and a phone. Together, they make it possible to play more games in more places, often without high-end hardware.
These technologies sit alongside traditional gaming on a local PC or console:
Cloud gaming runs the game in a data center and streams it to you.
Game subscriptions give you access to a library of games for a monthly fee, sometimes with cloud streaming included.
Cross-play lets players on different platforms join the same matches.
Cross-progression carries your saves, unlocks, and purchases across platforms.
Remote play streams games from your own gaming PC or console to another device in your home or on the go.
This guide explains how each one works, what you need to get started, and how cloud gaming compares with playing on a gaming PC.
How does cloud gaming work?
Cloud gaming works by running the game on a server in a data center, then streaming the video and audio to your device while your controller, mouse, or keyboard inputs travel back to the server. Your device acts as a screen and controller, while the server does the heavy processing.
You choose a game in a cloud gaming app or browser.
A remote server starts the game on high-performance hardware, including a powerful graphics card.
Your inputs are sent to the server each time you press a button or move the mouse.
The server renders each frame and compresses it into a video stream.
The stream travels to your device, which decodes and displays it.
This round trip happens many times per second. Because every action has to travel to the server and back, cloud gaming depends heavily on a fast, stable internet connection with low latency. Our gaming networking guide explains latency and ping.
What devices can you use for cloud gaming?
Most cloud gaming services work on PCs and laptops, phones and tablets, many smart TVs, streaming devices, and handheld gaming PCs, often through a web browser or app. Because the device mainly displays video, even a modest laptop can stream games that would normally need a powerful graphics card.
Cloud gaming services
Cloud gaming services fall into three main types, depending on where the games come from. Some let you stream PC games you already own, some include a catalog of games with a subscription, and some give you a full Windows PC in the cloud.
Type | How it works | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Bring your own games | Stream supported PC games you already own from stores such as Steam or the Epic Games Store | NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Boosteroid |
Subscription catalog | Stream games included in a subscription library | Xbox Cloud Gaming (with Game Pass), PlayStation Plus Premium, Amazon Luna |
Cloud PC | Rent a remote Windows PC and install whatever you want | Shadow |
GeForce NOW and Boosteroid focus on supported games from popular PC stores, while Xbox Cloud Gaming is tied to Game Pass and Amazon Luna offers its own catalog. Xbox Cloud Gaming typically streams the console version of a game, unlike GeForce NOW and Boosteroid, which stream PC versions (Tech4Gamers).
How to choose a cloud gaming service
Already own a large PC library? A bring-your-own-games service lets you play it on any device.
Want a ready-made library? A subscription catalog gives you many games for one monthly fee.
Want the highest image quality? Compare top tiers for maximum resolution, frame rate, and session length.
Playing on a specific device? Check that the service supports your PC, phone, TV, or handheld, and is available in your region.
Plans, prices, and game libraries change frequently, so check each service's official site before you subscribe.
What internet speed do you need for cloud gaming?
Cloud gaming needs a fast connection for the video stream and, just as importantly, low and stable latency between you and the service's data center. Higher resolutions and frame rates need more bandwidth.
Requirements vary by service. As an example, these are NVIDIA's minimum recommended speeds for GeForce NOW:
Stream quality | Minimum recommended speed |
|---|---|
720p at 60 FPS | 15 Mbps |
1080p at 60 FPS | 25 Mbps |
1440p at 120 FPS | 35 Mbps |
4K at 60 FPS (TVs) | 40 Mbps |
4K at 120 FPS | 45 Mbps |
NVIDIA also recommends a wired Ethernet or strong 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection, and latency to an NVIDIA data center of under 80 ms (Corsair).
Tips for smoother cloud gaming
Use a wired connection or the 5 GHz or 6 GHz Wi-Fi band close to your router.
Reduce other traffic on your network, such as downloads and video streams, or turn on QoS.
Pick the nearest data center if the service lets you choose.
Lower stream quality if you see stutter or blurry video.
Watch your data use. Streaming games uses a lot of data, which matters on capped or mobile plans.
Our gaming networking guide covers ping, Wi-Fi, and QoS in more detail.
What are game subscriptions?
A game subscription gives you access to a rotating library of games for a monthly or yearly fee, instead of buying each game individually. Many subscriptions also include online multiplayer, member discounts, and, on some plans, cloud streaming so you can play on devices without installing anything.
Common gaming subscriptions
Subscription | What it offers |
|---|---|
Xbox Game Pass | A library of games across Xbox consoles, Windows PCs, and the cloud, sold in several tiers |
PlayStation Plus | Online play and game catalogs for PlayStation, with cloud streaming on the Premium tier |
EA Play and Ubisoft+ | Publisher subscriptions for each company's games |
Amazon Luna | Cloud game channels and libraries, with some games for Prime members |
NVIDIA GeForce NOW | Paid tiers for streaming games you own, with higher quality and longer sessions on top tiers |
Xbox Game Pass tiers
Microsoft reorganized Xbox Game Pass in October 2025 into Essential, Premium, and Ultimate tiers, alongside a separate PC Game Pass plan (Thumbsticks). Xbox Cloud Gaming is included in Essential, Premium, and Ultimate but not in PC Game Pass (Tech Insider). The tiers differ in library size, day-one releases, and cloud streaming quality and wait times.
Is a game subscription worth it?
A subscription is usually good value if you play several new games a year or like trying games you might not buy. Buying games outright may be better if you play only a few titles for a long time, since games can leave subscription libraries. Prices and tier details change often, so compare current plans on each service's official site.
What is cross-play?
Cross-play, or cross-platform play, lets people on different devices play together in the same game. A friend on a console can join your match while you play on a PC, and another friend can join from a phone or a cloud stream.
Cross-play depends on each game. Developers decide whether to support it and on which platforms. Many popular multiplayer games now offer cross-play, often with options to turn it off or to match only with players using the same type of controller.
Cross-play considerations for PC players
Input matching: Some games group mouse-and-keyboard players separately from controller players for fairness, or let you choose.
Accounts: You may need to link a platform account, such as Xbox, PlayStation, Steam, or a publisher account, to play with friends elsewhere.
Voice chat: Cross-platform voice chat is usually handled in the game itself or through a third-party app.
What is cross-progression?
Cross-progression lets you carry your save files, character progress, unlocks, and sometimes purchases from one platform to another. You can start a game on a console, continue on a gaming laptop, and pick it up again through a cloud stream on your phone.
Cross-progression usually relies on a single account that links your platforms, along with cloud saves. Support varies by game, and some purchased items may not transfer between platforms. Related terms include:
Cross-save: Your saved game syncs across platforms.
Cross-buy: Buying a game on one platform gives you access on another, which is less common.
What is remote play?
Remote play streams games from your own gaming PC or console to another device, such as a laptop, phone, tablet, TV, or handheld. It works like a personal cloud gaming service: your gaming PC runs the game, and the other device displays it and sends your inputs back.
Remote play vs. cloud gaming
Remote play | Cloud gaming | |
|---|---|---|
Where the game runs | Your own gaming PC or console | A provider's data center |
Games available | Anything installed on your machine | The service's supported library |
Cost | Usually free with your hardware | Often a subscription |
Best connection | Your home network, ideally wired at the host | A fast internet connection to the data center |
Works away from home | Yes, with a good upload speed at home | Yes, wherever you have fast internet |
Common remote play options
Steam Remote Play: Streams games from a PC running Steam to another PC, phone, tablet, or TV, and can let friends join local multiplayer games online.
Xbox remote play: Streams games from an Xbox console to a PC or mobile device through the Xbox app.
PlayStation Remote Play: Streams games from a PlayStation console to a PC, phone, or tablet.
Third-party streaming apps: Some apps stream from a gaming PC to almost any device.
Tips for better remote play
Connect your gaming PC or console to the router with Ethernet.
Use 5 GHz or 6 GHz Wi-Fi on the device you are streaming to.
For play away from home, check that your home internet has enough upload speed.
Lower the stream resolution if you see lag or blurry video.
Cloud gaming vs. a gaming PC
Cloud gaming makes high-end games available on almost any device, while a gaming PC gives you the lowest latency, the most control, and no dependence on your internet connection. Many players use both.
Cloud gaming | Gaming PC | |
|---|---|---|
Upfront cost | Low; works on hardware you already own | Higher; you buy the hardware |
Ongoing cost | Monthly subscription for most services | Mainly the games you buy, plus optional subscriptions |
Latency | Higher, because of the round trip to a data center | Lowest; best for competitive play |
Image quality | Compressed video stream; very good on fast connections | Full native quality |
Internet dependence | Needs a fast, stable connection for every session | Works offline for single-player games |
Game library | Limited to each service's supported games | Any PC game you can install |
Mods and customization | Limited or unavailable | Full freedom |
Portability | Play on phones, TVs, and laptops anywhere with fast internet | Gaming laptops are portable; desktops stay home |
Other uses | Gaming only | Streaming, creating, work, and school |
Cloud gaming is a great way to try demanding games, play on a lightweight laptop while traveling, or game on a TV without a console. A gaming PC is the better choice for competitive play, mods, offline gaming, and anyone who also streams or creates content. Our gaming laptops vs. desktops guide helps you choose the right gaming PC.
Cloud and cross-platform gaming frequently asked questions
Do I need a gaming PC for cloud gaming?
No. Cloud gaming runs games on remote servers, so a modest laptop, phone, tablet, or smart TV can play demanding games. You do need a fast, stable internet connection and a supported device or browser.
Is cloud gaming good for competitive games?
Cloud gaming can work well for many online games on a fast, low-latency connection, but it adds some delay compared with playing on a local gaming PC. Competitive players who need the fastest response usually prefer local hardware.
How much data does cloud gaming use?
Cloud gaming uses a lot of data because it streams continuous video, and higher resolutions and frame rates use more. If your internet plan has a data cap, check your usage and lower stream quality when needed.
What is the difference between cloud gaming and remote play?
Cloud gaming streams games from a provider's servers. Remote play streams games from your own gaming PC or console to another device. Remote play is usually free but requires you to own and run the host hardware.
Do I need to own games to use cloud gaming?
It depends on the service. Some, such as GeForce NOW and Boosteroid, stream PC games you already own from supported stores. Others, such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, include a catalog of games with a subscription.
Does cross-play work between PC and console?
In many games, yes. Cross-play is supported game by game, so check each game's settings or platform information. Some games let you turn cross-play off or match only with players who use the same input type.
Can I play the same save on PC and console?
If the game supports cross-progression or cross-save, yes. You usually need to link your platform accounts to the game publisher's account. Support varies, so check each game's details.
Is Wi-Fi good enough for cloud gaming?
A strong 5 GHz or 6 GHz Wi-Fi connection close to your router can work well. A wired Ethernet connection is more reliable. Our gaming networking guide explains how to improve your connection.
Related gaming glossary guides
Gaming glossary: What makes a gaming PC, plus key gaming terms
Gaming networking: Ping, latency, and Wi-Fi for smoother streaming
Gaming laptops vs. desktops: Choosing a gaming PC for local play
Gaming software: Launchers, the Xbox app, and Windows gaming features
Game streaming: Broadcasting your gameplay to an audience
Gaming peripherals: Controllers and gear for cloud and remote play
