NVIDIA GeForce NOW Receives Blackwell Upgrade With RTX 5080-Class Performance at the Same Price
NVIDIA has announced its most significant GeForce NOW upgrade yet, introducing Blackwell architecture to the cloud gaming platform. Subscribers will now gain access to RTX 5080-level performance at no additional cost, along with improved streaming quality, reduced latency, expanded device support, and a larger library of games.
RTX 5080-Class Performance in the Cloud
The upgrade is powered by the GeForce RTX 5080 SuperPod network, featuring custom GPUs with 48 GB of VRAM, 60 GB total memory per SuperPod, and double the tensor cores to accelerate AI workloads such as DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation. Combined with an AMD Ryzen Zen 5 CPU clocked at 4.4 GHz, this new setup delivers a 30% uplift over previous Zen 3 CPUs in SuperPods.
According to NVIDIA’s performance data, the RTX 5080 SuperPod offers nearly three times the TFLOPs of the PlayStation 5 Pro and up to 2.8 times the performance of the RTX 4080 Ultimate solution on GeForce NOW.
Cinematic Quality Streaming (CQS)
NVIDIA is introducing Cinematic Quality Streaming, a new mode designed to rival the fidelity of local PC gaming. Features include:
YUV 4:4:4 Chroma for sharper text and precise color rendering
HDR10 and SDR10 for wider color ranges and richer contrast
AV1 + RPR for smoother resolution scaling
AI Video Filters for reduced motion artifacts
100 Mbps streaming for ultra-clear visuals
DPI awareness for sharper laptop displays
Low-Latency Streaming
GeForce NOW also introduces Low-Latency Streaming (LLS). Combined with NVIDIA Reflex and Rivermax HW packet processing, latency is reduced to levels that rival local devices. NVIDIA states that GeForce NOW can now deliver 30 ms click-to-photon latency in competitive titles like Overwatch 2, compared to *49 ms on PlayStation 5 Pro at 120 Hz.
Additional network optimizations include L4S support, enabling up to 360 FPS streaming at 1080p and 240 FPS at 1440p, along with Cloud G-Sync for stutter-free visuals.
Expanded Device and Game Support
NVIDIA is also broadening support for devices:
Steam Deck OLED now supports 90 FPS streaming
Lenovo Legion Go S supports 120 FPS
Logitech racing wheels receive official compatibility
LG TVs and monitors enable up to 4K 120 FPS HDR and 5K 120 FPS OLED modes
New AAA titles are also joining the platform, including:
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Borderlands 4
Dying Light: The Beast
The Outer Worlds 2
ARC Raiders
Hell is Us
Additionally, a new Install-to-Play feature will expand the GeForce NOW library to over 4,500 games, including 2,500+ Steam titles. This system allows NVIDIA servers to download and maintain game installs for cloud streaming, preserving saved data and providing up to 100 GB of single-session persistent storage for premium members.
Pricing and Availability
Despite these upgrades, NVIDIA is keeping GeForce NOW subscriptions at the same price:
Ultimate: $19.99 per month
Performance: $9.99 per month
Storage Add-ons: $2.99 for 200 GB, $4.99 for 500 GB, and $7.99 for 1 TB
The Blackwell-powered GeForce NOW upgrade will roll out in September 2025, with early access reservations available via NVIDIA’s official site.
The Future of Cloud Gaming
With RTX 5080-class performance, cinematic-quality streaming, and reduced latency, NVIDIA positions GeForce NOW as a true alternative to local PC gaming. The ability to deliver these features without raising subscription prices makes this the most compelling cloud gaming update to date.
Would you consider GeForce NOW with RTX 5080 performance as a replacement for your gaming PC, or do you still prefer local hardware?
