Why Some Games on GeForce NOW Require a Premium Membership
NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW is a leading cloud gaming platform, allowing fans to stream high-quality PC games on various devices. However, some games in the GeForce NOW library now require a premium membership to play. This change may come as a surprise to some users, so let’s break down why this is happening and what it means for GeForce NOW subscribers.
Why Are Some Games Locked Behind a Premium Membership?
GeForce NOW offers multiple membership tiers, including a free option and premium plans like Priority and Ultimate. While the free tier provides access to a vast library of games, certain titles now require a premium membership due to their hardware demands.
According to NVIDIA, games that exceed the hardware capabilities of the free-tier gaming rigs will require a premium subscription. This includes titles that:
- Require 16GB of system memory or more
- Utilize ray tracing technology (only available on RTX-enabled GPUs)
- Have other high-end system requirements that demand the enhanced performance of premium-tier servers
When a game falls into one of these categories, users on the free plan will see an “Upgrade” message instead of the usual “Play” button, prompting them to subscribe to a premium plan.
What This Means for GeForce NOW Users
For free-tier users, this means some games that were previously available may now require an upgrade to a Priority or Ultimate membership. While this may be frustrating, it ensures that demanding games run optimally without performance issues.
For premium members, this change highlights the added value of their subscription. The Ultimate plan, for example, provides access to RTX 4080-powered servers, allowing for superior graphics, smoother frame rates, and reduced latency—benefits that make high-end gaming experiences possible in the cloud.
How to Check If a Game Requires a Premium Membership
Before launching a game, users can check its game details page on GeForce NOW. If a title requires premium hardware, the “Play” button will be replaced with an “Upgrade” button. This is NVIDIA’s way of indicating that the game’s requirements exceed what the free-tier hardware can handle.
Is This a Permanent Change?
While NVIDIA has not stated whether more games will require a premium membership in the future, this change aligns with the company’s ongoing focus on providing the best possible gaming experience. As cloud gaming continues to evolve, it’s likely that more hardware-intensive games will be optimized for premium-tier streaming.
Final Thoughts
GeForce NOW remains one of the most flexible cloud gaming platforms, but this update reinforces the benefits of its paid tiers. If you frequently play hardware-intensive games, upgrading to Priority or Ultimate ensures access to better performance and cutting-edge features like ray tracing and higher frame rates.
For more GeForce NOW updates, check out our GeForce NOW guide or explore other cloud gaming news at Cloudy.Games.