LG TVs just got GeForce Now cloud gaming to counter GPU and console shortage

LG TVs merely got GeForce Now deject gaming to counter GPU and panel shortage

(Image credit: LG and Nvidia)

Back in January, LG promised that Nvidia'south GeForce Now would be heading to some of its TVs, and now the feature has arrived to a selection of 2021 models in beta.

Co-ordinate to LG, the beta is available for "select 2021 LG 4K OLED, QNED Mini LED, and NanoCell TV models in 80 markets." A footnote at the bottom of the folio says that the full list of supported models will arrive "at a later date."

For those unfamiliar, GeForce Now lets users stream games from powerful computers in the cloud. The device you lot're connecting with — be information technology a Chromebook or a TV — is essentially a glorified screen, with the heavy lifting carried out on Nvidia's remote systems.

Different the likes of Google Stadia and Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia's solution plugs into your existing Steam or Epic Games library: you buy the games as if you were planning to play them at abode, and so stream them from elsewhere.

In theory, so, the inflow of GeForce Now on LG's televisions — hardware with a strong presence on our list of the best TVs yous can purchase — would be good news for owners of loftier-end panels, just frustrated past the GPU and PS5 stock shortages. However, the devil is in the details, and there are a few things you lot should be enlightened of.

For starters, not only does GeForce Now on webOS merely back up two-channel stereo, but the visuals are capped at 1080p and 60fps, which could less than platonic on the larger 65- and 77-inch 4K panels.

More importantly, while the beta supports "compatible controllers", that doesn't seem to include plugging in a keyboard and mouse, which makes it an imperfect solution for traditional PC gamers — even if the idea of balancing a Corsair K70 Mk.2 and Logitech G502 on your lap doesn't sound ideal either.

If these points sound similar a bargain breaker, yous could buy the 2019 Nvidia Shield which supports 4K GeForce Now streams, 7.ane sound, mice and keyboards. Plus, of course, it's uniform with whatsoever Tv set or monitor with a gratuitous HDMI port.

Still, gamers with LG TVs could exist spoiled for choice soon. Effectually the same time as GeForce Now was beginning promised, LG also revealed plans to add Google Stadia cloud gaming support to its TVs in "late 2021". With just over a calendar month of 2021 left, an announcement on that forepart could be merely around the corner...

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, roofing phones, drones and everything in betwixt. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine also. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably detect him tackling his e'er-growing games excess. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.