How-To Guides

Intermediate

2 min read 7 stepsApril 2, 2026Verified April 2026

Cloud Gaming: Play Video Games Without a Console

Stream games directly to your TV, phone, or laptop without buying expensive hardware.

At a Glance

What is cloud gaming?

~15s

Cloud gaming runs games on powerful remote servers and streams the video to your device — like Netflix for video games. You don't need an expensive gaming PC or console.

Popular services

~15s

Xbox Cloud Gaming (included with Game Pass Ultimate, $19.99/month). NVIDIA GeForce NOW (free tier available, paid starts at $9.99/month). Amazon Luna ($9.99/month). Each offers hundreds of games.

What you need

~15s

A strong internet connection (at least 15 Mbps, 35+ Mbps recommended). A controller (Xbox controller works best). A compatible device: phone, tablet, laptop, smart TV, or Chromebook.

Get started with Xbox Cloud Gaming

~15s

Subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Visit xbox.com/play in a browser, or download the Xbox app on your device. Sign in and start playing from a library of hundreds of games.

Get started with GeForce NOW

~15s

Create a free NVIDIA account at play.geforcenow.com. The free tier lets you play for 1 hour at a time. Connect your Steam or Epic Games library to play games you already own.

Tips for best performance

~15s

Use a wired ethernet connection when possible. Close other apps using bandwidth. Sit close to your Wi-Fi router. A 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection is better than 2.4 GHz for gaming.

Is it right for you?

~15s

Cloud gaming is perfect for casual gamers who don't want to spend $300-$500 on a console. The tradeoff: you need fast internet. And there can be slight input delay compared to local gaming.

You Did It!

You've finished reading: Cloud Gaming: Play Video Games Without a Console

How well did this guide stick with you?

Need more help? Book a TekSure tech

Rate this guide

How helpful was this guide?

gaming

cloud

streaming

entertainment

technology

Official Resources

GCFGlobal How-To Geek AARP Technology Tips

Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

← Previous

Protecting Your Privacy Online

3D Printing for Beginners

Still stuck? Let a pro handle it.

A real person can walk you through this over the phone, anywhere in the US. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.

Book a Verified Tech How It Works

Related Guides

How (and Why) to Keep Your Devices Updated

A plain-English guide to updating Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, and your browser — and why skipping updates is risky.

3 min read

How to Set Up Netflix, YouTube, and Streaming Apps on Your TV

Step-by-step guide to watching Netflix, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and more on your Smart TV, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or Chromecast.

3 min read

How to Record Your Screen

Capture what's happening on your screen — great for showing a tech problem, creating a tutorial, or saving a video call moment.

3 min read