👏 GeForce Now overcomes the Steam Machine’s limitations, such as ray tracing and anti-cheat compatibility, by enabling high-end gaming
🚀 Accessing GeForce Now’s Ultimate tier provides an RTX 5080, allowing the Steam Machine to run games at 4K, 120fps with advanced features like path tracing and DLSS 5
😲 The setup works seamlessly with imperceptible input lag and high image quality, provided a stable, preferably wired, internet connection is used
💰 GeForce Now serves as a cost-effective alternative to building a high-end PC, with the subscription price being significantly cheaper than purchasing an RTX 5080 GPU alone
The Steam Machine has quickly become my favorite gaming device thanks to the seamlessness of SteamOS and the ability to kick back and enjoy my library on the living room TV.
However, while I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the machine’s power, certain games are simply unplayable. Titles heavily reliant on ray tracing for visual fidelity or those with anti-cheat software incompatible with Linux – like Call of Duty – remain off-limits. Newer titles built using Unreal Engine 5 can also be extremely taxing.
But with GeForce Now, those barriers to entry vanish, and the biggest criticism leveled at Valve’s compact cube – aside from the price – is suddenly null and void.
Ultimate power
I’ve been testing the highest tier of GeForce Now, which grants access to an RTX 5080. It means that the Steam Machine, which typically caps out at 1440p for demanding titles, can now comfortably hit 4K, 120fps, with all the bells and whistles.
It’s crazy how far cloud gaming has come.
Having the power of an RTX 5080 means I can max out almost every game in my library and enjoy graphically intensive effects like path tracing. It also unlocks Nvidia’s suite of features, including DLSS 4.5, multi-frame generation, Nvidia Reflex, and DLSS 5 in NBA 2K27.
It’s surreal just how well it works. If you have a fast and stable internet connection (ideally wired), input lag is imperceptible, and image quality appears just as clear as running the game natively. I didn’t experience a single stutter or performance hiccup, even after hours of play. It’s crazy how far cloud gaming has come.
And while the Steam Machine feels like the perfect match for GeForce Now, you’re not confined to it. I’ve been using it on the Steam Deck OLED, my phone, and my laptop, all with excellent results.
Cost of the cloud
There are a few caveats to using Nvidia GeForce Now on the Steam Machine. You’ll have to use the Steam Deck app, as a native Steam Machine app isn’t available yet – though one should arrive before the end of the year. You also have to own the games you stream, and not every title is supported. However, with access to libraries on Steam, the Epic Games Store, GOG, and Xbox, I had hundreds of titles ready to test.
At the current yearly price of $199.99 for the Ultimate tier, it would take you six and a half years to reach the cost of just the GPU
Considering an RTX 5080 now costs around $1,300–$2,100 (significantly above MSRP), GeForce Now is a cost-effective alternative. At the current yearly price of $199.99 for the Ultimate tier, it would take you six and a half years to reach the cost of just the GPU – and that’s before factoring in the rest of a high-end PC build.
Personally, I’ll be using GeForce Now to enjoy upcoming games like Gears of War: E-Day, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and so much more on the Steam Machine.
Up next: Best Steam Machine settings for Cyberpunk 2077
Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.