NVIDIA GeForce NOW adds Chromebook support, so you can run it on Linux too

You own games you purchase via stadia.

You own games you purchase via stadia.

You missed the entire point of that bit I see. The local install option.

Thank you for posting this! i totally missed it! quite excited!

Obviously, at this point NVIDIA are not supporting the Linux desktop with GeForce NOW in any way and it could break any time - so keep that in mind.

Keep in mind also that Geforce Now is using Windows on the server. So it's not any better than dual booting or running Windows in VM locally. You just get a longer cable for it. It's essentially a glorified remote Windows VM.


Last edited by Shmerl on 18 August 2020 at 3:55 pm UTC

Anyone else having issues with the User-Agent Switcher? It's not working for me.

Obviously, at this point NVIDIA are not supporting the Linux desktop with GeForce NOW in any way and it could break any time - so keep that in mind.

Keep in mind also that Geforce Now is using Windows on the server. So it's not any better than dual booting or running Windows in VM locally. You just get a longer cable for it. It's essentially a glorified remote Windows VM.

I hope they could add a Linux VM option. Potentially with a small reduction since there is no need to pay for a licence on their side. Even without a reduction, that would be quite nice, could still use the windows VM for rare games that can't run even on proton, and use the Linux VM most of the time for my laptop.

I hope they could add a Linux VM option. Potentially with a small reduction since there is no need to pay for a licence on their side. Even without a reduction, that would be quite nice, could still use the windows VM for rare games that can't run even on proton, and use the Linux VM most of the time for my laptop.

If they do, it won't be as nasty. In the current form, it's just MS feeding service.

Works well on Vivaldi with user agent switcher, with Solus Linux, and a potato PC with intel HD 5600.

Thank you for posting this! i totally missed it! quite excited!

Well, that's why people fund us, to bring on le news :)

Does not seem to work on my Fedora 32 machine running Chromium with Chrome OS user agent. I get a "0xC0F2220E" error every time I try to launch some game. Maybe I am missing some codecs?

edit: It works fine when using chromium-freeworld from RPM Fusion!


Last edited by AsciiWolf on 19 August 2020 at 1:12 pm UTC

Keep in mind also that Geforce Now is using Windows on the server.

Does it matter?

I mean, you are playing "The Witcher 3", a game using Microsoft® API (DirectX™) via Proton™.

As much as I despise Proton, it's proponents' main argument "As Long As It Works" has some merit. Why a user should be bothered by this minor detail, if (s)he does not have to deal with Windows™ in any way her-/himself?

Both methods (GFN and Proton) involve purchasing a game, which developers could not care less about Linux. But I say, if anything, using GeForce Now is even purer than using Proton™: you don't have to deal with Microsoft yourself at all.

Does it matter?

Depends for what or may be for whom. I'd say those who don't want to give any edge to Linux gaming hostile MS, don't dual boot, so they don't use Geforce Now either. Those who don't care would say it doesn't matter.

Comparison with Wine is invalid in this context. We are talking about actual Windows.


Last edited by Shmerl on 19 August 2020 at 7:40 pm UTC

I'd say those who don't want to give any edge to Linux gaming hostile MS, don't dual boot…

Dualbooting has nothing to do with this case. A user is not required to do so in any way (while using GFN).

Comparison with Wine is invalid in this context. We are talking about actual Windows.

No, we are not. GFN does not require to use either "actual" or "virtual" Windows. And what nVidia is using is nVidia's problem, not user's.
By using GFN one does not makes another sale for Windows (contrary to WINE, where some may argue it is de-facto a Windows copy). On the opposite, by using GFN you are sending a "clear signal" (as Proton™ adepts would put it) to game developers that you are not a Windows gamer (but a ChromeOS user, a Linux variant, mind you, in this case).

Dualbooting has nothing to do with this case.

I already explained what it has to do with it. Really not interested in spending time arguing with demagoguery. See above.


Last edited by Shmerl on 18 August 2020 at 7:22 pm UTC

Really not interested in spending time…

If you are inclined on just being rude and accuse others of "demagoguery" instead of presenting arguments, then so be it.

It is OK, I also hate many things after all, preaching included.

Our conversation is over.

Who said the developers have access to this data?

And who said they don't? Let's not speculate on thing we do not have information about, OK?

The important part: do you think they would have to incur the costs of supporting ChromeOS at any time, instead of Windows?

No, I do not. As I do not think they will be willing to incur costs by supporting Linux after seeing a bunch of "Linux Gamers" playing on Proton™.
To be clear here, I am just playing a "Devil's Advocate" role here, nothing more. In my own opinion (of which you are very well aware) I am equally against GFN and Proton™, as both ways a gamer is wasting money on Windows products instead of supporting Linux (NTNB is my motto).
But I find bashing of GFN by people endorsing Proton™ to be unjustified (and unethical).

In the case of proton, as small as it is, developers who see advantage in letting users use it often do make modifications and patches of their games to better ensure compatibility, like with Hello Games' No Man's Sky.

And other developers see that "Linux Players" are more than happy to play Windows versions, as the "Supraland" developer. It all comes down to the person responsible. For your every positive example I can bring a negative one. Let's not get into particularities. Proton's overall influence has not been evaluated yet and we can not claim it to be beneficial or detrimental. Besides, that is besides the dispute. We are about the "ethics" of using GFN, not about what developers might think.

Dude, seriously, stop your anti-proton crusade…

Don't you see the irony? I did not bash Proton™ this time around! I defended GFN.
If you are so pro-Proton because (as Liam would say) it enables Linux market to be more viable as it brings more games to ecosystem, then you shall accept GFN, as it also does just that!

…it is not fruitful and makes you look like a histrionic person.

Seriously, what's up with you guys? Can not maintain a conversation without resorting to calling names? You are absolutely need to get personal, aren't you? Shall we continue discussing our personalities instead of the news? (No!)

And by no means using a compatibility layer for Windows on Linux for some software, without paying a dime to Microsoft…

Moot point. Using GFN also does not require to spent a dime on a Microsoft product.

…would be worse than running that software within an actual Windows environment with a license paid to Microsoft.

Again, nVidia pays the license, not player. Stop telling "un-truths" in order to strengthen your position in a dispute.


Last edited by Alm888 on 18 August 2020 at 8:13 pm UTC

if you going to buy an new game, you have 2 options:

you can buy it on stadia, and you will be able to stream it in fullHD forever, or pay to stream it in 4k.
(if you dont care about not being able to play offline)

or you can buy it in steam/epic store/etc and pay nvidia to stream it (you can use the free tier as well if you dont care about waiting in an quee and only playing for 1 hour...)

in my opinion, stadia is still an great option for the games you didnt purchased yet.

as for the games you already paid for, GFN sounds like the cheaper option (its cheaper than buying it again)

Obviously, at this point NVIDIA are not supporting the Linux desktop with GeForce NOW in any way and it could break any time - so keep that in mind.

Keep in mind also that Geforce Now is using Windows on the server. So it's not any better than dual booting or running Windows in VM locally. You just get a longer cable for it. It's essentially a glorified remote Windows VM.

i kind of agree, but this will make it more convenient for people who are considering test/migrate to linux, so this may increase our marketshare and the developers support who want to support those who want to offline gaming as well as streaming...

or maybe not, its a double edge sword.


Last edited by elmapul on 18 August 2020 at 8:15 pm UTC

Keep in mind also that Geforce Now is using Windows on the server.

Does it matter?

I mean, you are playing "The Witcher 3", a game using Microsoft® API (DirectX™) via Proton™.

As much as I despise Proton, it's proponents' main argument "As Long As It Works" has some merit. Why a user should be bothered by this minor detail, if (s)he does not have to deal with Windows™ in any way her-/himself?

Both methods (GFN and Proton) involve purchasing a game, which developers could not care less about Linux. But I say, if anything, using GeForce Now is even purer than using Proton™: you don't have to deal with Microsoft yourself at all.

actually steam will count the sale as an linux sale, if you play it on proton.

it will apear in the data send to the developers that you are using linux.
afaik

If you are inclined on just being rude and accuse others of "demagoguery" instead of presenting arguments

Your claim it has nothing to do with dualbooting is pure demagoguery. It's not rude to point that out, especially since demagoguery is waste of time for everyone. Drop it.


Last edited by Shmerl on 18 August 2020 at 8:26 pm UTC

I'd say those who don't want to give any edge to Linux gaming hostile MS, don't dual boot…

Dualbooting has nothing to do with this case. A user is not required to do so in any way (while using GFN).

Comparison with Wine is invalid in this context. We are talking about actual Windows.

No, we are not. GFN does not require to use either "actual" or "virtual" Windows. And what nVidia is using is nVidia's problem, not user's.
By using GFN one does not makes another sale for Windows (contrary to WINE, where some may argue it is de-facto a Windows copy). On the opposite, by using GFN you are sending a "clear signal" (as Proton™ adepts would put it) to game developers that you are not a Windows gamer (but a ChromeOS user, a Linux variant, mind you, in this case).

wrong, you DO pay another licence.
it may be cheaper because nvidia buy in a lot with a bunch of licences, but you're still paying.
nvidia cant make unlimited copies of an software and distribute it just because you're streaming it from an vm running in their servers, instead of using it yourself.

otherwise they would be able to buy 1 copy of an game and distribute it to everyone.

they pay per user, and if nvidia is an publicly traded company, its dirt easy for microsoft to know how many windows licences they are using.
they just need to know how many clients are using gfn, they can get this info by reading the info that nvidia give to stake holders about their profits, the origin of the money and where they're spending.

they ARE payig microsoft for each user, either an rent of an windows licence or an entire licence, but they are.