Linux gamers, rejoice! After announcing at CES that a native GeForce Now Linux app was in the works, Nvidia today released a beta version.
The Linux version of the game-streaming platform is available to all as a 12MB .bin file. For now, it only officially supports the Linux distro Ubuntu 24.04 or later, though Nvidia [notes](https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5765/kw/linux/session/L3RpbWUvMTc2OTY5ODQwNy9nZW4vMTc2OTY5ODQwNy9zaWQvZlV5M01wVWdRYWFPUTMlN0VpbGVpUWI2Sk9YX0dEeTV4UTU1SExwdnV0NkJvUmUxNTJiRzA2UTA1a3pOQmZlWExiSmJ4ZVBkJTdFd2xVazVGRHBkQ00yYWttd3BucW1CeDNXWnpRQXZwJTdFUzVpZ…
Linux gamers, rejoice! After announcing at CES that a native GeForce Now Linux app was in the works, Nvidia today released a beta version.
The Linux version of the game-streaming platform is available to all as a 12MB .bin file. For now, it only officially supports the Linux distro Ubuntu 24.04 or later, though Nvidia notes that it also supports Flatpak installation, meaning it should theoretically run on other Linux distros.
Linux gamers have previously had to develop their own custom ways to run GeForce Now on the operating system. This has included using the Steam Deck version of GeForce Now, which works on the Linux-based SteamOS.
Nvidia posted a video about the native Linux app, saying, “You asked. We delivered.”
The clip shows the app streaming Battlefield 6 while stating it supports up to 5K resolution at 120 frames per second. "The beta Linux app is built for PCs and notebooks, offering an experience similar to the existing GeForce Now app on Windows and macOS," Nvidia adds.
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Still, a support page notes that the beta app lacks some features, including HDR, support for racing wheels and flight controls, and video recording.
(Credit: Nvidia)
The app arrives as Nvidia’s PC graphics cards are facing exorbitant price increases due to the ongoing memory shortage. GeForce Now can fill the void, but for the best game-streaming performance, you’ll need a monthly subscription, which runs from $9.99 to $19.99. Users also need a fast enough internet connection. The company offers an ad-supported free tier as well, but sessions are limited to one hour.
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Michael Kan
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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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