Nvidia has revealed that it will limit the monthly gameplay on its game streaming platform, GeForce Now. The Priority membership plan has been rebranded to Performance, which offers 1440p streaming at a cost of $9.99 (€9.26 or £7.71) each month. The Ultimate plan enables streaming up to 4K resolution for $19.99 (€18.53 or £15.42) monthly.
New Limitations on Playtime
The most drastic change is the implementation of monthly playtime limits. Users on the Performance plan will have a maximum of 6 hours per session, while those on the Ultimate plan will be allowed 8 hours. No matter which plan you choose, there is a total cap of 100 hours of usage per month.
Nvidia has decided that users can roll over up to 15 unused hours to the next month, but session caps will still apply. If you surpass the maximum time allowed in a session, you will need to purchase additional hours to keep playing. For the Performance plan, 15 hours of extra playtime costs $2.99 (€2.78 or £2.31), while Ultimate plan subscribers will pay $5.99 (€5.56 or £4.62) for the same amount.
A Small Comfort for Members
On a brighter note, anyone who is an active paid member as of December 31, 2024, will receive unlimited playtime for one full year until January 2026. Additionally, Nvidia Founders subscriptions will continue to offer unlimited playtime for life, provided that there is no gap in their membership.
Nvidia stated, "This ample limit comfortably accommodates 94% of members, who typically enjoy the service well within this timeframe."
User Reactions and Gaming Habits
As anticipated, the response from users has been largely negative, with many expressing their dissatisfaction on platforms like Reddit and X. Numerous players are urging Nvidia to rethink this decision and are willing to pay more to keep unlimited playtime available.
A survey conducted by Statista, which questioned 10,106 individuals in the U.S., revealed that 28% reported spending about 1 to 5 hours daily on gaming, 17% said they spend between 6 to 10 hours, and 10% claimed to play for 11 to 15 hours.
Game Lengths and Playtime Concerns
From howlongtobeat.com, the campaign length for the newly launched Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is approximately eight hours, extending to eleven hours for those aiming to complete everything. Multiplayer modes can further increase this time.
Silent Hill 2 requires about fifteen and a half hours to complete, while Baldur's Gate 3 can take up to sixty-eight hours just for the main storyline. Elden Ring may take sixty hours or more to finish.
Even disregarding the average gameplay durations, the notion of having to limit playtime per session is not appealing for any gaming service. Players should be able to immerse themselves in the game, not constantly checking the clock to monitor their remaining time.
Nvidia, Reddit, Statista, howlongtobeat.com
