NVIDIA GeForce NOW Lands on Linux via Flatpak
▼ Summary
– NVIDIA has officially released a native Linux desktop application for its GeForce NOW game streaming service, distributed as a Flatpak.
– Official support is currently limited to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and later, though the Flatpak may run on other distributions.
– The service requires a modern GPU with H.264 or H.265 Vulkan Video support, with specific driver recommendations for NVIDIA, Intel, and AMD graphics.
– Subscribers have access to over 4,500 games, with tiered performance levels ranging from a free standard tier to an Ultimate tier with high-resolution, high-frame-rate streaming.
– The Flatpak will not be available on Flathub and must be downloaded directly from NVIDIA’s website.
The long-awaited native Linux client for NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW cloud gaming service is now available, arriving as a Flatpak package. This marks a significant expansion for the platform, bringing high-performance game streaming directly to Linux desktops beyond its existing support on the Steam Deck. While the application is packaged for broad compatibility, NVIDIA is officially supporting the build only on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and newer versions. The nature of Flatpak means it will likely function on other distributions, but users outside the official support channel may encounter unforeseen issues.
Accessing the service requires a specific setup. Your local machine needs a modern GPU with support for H.264 or H.265 decoding through Vulkan Video. Notably, AV1 decoding via Vulkan Video is not yet supported on the Linux client. For users with NVIDIA graphics, an R580 series card or newer is recommended when using an X.Org session. Those on Intel or AMD Radeon graphics should ensure they have Mesa 24.2 or later and are advised to use a Wayland session for optimal performance.
Once configured, subscribers gain entry to a library of over 4,500 games, all rendered on powerful servers in NVIDIA’s data centers. The service operates on a tiered model. The free tier offers standard access with session time limits, providing a way to test the service. The paid Performance tier unlocks higher fidelity, including RTX ray-tracing, 1440p resolution at 60 frames per second, and extended sessions up to six hours. For the ultimate experience, the Ultimate tier utilizes servers with GeForce RTX 5080 GPUs, enabling stunning gameplay at up to 5K resolution and 120 FPS, or incredibly fluid 1080p at 360 FPS, with sessions lasting up to eight hours.
It’s important to note that while distributed as a Flatpak, NVIDIA is not using the common Flathub repository. Instead, users must obtain the initial installation file directly from the official NVIDIA website. The initial release is also limited to standard 64-bit (x86_64) systems, with no immediate version for ARM-based (AArch64) Linux hardware.
(Source: Phoronix)
