NVIDIA launches Linux GeForce NOW app with cloud tweaks

NVIDIA has released the native Linux app for GeForce NOW from beta and announced a set of cloud gaming updates for the service.

The Linux app still supports Ubuntu 24.04 and later. NVIDIA said the full release follows months of user feedback during the beta period. It has also added a new Flatpak repository for installation and updates.

GeForce NOW lets users stream games from remote servers instead of running them on local hardware. NVIDIA said the Linux release is aimed at people who want to stay on their preferred operating system without dealing with hardware upgrades or software workarounds.

Cloud changes

Alongside the Linux launch, NVIDIA said it has adjusted DLSS Frame Generation in the cloud to reduce streaming latency. The changes are most noticeable at 60 or 120 frames per second when streaming in 1440p and 4K.

Performance tier subscribers will also receive what NVIDIA described as a CPU performance adjustment for some processor-heavy games. Because the change is applied on the server side, users do not need to download software or change settings on their devices.

That reflects the central model behind cloud gaming services, where providers can make platform-wide changes without requiring players to upgrade their graphics card, processor or storage. It also lets NVIDIA extend the same service across a wide range of hardware, including lower-powered machines.

Chromebook push

NVIDIA also used the update to highlight Chromebook use cases as students prepare for the school term. It said Chromebooks used for schoolwork can also stream more than 2,000 supported PC games through a browser or app.

The same cross-device pitch extends to Macs, Surface devices, standard laptops, Steam Deck handhelds and mobile devices. For NVIDIA, that broad hardware support is a core part of GeForce NOW's commercial appeal, allowing users to keep access to their game libraries while shifting the computing load to the cloud.

Eligible new Chromebook and Chromebook+ owners can also receive a year of GeForce NOW through Chromebook Fast Pass, according to NVIDIA. The offer includes priority access and an ad-free service tier.

Content additions

NVIDIA said nine games are joining the GeForce NOW library this week: Car Wash Simulator, Pax Autocratica, Clawed, Hell Let Loose: Vietnam, Sandustry, Cat Mail Co., Misery, Monster Hunter Wilds Prologue Demo and Pratfall.

Weekly game additions are a routine way cloud gaming platforms try to maintain engagement, especially as competition continues across subscription services, digital storefronts and device ecosystems. For GeForce NOW, catalogue breadth and support for existing PC game libraries remain key points of distinction from services built mainly around first-party content.

The Linux move is also notable because desktop Linux remains a smaller segment of the gaming market, even as interest has grown through handheld devices and open-source software communities. By moving the native app out of beta, NVIDIA is making a clearer commitment to users who want a dedicated Linux client rather than relying only on a web browser.

At the same time, the service update underlines how cloud gaming companies are trying to improve responsiveness, an area that has long shaped consumer perceptions of streamed games compared with local play. NVIDIA said the latest tuning is intended to make mouse movement and camera panning feel more immediate.

The changes come as cloud gaming providers continue to compete on convenience, device reach and visual quality rather than exclusive hardware alone. NVIDIA said the server-side upgrade for Performance members comes at no additional cost and requires nothing to install or configure.