Someone built a client for GeForce NOW, and it seems better than the original
Follow UsOpenNOW is an open-source client for NVIDIA's GeForce NOW service.
It offers adjustable bitrates, 4:4:4 color control, and anti-AFK features.
The client supports Windows, macOS, Linux ARM-based machines.
Gamers crying over DRAM prices and unable to afford hardware upgrades to their gaming rigs finally had an alternate way to enjoy games through NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW service, which is an extremely popular cloud game streaming platform. It allows users to stream video games without having the native hardware. But that, too, comes with a few restrictions.
SurveyThis is where this story becomes interesting, as a gaming developer has found a way to solve all these “restrictions” inside the native GeForce NOW client by using an alternate open-source client known as OpenNOW.
Sounds too good to be true, right? We thought so too, but apparently the open-source OpenNOW client is slowly getting rave reviews.
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How does OpenNOW work?
First and foremost, as to how the OpenNOW client works, the developer explained that he has built an Electron app for playing GeForce NOW from an open-source desktop client. The point of this entire client is that it uses the same NVIDIA servers, but it offers more control and more freedom to the end user.
And for those wondering whether or not the service is legal or not, the developer has explained that the OpenNOW client is a community project that has been built on top of GeForce NOW. As per the developer, to use the OpenNOW client, users must use their own GeForce NOW account, so there’s no room for piracy here.
He further explained that the project is not affiliated with NVIDIA in any way. So there are slim chances that the company could send a legal notice to close down the project, but, well, that is something that only time will tell.
How is it better than GeForce Now?
A big question that comes up is, how exactly is the service better than the original client made by Nvidia? Well, here’s where things get interesting: On a technical level, OpenNOW is very similar to GeForce NOW, as it supports all the features of the original client. Like support for game streaming up to 5K at 120 fps and 240 fps at lower resolutions.
But unlike the official client, which sits at automatic bitrates based on your internet connection, using the OpenNow client, it is possible to get an adjustable bitrate. Further improvements include full colour control at 4:4:4 (10-bit). There’s also a detailed stats overlay that displays crucial information like latency, jitter, and packet loss. The client also supports quick session restore, and since there is no tracking or telemetry, all the settings you use are saved within your local machine only.
Some further quality-of-life feature improvements include support for built-in screenshots, recording, microphone controls, and controller-friendly navigation. There are also some unique features, like anti-AFK, which allows for the idle disconnects to be completely removed. Not only that, but it also supports clipboard paste into cloud sessions.
Last but not least, the client has been built to work on all sorts of devices. The OpenNow client works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Though NVIDIA added support for Linux in the recent builds, the support for ARM-based machines is still limited. But the latest client supported those devices too. The developer has also announced that he’s working on a version for Android devices, though no release date has been specified yet.
Does OpenNOW work in India?
Many might be wondering whether GeForce NOW’s open-source ‘OpenNOW’ client works in India or not. But unfortunately, as it remains, until NVIDIA officially launches the service in India and opens its official Indian servers to the general public, we will not be able to use the service till then.
Speaking of which, NVIDIA did conduct a closed media-only event for its GeForce NOW service in India. One of my colleagues tried out the streaming platform firsthand, where he was introduced to many new details about the service, but the release date still remains a mystery.
As of now, NVIDIA has just said that the service would be ‘coming soon’ to the Indian markets, so no release date has been provided yet. This comes as a bit of a shock, as the initial announcement was planned for late last year, even before Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Cloud Gaming services in India. The only thing we could do right now is play the waiting game.
