In the past, if you wanted to play the latest video games, the only option was an expensive high-end PC. But this isn’t feasible for everyone. These days, thanks to faster internet, you can use a cloud gaming service to stream games to your device instead of shelling out for a costly gaming PC.
Let’s break down the cloud gaming vs. gaming PC debate and see if cloud gaming is it better than buying your own gaming PC.
Good to know: check out our GeForce Now vs. Stadia vs. Shadow comparison to choose the best cloud gaming service.
Short-Term and Long-Term Costs
Firstly, cloud gaming isn’t free. But its main draw is that you can gain access to the performance of high-end PCs for a fraction of the price of buying one.
The long-term costs for cloud gaming depend on the service you select. For instance, if you use Geforce Now and stay on their Free plan, you can play games for free, albeit with quite a few limitations. For gamers who choose their Priority or Ultimate plans, or use another cloud gaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming or PlayStation Plus, they’ll have to pay a monthly fee ranging from $10 to $20.
Buying a PC, on the other hand, is a one-time fee without any additional monthly payments – but you’ll need at least $700-$800 for a budget gaming PC. You may need to upgrade your CPU, RAM, graphics cards, storage and other hardware as you go, and also buy a physical copy of the games you want to play, so getting a streaming service may be cheaper year to year.
Performance and Latency
When comparing the overall gaming experiences, a physical PC will always pull ahead. After all, you’re choosing exactly what hardware you want to play on and don’t need to rely on a third-party service. You get superior FPS, image quality, and control on a gaming PC vs. a cloud gaming service.
As for latency issues, your keyboard and mouse inputs go directly to the PC, which is then sent over the internet to the remote server. Inputs on cloud PCs, on the other hand, have to travel from your PC to the cloud rig and then onto the game servers.
This is a potential problem if you want to play very competitive and quick shooters, such as Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, or Rainbow Six Siege. The split seconds you lose from using a cloud PC can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Good to know: facing a slow network? Here’s how to improve your network latency for gaming.
Games Compatible with Each System
When you buy a gaming rig, you can run any game you like on it. It may not like your specific hardware, but at the very least it’s going to run on it.
Some streaming services, on the other hand, may not have the complete game libraries. For instance, not every game available on Xbox Game Pass would be available for cloud streaming. If your library is important to you, be sure to pay for a service that’s compatible with your favorite games.
Playing Games Offline or with Spotty Internet
Of course, you’ll find that playing on a cloud computer is pretty bad if your internet is pretty spotty. If the internet goes down altogether, you can’t play your games while you pass the time!
As such, if your ISP doesn’t have the best service record of a high-speed internet connection, you’re better off getting a physical PC. That way, you’ll always have something to do even if your connection is having a bad day.
Gaming PC Repairs and Upgrades
If you own a gaming PC, you may have come across annoying hardware issues, BSoDs, and the need to upgrade it every few years. Rigs are great when they work flawlessly, but when the errors creep in and the hardware gets old, the stress begins.
In comparison, cloud PCs don’t encounter issues as often. When problems do crop up, they’re not your problem; you can simply jump to another system while the service back-end fixes the issues.
Casting the Game to Other Devices
Because cloud computers don’t demand much of the client’s device, they can be played on any screen. Some cloud gaming services let you play on laptops, in browsers, on your TV, tablet, and even on your smartphones!
That’s not to say that physical PCs are down and out on this topic. There are services such as Steam Remote Play that let you connect your PC to another device, like playing on the TV like a gaming console. Your gaming rig does all the heavy lifting while your device acts as a screen.
FYI: don’t know what to do with Remote Play? Here are the best Steam games with Remote Play.
Which Is the Best for You?
If you don’t play competitive games and hate the idea of buying and maintaining a gaming PC, a cloud gaming service is your best option. You’ll need a good internet connection, but you can play games anywhere you want, on any device, all on max settings (with a premium subscription), without worrying about spending money on hardware.
However, a gaming PC is still the superior option for people who want the best performance and control. From the reduced input latency to the ability to play any game you please, there’s plenty that a physical rig can offer over a cloud-based one.
Good to know: want to put your new PC through the ringer? Here are the best games to benchmark your new gaming PC.
Image credit: Unsplash.
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