What Is Cloud Gaming? A Beginner's Guide

By David Park Jun 30, 2026 8 min read Internet

Cloud gaming, also called game streaming, lets you play video games on any device without needing a powerful console or gaming PC. The game runs on remote servers and streams video to your screen.

How Cloud Gaming Works

Instead of your computer processing the game, powerful servers in data centers do the work. They send the video to your screen over the internet, and your inputs are sent back in real time. A fast internet connection is essential.

Best Cloud Gaming Services

NVIDIA GeForce Now: Play games you already own from Steam, Epic, and more
Xbox Cloud Gaming: Included with Game Pass Ultimate, hundreds of games
PlayStation Plus Premium: Stream PlayStation classics and newer titles
Amazon Luna: Works with Amazon devices, competitive pricing

What You Need for Cloud Gaming

A stable internet connection with at least 15-25 Mbps is recommended. A controller is required for most services, though some work with keyboard and mouse. Any device with a screen and internet connection can work.