Starting next year, NVIDIA’s cloud gaming service, GeForce Now, will undergo a significant policy change with a new monthly playtime limit for subscribers. In a recent announcement, NVIDIA revealed that beginning January 1, 2025, new GeForce Now users will have a 100-hour playtime cap per month. This means subscribers who reach the limit will need to purchase additional playtime to continue gaming. Existing subscribers who sign up before December 31, 2024, won’t face this limit until January 2026.
The new cap affects both the Performance and Ultimate membership tiers, with a few additional benefits aimed at making the changes smoother for users. NVIDIA explained that the playtime restriction allows the company to maintain the current subscription prices for the “foreseeable future.” According to NVIDIA, most GeForce Now users currently game well below the 100-hour threshold, making this cap manageable for the majority.
To ease the transition, NVIDIA is allowing users to carry over up to 15 unused playtime hours into the following month. For those who hit their cap, additional playtime will be available for purchase: Performance members can buy an extra 15 hours for $3, while Ultimate subscribers will pay $6. Ultimate members continue to enjoy high-quality 4K streaming with 120 FPS, while Performance members will now benefit from improved 1440p resolution, ultrawide support, and seamless graphic setting carry-over between sessions.
As part of the restructuring, NVIDIA has also renamed its Priority tier to “Performance.” Subscribers to this newly branded tier will enjoy the upgraded 1440p resolution, up from the previous 1080p, along with the same $10 monthly rate.
In addition, NVIDIA is currently offering a 25% discount on day passes for both Performance and Ultimate tiers, giving new users an opportunity to experience the service before deciding on a long-term commitment. By subscribing before year-end, users can lock in their playtime with no cap until 2026.
The decision to implement a playtime cap, while initially surprising, reflects NVIDIA’s strategy to manage GeForce Now’s growing user base without hiking prices. While some gamers may feel restricted by the time limit, NVIDIA’s approach is aimed at balancing affordability with user demand.
