The system is capable of not only running Android games on the device, which is powered by the Tegra X1+ processor and an integrated 256-core GPU, but also of efficiently utilising cloud local LAN services. However, the GameStream software is quite old, and the green team has decided to remove it from its Shield TV product lines.
NVIDIA will discontinue GameStream, forcing users to rely on Steam or the company’s proprietary cloud service for continued gaming.
NVIDIA recently emailed users, stating that beginning February 2023, NVIDIA will discontinue support for GameStream, which will change the NVIDIA Games application and eliminate the ability to stream games from a local computer. The NVIDIA Games app wirelessly streams games to NVIDIA Shield TV and Shield TV Pro products at 4K resolutions and 60 frames per second with the lowest latency using GeForce RTX and GTX models.
NVIDIA recommends using Steam Link through the company’s GeForce NOW software, which would necessitate a user using Steam for their games (if they haven’t already) or paying for the GeForce NOW cloud gaming service to get their games. Users on Reddit are recommending two applications called Sunshine and Moonlight as alternatives to NVIDIA’s services.
For current users, the removal of GameStream from the Set-Top Shield TV series products is unclear, as is the impact on functionality. NVIDIA has yet to remove the NVIDIA GameStream advertising from its website, which may confuse new users who are unaware of the changes.
AMD provides a similar service to NVIDIA called AMD Link, which the company fully supports and has recently expanded its proprietary streaming service. The AV1 RX 7900 encoder is used by the company’s service, which allows up to four players on a single gaming computer.
NVIDIA GeForce NOW offers three membership options, ranging from free to $19.99 per month or $99.99 for six months. Users who select the highest tier will have access to a cloud PC with a GeForce RTX 3080 graphics card and RTX enabled, eight hours of 4K resolution use, and up to 120 frames per second.
News Sources: VideoCardz, NVIDIA, Reddit
