We learned at this year’s GDC Festival of Gaming that Nvidia is bringing 90 FPS VR gaming to GeForce Now, and today’s the day when support arrives for Ultimate subscribers. We’ll also be getting 4K 120 FPS support on the Apple Vision Pro, though that’s over on Nvidia’s CloudXR streaming platform, rather than GeForce Now.
Thursday means another set of GFN announcements to enjoy, and the new 90 FPS upgrade represents an extra 30 FPS compared to what was previously available. This is the same upgrade we saw a few months after Nvidia released its Steam Deck native app, when it provided an FPS boost from 60 to 90, which was particularly handy to match the OLED model’s native 90Hz refresh rate.
The jump up to 90 FPS is a notable change. Headsets like the Apple Vision Pro feature a typical 90Hz refresh rate, and it does technically support up to 100Hz, or up to 120Hz on the newer M5-chip powered model. Meta’s latest Quest 3 and budget-friendly Quest 3S headsets offer modes ranging from 72Hz to 120Hz (90Hz being one of them). As for Pico, its Pico 4 and Pico 4 Ultra headsets both feature a native 90Hz refresh rate, so it seems like 90 FPS is the perfect upgrade for many VR users.
If you didn’t already know, VR support in GeForce Now is not the same as a ‘full’ or native VR experience with support for motion controls. Instead, Nvidia describes it as a way to “transform the space” around you and create a “personal gaming theater” – giving you the chance to play PC games on a large, immersive virtual screen. The example below depicts ARC Raiders in action. We’ve seen Valve advertising similar functionality on its upcoming Steam Frame VR headset, so you can play 2D games in VR.
VR in the cloud is getting a smoothness upgrade. GeForce NOW is boosting support for Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest devices and Pico devices to stream at up to 90 fps for Ultimate members, bringing crisper motion and more responsive gameplay straight from the cloud. The app update is starting to roll out to members starting today.
Nvidia
The 90 FPS upgrade comes on the same day as Crimson Desert’s release date. The open-world adventure is available on GeForce Now on day one, including support for Nvidia’s RTX 5080-class servers for the smoothest experience possible. Of course, you’ll also be able to play Crimson Desert in the “personal gaming theater” format. Another game launching today is the Death Stranding 2 PC port; unfortunately, the sequel does not get the same day-one GFN treatment as Crimson Desert.