NVIDIA and Valve are teaming up to improve the gaming experience for Steam Deck users by optimizing the GeForce Now streaming service. The service, which allows users to play hundreds of games through the Steam OS experience, currently requires a separate browser window to log-in and play, leading to compatibility issues and control problems.
“We’re both interested in making [GeForce Now on Steam Deck] better,” said Andrew Fear, NVIDIA GeForce Now Product Manager, in an interview with PC Gamer. “But we don’t have any announcements on a native app coming to Steam.”
While Steam OS offers a wealth of games for users to play, many turn to cloud services such as GeForce Now or Microsoft’s Cloud gaming service for better performance and quality. These services can also be accessed on a range of devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops.
This news comes as NVIDIA recently announced a new “Ultimate” tier for the GeForce Now service, which will offer users access to a cloud gaming computer with an RTX 4080 GPU for $20/month, along with upgrades such as support for ultrawide displays and 4K resolutions with 120 frames per second. The company has also partnered with several autonomous EV companies to bring GeForce Now as a gaming platform for their cars.
While the partnership between NVIDIA and Valve is still in in its infancy, it has the potential to provide a better gaming experience for Steam Deck users in the future.