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NVIDIA plan to support Linux with GeForce NOW using Chrome

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For a while now you've been able to stream games using NVIDIA GeForce NOW in your browser, however it looks like NVIDIA will be making that a bit more official for Linux.

Currently on certain platforms like Windows and macOS, NVIDIA have a dedicated downloadable application for their GeForce NOW streaming service. They expanded support into the browser for ChromeOS / Chromebooks in the Summer, which initially needed other platforms to spoof their browser string to ChromeOS but that hasn't been needed for a while.

In a recent announcement about support for GeForce NOW coming to iOS Safari, NVIDIA also talked about other platforms will be actually supported with playing in the browser. Here's the relevent bit:

The first webRTC client running GeForce NOW was the Chromebook beta in August. In the months since, we’ve seen over 10 percent of gameplay in the Chrome web-based client.

Soon we’ll bring that experience to more Chrome platforms, including Linux*, PC, Mac and Android. Stay tuned for updates as we approach a full launch early next year.

*Emphasis ours.

Still amusing and slightly annoying the Linux is not considered a "PC" which means Personal Computer. We can thank historic marketing for that on the whole "I'm a Mac I'm a PC" adverts, and even before that PC was used for the likes of IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC). Would be nice if developers started being clearer though and just say Windows.

Anyway…it's nice to see NVIDIA pay attention to Linux here. While it's true you can play it right now with a Chromium browser, having that all important officially supported status will be great. Just so you know when you have issues, especially if you're paying, that someone will be there to take a look.

Want to see how it runs on Linux? We've done videos on that before which you can see below:

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The experience right now hasn't really changed from those videos. It's still a bit of a nuisance to get going, especially as you need to deal with launchers like Epic Games Store and Origin with various logins, since it uses existing games. Personally, I find that Stadia gives a much smoother and better integrated experience overall. A nice option for those that want it though. More options are great.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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12 comments
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Spyker Nov 25, 2020
So, for Nvidia, Linux is not a "major platform enough" to get the same dedicated app as Windows and MacOS. Thanks for the effort though.
hardpenguin Nov 25, 2020
Wooohooo!
elmapul Nov 25, 2020
the word linux isnt there...
maybe they updated it and removed it?
Liam Dawe Nov 25, 2020
Quoting: elmapulthe word linux isnt there...
maybe they updated it and removed it?
Did you click the right link? It's still there.
Nocifer Nov 25, 2020
QuoteWould be nice if developers started being clearer though and just say Windows.
Well, that's on the marketers, not on the developers. Though unfortunately there are indeed too many developers out there that have absolutely no idea what "a Linux" is if you ask them. Oh, how I hate* these guys... It's like being a professional car mechanic and not being aware that there are other mechanical things that operate on the same principles but made with different parts and for different purposes; you know, things like motorcycles, airplanes or spaceships. How can I trust your professed ability if you're clueless about the basic stuff?

(*poetic license)
WildCoder Nov 25, 2020
Why chrome only? I would much rather they let Firefox work instead of having to spoof my user-agent string.
elmapul Nov 25, 2020
Quoting: Liam Dawe
Quoting: elmapulthe word linux isnt there...
maybe they updated it and removed it?
Did you click the right link? It's still there.

oh, i was at the wrong link indeed, i was at
https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2020/08/18/geforce-now-open-a-chromebook/

i read the article first, then clicked in of of the links without knowing the correct one (because i was not into reading again to know the content ^^")
melkemind Nov 25, 2020
Quoting: WildCoderWhy chrome only? I would much rather they let Firefox work instead of having to spoof my user-agent string.

It could be a technical decision, but considering Edge is even based on Chromium now, it's probably a business decision. Maybe Google helped fund it.
elmapul Nov 26, 2020
Quoting: WildCoderWhy chrome only? I would much rather they let Firefox work instead of having to spoof my user-agent string.

one of 3 reasons.
1)the Q/A is hard and since chrome is the most used browser, and every other browser (except firefox) is based on chromium, they are starting by that.
2)firefox dont support their video encoding formats...
3)some money exchanging hands
Pikolo Nov 26, 2020
Quoting: elmapul
Quoting: WildCoderWhy chrome only? I would much rather they let Firefox work instead of having to spoof my user-agent string.

one of 3 reasons.
1)the Q/A is hard and since chrome is the most used browser, and every other browser (except firefox) is based on chromium, they are starting by that.
2)firefox dont support their video encoding formats...
3)some money exchanging hands
There is also the issue of automated browser testing being Chrome-first. Firefox is usually an afterthought, and although it works well in older systems, like Selenium, some newer ones don't support it.
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