Logitech recently announced the G Cloud, a fully self-sufficient handheld built specifically for cloud-based games. So what can you play on the latest cloud devices? This guide walks you through the capabilities of Logitech G Cloud, including Xbox, GeForce Now, Stadia, and even Amazon Luna.
As far as cloud gaming goes, the whole premise revolved around not having specialized hardware to play. This meant playing on your phone was as easy as loading cloud games onto your Macbook or PC.
With the arrival of the Logitech G Cloud, that is going out the door. The gaming handheld is specially made to handle cloud-based games. Of course, its core runs Android 11 with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, and it has 4GB of RAM with 64GB of expandable storage via microSD.
Furthermore, Logitech has skinned the device to run in a game mode, which shows you all the services you can play, as well as locally downloaded games.
Cloud gaming services on the G Cloud
When you first turn on the device and go through the installation process, Logitech will enter game mode. Two major gaming services are already installed there: GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Both are fantastic services and capitalize on their strengths.
GeForce Now
With GeForce Now, you must own the games you play through Steam or the Epic Games Store. With that, you can log in and play those games through NVIDIA, using their servers and hardware. Depending on the tier you subscribe to, you can get multi-hour sessions up to unlimited playtime and up to an RTX 3080 experience, ensuring the best sessions.
From the Logitech G Cloud home screen, you can select GeForce Now, log in and start playing. Logitech worked with NVIDIA and the GeForce Now team to develop a PWA – Progressive Web App – intended for the G Cloud. With that, the GeForce Now experience works very well and all hardware on the G Cloud works as expected with the service.
Xbox Cloud Gaming
As another option on the G Cloud, Logitech has also partnered with Xbox Cloud Gaming to develop a beta PWA for the G Cloud. With Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which gives you access to the service’s entire catalog of games, without purchasing it separately.
The power of Xbox is quantity. With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you get a huge backlog of games to play, all in the cloud. However, the service tends not to be super efficient. Of course, Xbox Cloud Gaming is still in beta on Logitech’s G Cloud. With that, you might notice less streaming quality and a bit more input latency for your games. Still, Xbox Game Pass is still a great option for the G Cloud, and it fits in well with that.
Stadia – for a very limited time
During the initial announcement of the Logitech G Cloud, we learned that Stadia was not on the list of supported services. At the time, we thought this was odd given Logitech’s relationship with Google, but in retrospect it’s definitely 20/20.
Just today it was announced that Stadia would close its doors early next year. The service has been around since 2019 and has built up quite a catalog. You can access your Stadia games until January 18, 2023.
Since Logitech’s G Cloud runs Android and the Google Play Store is installed, you can download Stadia. After testing the service, it works as expected and is a great addition to the G Cloud – at least until it stops working.
Amazon Luna
Amazon Luna is another big name in the cloud gaming market. As with GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can play virtually anywhere, even on the G Cloud.
Since it’s not included, you’ll need to open Chrome on the G Cloud. Once there, go to amazon.luna.com and log in. If you have a subscription or are a prime member, you can play games from the browser. You need to click on the three-dot menu and switch the Chrome instance to desktop mode. Then you can play.
Keep in mind that with this method you will undoubtedly experience a bit of input latency and maybe some lesser video quality. This is because you are not playing from a verified PWA or app, but running it through Chrome. While it works surprisingly well, it won’t be the best experience on the G Cloud until Amazon Luna gets support. Unfortunately, we don’t know if that will ever happen.
Local Android games on the G Cloud
The G Cloud is a cloud-based device, so why does it have expandable memory? Well, the device is also fully capable of handling downloaded games from the Play Store. Since it’s basically a controller on its own, local games will work and complement the cloud games you can access elsewhere.
Remember that the G Cloud is equipped with a midrange SoC as it is designed for cloud gaming, which is really just high-end streaming. Graphically heavy local games probably won’t run great, and you can freeze the system if you load too much on the handheld. While it is possible, the G Cloud will not be your best friend when it comes to playing locally.
All in all, Logitech’s latest gaming handheld can handle a lot. From GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming to the dying Stadia and the jimmied Amazon Luna solution, the G Cloud gives you options. The G Cloud is available to pre-order now for $299.99 and will likely ship in late October.
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