6. Shadow
Availability
Instead of being a straightforward PC cloud gaming platform, Shadow is far more open as a full-on cloud PC service. It should work with any Windows PC or Mac, as well as Android, iOS, and any kind of Android TV—or tvOS-based smart TV. You can also get it as an app on Meta Quest devices.
Game Library
You’ll need to import your library onto the Shadow PC, though it grants you access to a full Windows PC.
Pricing
With the basic “Boost” plan, after the $20 you’ll spend your first month, you’ll then need to fork over $30 a month to access the Shadow services specific for PC gaming. That tier only comes with a Nvidia GTX 1080-equivalent graphics card and 12 GB of RAM. If that doesn’t seem enough, the next “Power” tier costs $50 a month and will benefit you from a Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070Ti-equivalent GPU and an AMD EPYC CPU. Each computer comes with Windows 10 at its baseline, but you can potentially upgrade to Windows 11.
Other Considerations
The pricing model on Shadow far outpaces what you can get from GeForce Now, but you will have broader options for setting up your own cloud gaming ecosystem. You also don’t have any time limits if you’re looking to use the PC for extended periods of time. That being said, Shadow is often lauded as one of the best faux-PC services you can get with very little input lag, though you’ll need to pay a premium for those capabilities.
