2K Games Removes Library From GeForce Now Game Streaming Service

[Raevenlord]

Another one bites the dust: 2K Games has told NVIDIA that it is removing their games catalog from the GeForce Now game streaming service. Fresh out of beta little more than a month now - with a then-touted 1,000 plus games library - the green team's streaming service, which was received with good reviews and good customer feedback, is now looking ever more stale as publishers keep leaving the service in droves.

It is still unclear why publishers are quitting the streaming service, but this doesn't spell good to the future of streaming. The fact that users only need to import a copy of their already purchased game to GeForce Now can be a reason, with removed the need for gamers to re-purchase their games across multiple (mobile or non-mobile) gaming platforms. Another reason may be that publishers are fearful this streaming ability from NVIDIA could cut into sales from next-gen consoles, since users wouldn't have to upgrade their hardware to be able to play the latest and greatest, non-exclusive titles to be released for next-gen systems. Whatever the reason, this doesn't bode well for the future of NVIDIA's streaming efforts.





Publishers who have already vacated their seats on NVIDIA's GeForce Now program are the following:

• Capcom
• Electronic Arts
• Konami
• Remedy
• Rockstar Games
• Square Enix
• Activision Blizzard
• Bethesda Softworks

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[londiste]

If ever there was something Nvidia did right, Geforce Now seems to be that thing.
I guess scared publishers do show that is the case.

 

[Vayra86]

If ever there was something Nvidia did right, Geforce Now seems to be that thing.
I guess scared publishers do show that is the case.

Too bad its failing so hard...

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Too bad its failing so hard...

Someone should be along shortly to praise Nvidia for their efforts and explain how brilliant Now is shortly, in the meantime.
How many companies are still IN from the triple A publisher's?

 

[Axaion]

"but this doesn't spell good to the future of streaming. "

Sounds like good news to me!

 

[Fluffmeister]

Damn, Rockstar, Blizzard, EA, Bethesda.... it's like the who's who of dodgy will patch it after launch lot.

 

[londiste]

"but this doesn't spell good to the future of streaming. "
Sounds like good news to me!

Nope. What is really going on is that this doesn't spell good to the future of independent streaming.
All these publishers that pulled out are more than likely to try and roll their own... more restricted version for same or more money.

 

[xkm1948]

All these companies are looking at Disney+ and trying to do the same: Starting their own game streaming service.

It ain't gonna work. Consumers are fed up already with a gazillion different game launchers. But these publishers sure are going to try (and fail)

 

[Easo]

"but this doesn't spell good to the future of streaming. "

Sounds like good news to me!

Gonna bite - why are you against streaming?

 

[the54thvoid]

Tim Sweeney's come out batting for Nvidia. He's pointing the finger at the massive tech giants (Google et al). Basically, what Nvidia's doing is not making enough money for the big guys - so cheaper for the consumer isn't good for them.

 

[TheLostSwede]

This is what I got from 2K when I contacted them and asked them what's going on...

2K requested its games be removed from GeForce NOW, as a commercial agreement is currently not in place with NVIDIA.

While we continue working closely with the company, please reach out to NVIDIA directly for any further inquiries.

 

[Xzibit]

Tim Sweeney's come out batting for Nvidia. He's pointing the finger at the massive tech giants (Google et al). Basically, what Nvidia's doing is not making enough money for the big guys - so cheaper for the consumer isn't good for them.

Maybe Tescent made him say it cause they want more shares of those others publishers

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This is what I got from 2K when I contacted them and asked them what's going on...

Sounds like NVIDIA only negotiated a contract for a month which is why so many are dropping out. It was a trial.

 

[Deleted member 177333]

All these companies are looking at Disney+ and trying to do the same: Starting their own game streaming service.

It ain't gonna work. Consumers are fed up already with a gazillion different game launchers. But these publishers sure are going to try (and fail)

+1.

NVidia's streaming service was at least pro-consumer. I'm not at all interested in streaming, but this was at least a good, customer friendly way to do it. All these publishers that pulled their games from the service, just told me they're not interested at all in doing right by their customers, although looking at the list, I think many of us knew that already, hah.

 

[Dimi]

Sounds like NVIDIA only negotiated a contract for a month which is why so many are dropping out. It was a trial.

I don't understand what there is to negotiate? The consumer is renting an "Nvidia PC" to stream their own games to a tablet, phone, laptop, lower spec pc or anywhere you want. I don't understand how they even have the power to pull their games from GeForce Now.

Its like they want to control on what pc i play my Steam games on...

Well the number of pubs on my blacklist is growning very large. Guess i won't be getting Doom Eternal afterall.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

NVIDIA needs license to digital distribute the games for them to run the service. It's not like Steam Link where it's your own library and your own hardware streaming software. NVIDIA has to have license to run the software and all those companies are pulling their license.

Like I said, I think NVIDIA only got a 30 day contract out of these publishers and the publishers are choosing not to extend it. My guess is NVIDIA isn't offering enough compensation. The publishers would rather severe ties and make the sales.

 

[Dimi]

NVIDIA needs license to digital distribute the games for them to run the service. It's not like Steam Link where it's your own library and your own hardware streaming software. NVIDIA has to have license to run the software and all those companies are pulling their license.

Like I said, I think NVIDIA only got a 30 day contract out of these publishers and the publishers are choosing not to extend it. My guess is NVIDIA isn't offering enough compensation. The publishers would rather severe ties and make the sales.

I don't think you have any idea what GeForce Now is.

Nvidia is NOT distributing games.

You are playing YOUR OWN games from your Steam, Epic library
Login to Steam on their pc and play the games you have already paid for.

Where in the Steam TOS does it define you have to run Steam on your own hardware???

 

[Axaion]

Nope. What is really going on is that this doesn't spell good to the future of independent streaming.
All these publishers that pulled out are more than likely to try and roll their own... more restricted version for same or more money.

Gonna bite - why are you against streaming?

I dislike game streaming because of what it'll lead to (look at google, thankfully that was a failure too)
Sure, it might be playing your own games, using nvidias tech, but its not like they havent tried to bait and switch before, and i for one prefer to trust these companies as little as humanly possible

 

[Mistral]

Makes you wonder what a crazy share of the profit nVidia is trying to keep...

 

[R0H1T]

Meh, the nCoV strain will likely kill you before any streaming service & I say this with great admiration for all the work people have put in fighting against it!

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Nvidia is NOT distributing games.

They're running the games on their hardware and users use that hardware and software to play the games.

You are playing YOUR OWN games from your Steam, Epic library
Login to Steam on their pc and play the games you have already paid for.

That was just a promotion. NVIDIA+publishers agreed to give access to games already owned on the service but that agreement is collapsing.

Where in the Steam TOS does it define you have to run Steam on your own hardware???

This has nothing, whatsoever, to do with Steam. As far as intellectual property is concerned, the publisher always holds all of the cards.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Gonna bite - why are you against streaming?

I mean, did you read the article? Content freely removed seemingly at random. Most people dont want to have to keep track of what platforms offer what when I can just buy it all on steam on a single storefront.

In the streaming wars, its gotten to the point that keeping track of what services offer what content at what price and how to get what you want without overpaying is an absolute chore, just like cable TV was, and just like cable TV, people are going to return to pirating because it is more convenient. Buying what you want on a single storefront is more convenient then keeping track of multiple streaming services with segmented content. Game streaming will end up with the same problem that media streaming has, give it a few years, and 2K, EA, ubisoft, et. al. will all have their own streaming services. You will end up spending more money subscribing to all these companies for an inferior experience then buying the games you want to play outright.

Then there is the playing experience. No streaming service has been able to defeat physics yet, both stadia and geforce now have inferior response times for controls then local systems provide, even if said systems are incapable of providing the graphical fidelity these streaming services provide, assuming you have gigabit fiber and not, say, 25-50Mbps cable because you have no access to anything faster like the majority of America does, or if you have an oversubscribed connection that will have high latency in the evening when everyone is relaxing after work, which is common everywhere.

You could argue that it is good for casual gamers who dont want to put the money into maintaining a big PC, but these are the same people that have driven the current micro transaction laden DLC infused pre order bonus smothered loot box hell hole that is modern gaming. Streaming provides an objectively inferior experience, and ir is ripe for exploitation by publishers to exert even more psychopathic control over their customers.

After watching what it has done to TV and movies, yeah keep that hot sewage far from my games.

 

[R-T-B]

Gonna bite - why are you against streaming?

Probably because if it catches on, it means the death of the PC platform we know and love. Yes, and the control that comes with it.

 

[xkm1948]

I tired geforce now at work. Streaming Far Cry 5 to a macbook air hooked up to a 32” 1440p monitor surely is fun. Not too much lag!

 

[Frick]

Gonna bite - why are you against streaming?

I generally don't have internet at home, and if I do it's a metered mobile connection. Being able to download games on the laptop and then playing at home is pretty crucial to me.

EDIT: I do this by choice, but I know plenty of people even in this country with mobile connections being their only choice. My cousin recently bought a house and it lacks fiber and there's no DSL to be had.