GeForce Now launches RTX 5080 upgrade with 5K/120fps streaming

Nvidia is rolling out what it calls the biggest upgrade in GeForce Now RTX history, moving its cloud gaming service onto the Blackwell architecture with RTX 5080 GPUs. The upgrade, set to begin in September for Ultimate-tier members, promises substantial gains in both performance and visual fidelity, including 5K streaming at up to 120 frames per second and a new approach to game library access via InstalltoPlay. Nvidia says the enhancements will push GeForce Now closer to the feel of a high-end local PC, while keeping the Ultimate price at current levels.

The core upgrade centers on RTX 5080-powered servers, which Nvidia asserts deliver up to 2.8 times the performance of the prior RTX 4080-based systems thanks to four-times-frame generation capabilities. At launch, the service will support select titles at maximum settings, with the company indicating that additional RTX 5080-enabled games will roll out weekly as developers update support. In practical terms, Ultimate subscribers will be able to stream at up to 5K resolution at 120 fps, or 1080p at up to 360 fps, with latency touted as sub-30 milliseconds in ideal conditions. Nvidia highlighted the streaming improvements as...