New Chromebooks Get GeForce Now for Free and Ad-Free
Since Google introduced the Chromebook Plus program in 2023, promising a certain power and screen resolution for your device, the company has been trying hard to attract users to gaming on its Chromebooks . There are Chromebooks with OLED screens, high refresh rates, and even backlit keyboards, but no matter how many bells and whistles you load up a Chromebook, its processing power still can’t compare to that of a more traditional laptop.
That’s where cloud gaming comes in. It allows you to stream games from the cloud, provided you’re willing to tolerate some video compression and input lag. One of the most popular cloud gaming services is Nvidia’s GeForce Now , which lets you play some free games and your existing PC titles using the company’s own data centers. The problem is that you’ll either have to watch ads or pay, but today Google Chromebooks are getting an exclusive new tier of GeForce Now that solves both of these issues.
This version of GeForce Now, called GeForce Now Fast Pass, is a sort of enhanced version of the existing free tier. You’ll still be limited to 1080p gaming at 60 frames per second (higher specs require payment), and you won’t have access to GeForce Now’s install-and-play games, meaning the compatible game library will be closer to 2,000 than 4,000. But unlike the free tier, you won’t have to watch ads or wait in line to play. Nvidia says the typical queue for the free tier is only two minutes long, but hey, the sooner you can dive into a game, the better.
Starting today, all new Chromebooks will receive a free one-year GeForce Now Fast Pass subscription , but there are a few caveats. The main one is that you only get 10 free hours of Fast Pass per month, though up to five unused hours will roll over to the next month.
This means you’ll still have to track your playtime even if you don’t have to watch ads. A Google representative told me via email that after your Fast Pass hours expire, you’ll be downgraded to the basic free plan with ads, or you can purchase additional Fast Pass hours individually. I wasn’t given an exact price for these hours, but considering a GeForce Now day pass (24 hours of play) with no ads and better features than the Fast Pass costs just $3.99, I don’t think they’ll be too expensive.
Regarding the expiration of my annual Fast Pass subscription, I’m still waiting for a response on how to renew it. I’ll update this post as soon as I hear back. I also asked if users who already own a Chromebook can sign up for a GeForce Now Fast Pass subscription.
The final bonus of the Fast Pass is that you don’t have to use it on a Chromebook. You’ll need a Chromebook to sign up (I’m still waiting for detailed instructions, too), but once you activate the offer, you can use it on any GeForce Now-compatible device , like a phone or tablet.
Overall, I don’t think I’d buy a Chromebook specifically for this, but it could be a decent way to get enough performance to play about one short game a month without having to pay for GeForce Now, watch ads, and wait. Add to that the free games that sites like Epic regularly give away , and you could essentially play games year after year without buying anything other than a Chromebook.