Nvidia launches native GeForce NOW app for Linux in beta
Nvidia launches native GeForce NOW app for Linux in beta
Publish Date: 2026-02-06 03:58:00
Source Domain: www.notebookcheck.net
ⓘ blogs.nvidia.com
Nvidia’s logo, shown here as an illustrative image for reporting on the GeForce NOW Linux app and its early feature limitations
Nvidia’s beta GeForce NOW app is now available for Linux (Ubuntu 24.04+). Here’s what you can expect from the first release.
Nvidia has released a native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs in beta, starting with Ubuntu 24.04 and later. Nvidia says the desktop-focused app is meant to feel closer to the Windows and macOS clients than the earlier Linux experience, which was tuned for Steam Deck workflows.
What it changes versus browser streaming
On supported setups and plans, Nvidia is pitching streaming targets of up to 5K at 120 FPS, or 1080p at up to 360 FPS, depending on your configuration. Nvidia also frames the experience as tapping “GeForce RTX 5080 performance from the cloud,” including RTX features like ray tracing and DLSS (where supported by the service/game).
Installation is Flatpak-based, delivered via Nvidia’s installer
The Linux beta is delivered via Nvidia’s download page as a .bin installer (run chmod +x, then run the installer), and Nvidia’s support docs say the app is distributed as a Flatpak (which includes a ~2 GB runtime download in many cases).
Requirements and current limitations (beta)
Nvidia’s Linux setup guide includes bandwidth guidance, such as 65 Mbps for 5K at 120 FPS, and notes it wants latency under 80 ms to an Nvidia data center (and recommends under 40 ms). Nvidia also lists feature gaps on Linux right now, including no HDR, no AV1, and no Cloud G-Sync/VRR, among other omissions.
Darryl Linington – Tech Writer – 58 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2025
I’m a tech editor and journalist with over 20 years of experience covering everything from cutting-edge smartphones and AI breakthroughs to gaming hardware and future-forward tech. I have a passion for making complex technology accessible, relatable, and genuinely interesting—especially when…
