Nvidia GeForce Now subscribers, do you want the good news or the bad news first? So that's bad news: the technically accomplished game streaming service is about to lose a significant number of games, including popular titles like Yakuza 0 and Kiwami, Two Point Hospital, and Shenmue I and II. You can see the full list of titles leaving the service here. This is the latest blow to the service, following a series of significant catalog losses following GeForce Now's transition from beta to a full, paid product. But at least this time, it comes with a silver lining. The good news? Nvidia might finally have a solution to stabilize its library and build stronger, more consistent relationships with the developers of the games it wants to feature.
Optional games
Going forward, developers and publishers will have to accept that their games are part of Nvidia GeForce Now. Previously, it appears that Nvidia offered to add support for titles without explicit prior approval from the publishers behind them, due to the fact that it didn't directly sell game licenses. Instead, GeForce Now was seen as a simple portal to access titles gamers already owned on existing PC streaming platforms, and GeForce Now was just the channel to access them. But with publishers and developers still developing their own cloud gaming strategies, this has created a conflict. Instead, Nvidia will now require all parties to opt out before a game will be featured. "Response has been strong with more than 200 publishers committing to broadcast on the service," said Phil Eisler, vice president of Gevorce Now at Nvidia. “Going forward, only select games will be available on the service, giving confidence to the GeForce Now game library. However, some publishers are still thinking about their cloud strategies. Those who have not chosen by May 31 will be eliminated. In the short term, it means more game losses, but for the future, it means you're much less likely to see GeForce Now suddenly disappear. Plus, it provides a framework for those who have left the service to renegotiate and get back on board. Ultimately, it sounds like progress for a service that has shown potential so early.