Skip to main content

Nvidia aims to become the Netflix of gaming with the Grid

Nvidia The Grid CES 2013
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nvidia wants to succeed at cloud-based gaming in a way that OnLive never could. Think Netflix, but with video games instead of B movies and cancelled television shows. Clearly a star player, the Grid took a lead spot in the presentation, enjoying some precious time in the limelight.

Nvidia treated viewers to a demo of Trine 2 on LG’s 4K TV. Giving kudos to Nvidia, the game looked incredible and carried over seamlessly between a few different devices using the Nvidia Grid app. Wherever the player saved a game on one device, it was picked up from the exact same spot on another, much like how you can resume a Netflix video where you left off from any device. The software seems to work much the same as Netflix’s progress syncing. The hardware is no slouch either, Nvidia says the GPU tower basically combines the power of “700 Xbox 360s” into a single unit.

Nvidia plans to license the Grid software to various companies based both in the U.S. and abroad. In theory, the Grid sounds like the best thing since sliced bread. However, streaming video games isn’t exactly easy for the majority of the world still running on metered data connections. It will be interesting to see how that specific issue will be addressed, if at all.   

With competitors like OnLive and Gaikai already in the game, Nvidia definitely has some catching up to do. During demonstrations, the Grid seems groundbreaking, but who knows if its exciting first impression will translate into any real-world success. We will definitely be investigating further as CES continues.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Kalinchuk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew covers news and opinions pertaining to smartphones, tablets, and all else mobile for Digital Trends. He recently…
How to watch Nvidia’s launch of the RTX 4000 Super today
A rendering of an RTX 40 Super GPU.

Nvidia's RTX 40 Super graphics cards are just around the corner, with Nvidia teasing an unveiling of its mid-generation refresh of its Ada Lovelace GPUs ahead of CES 2024. The cards are expected to update a number of midrange to high-end graphics cards from the RTX 4000-series with increased CUDA core counts, enhanced clock speeds, and potentially more competitive price tags.

But that's all speculation until Nvidia shows us what it's been working on. If you want to be there when the news drops about just how powerful (and maybe affordable?) these cards actually are, here's how to watch the RTX 40 Super launch.
How to watch Nvidia's RTX 40 Super launch
NVIDIA Special Address at CES 2024

Read more
Nvidia’s new GPUs could be right around the corner
Nvidia's RTX 4070 graphics cards over a pink background.

Is Nvidia really about to add to its lineup of top GPUs? All signs point to yes, and now, we have an official Nvidia keynote on the horizon that tells us when we might hear more about the rumored RTX 40 Super. Nvidia revealed that it's going to deliver a special address on January 8 as part of CES 2024. Although the company hasn't confirmed what it's planning to cover, the rumor mill has been buzzing with information about three new desktop GPUs. But will they really be worth the upgrade?

Several reputable leakers have weighed in on the matter of the RTX 40-series refresh, and we've been getting updates about the range for a few weeks now. Nvidia doesn't need to specifically state that it'll talk about these graphics cards, as that is going to be the expectation anyway. The three GPUs in question are the RTX 4080 Super, RTX 4070 Ti Super, and the RTX 4070 Super.

Read more
All ray tracing games on PC: AMD Radeon and Nvidia RTX ray tracing
Motorcycles chasing in Watch Dogs Legion.

The best graphics cards all support ray tracing now, whether you use an Nvidia RTX card or an AMD Radeon one (assuming it's from the RX 6000 range or perhaps one of the latest RX 7000-series cards). We rounded up every game that supports ray tracing on PC now, as well as several titles that will support the sophisticated lighting tech in the future.

Ray tracing is demanding on your graphics card, but the list of ray tracing PC games continues to grow. If you don't want to sort through the mess, make sure to read our roundup on the best ray-tracing PC games to know which ones to download first. And if you're a beginner, jump to the bottom section to find out what you need for ray tracing on PC.
Ray-tracing PC games available now

Read more