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We talk a lot about how cloud gaming has fundamentally changed the value proposition of Chromebooks. You no longer need a $2,000 rig to play AAA titles; you just need a solid internet connection. Now, Google is sweetening the deal even more by partnering with NVIDIA to launch a brand new, exclusive way to play: the GeForce NOW Fast Pass.
Starting today, November 20th, this new service will remove the biggest friction points of the free tier (waiting in lines and watching ads), all while giving Chromebook users a streamlined path to PC gaming.
What is the GeForce NOW ‘Fast Pass’?
Think of the Fast Pass as a “VIP Lite” tier. It sits somewhere between the standard Free tier and the paid Priority/Ultimate memberships. The two biggest selling points here are right in the name: speed and convenience. And unlike the standard free tier, which often runs on “basic rigs,” this new pass connects you to NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX servers.
With the Fast Pass, you get to skip the queue to get into your games. If you’ve ever tried to game on the free tier during peak hours, you know that wait times can sometimes stretch to two minutes or more. Fast Pass grants you priority access. Additionally, Google and NVIDIA have removed the pre-roll ads, getting you into the gameplay much faster.
Like the standard service, this connects directly to your existing libraries on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Xbox, so you have access to stream over 2,000 PC games you likely already own without having to re-buy them.
The 10-hour limit
There is, however, a cap to keep in mind. The Fast Pass is limited to 10 hours of gaming per month. For hardcore gamers, that might vanish in a weekend. But for the casual user who wants to jump into Fortnite or Rocket League for a quick session here and there, it’s a decent amount of runway. Plus, there is a rollover feature: up to five unused hours can roll over to the next month, giving you a bit of flexibility if you have a busy few weeks.
How to get GeForce NOW Fast Pass
Right now, Google is positioning this as a perk rather than a standalone subscription. Starting November 20th, anyone who purchases a new Chromebook will receive the GeForce NOW Fast Pass for one year included with their device.
It’s unclear if this will eventually become a purchasable tier for existing Chromebook owners, but for now, it serves as a fantastic value-add for anyone picking up a new ChromeOS device this holiday season. It turns every new Chromebook into a capable, hassle-free gaming machine right out of the box.
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