Internet Requirements

A stable connection matters more than raw speed — a wired Ethernet connection beats fast Wi-Fi every time. This is especially true for cloud gaming, where a slow or unstable connection produces input lag you feel immediately (unlike watching video, where connection hiccups are easy to miss since you’re not interacting with the picture).

Recommended: Ethernet, fibre-optic preferred, or a 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection if a cable isn’t possible. If you’re on Wi-Fi, stay close to the router.

May cause problems: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, mobile internet (3G/4G/LTE), DSL — we can’t guarantee proper operation over these.

Ping is the number you’ll actually feel — the lower, the more responsive the cursor and controls feel. Note that the computing itself doesn’t slow down on a weak connection — only the feedback does. A powerful local device cannot compensate for a poor network.

Before you start: close other applications, processes and browser tabs; make sure nothing else on your connection is downloading or uploading; check that a firewall, proxy or VPN isn’t in the way.

Being honest about it: cloud gaming isn’t ideal for high-level competitive play, where outcomes are decided in fractions of a second.