Being able to play modern, high-quality video games on just about any kind of PC is the big pitch of the handful of cloud gaming services out there. Using a subscription model, these services allow people with a strong internet connection to tap remote servers in order to play video games of all kinds on even modest computer setups that wouldn't be able to run them directly. We took the time to try out the biggest players in the cloud gaming space to figure out what works, what to expect, and why you may want to choose one service over another. From the game libraries to the user experience to the visual quality, read on to see what these cloud gaming services bring to the table. When it comes to the best all-around experience, GeForce Now is our strongest recommendation.

We've become used to thinking of Chromebooks as simple productivity machines: a web interface for classwork, online productivity apps, and not much else. But there are many ways to game on a Chromebook, too. You have three options to play games on most modern Chromebooks: as a web app, an Android app, or remotely via one of the prior two ways. Gaming on a Chromebook can mean playing the same games you'd play on a PC, but given all the options you could argue that the diversity of games on a Chromebook is richer than that of a PC. As we'll explain, though, many of the gaming opportunities a Chromebook offers depends on accessing a game on a remote server. The quality of such gaming experiences will depend on the quality of your Internet connection and, to some extent, on what processor the Chromebook contains.

With Google moving away from making its own games for Stadia, third-party indie studios could be crucial to its goal of stocking the service with 400 titles. Today, the cloud gaming platform is unveiling 10 new games via its Stadia Makers program, which was launched last March to give independent devs working with the Unity cross-platform engine an easy route to self-publishing their work. As you'd expect, there's no shortage of original storytelling and the games span a multitude of genres. The new additions include The DarkSide Detective: A Fumble in the Dark (April 15th), a sequel to the retro-style point and click puzzle game; Hundred Days - Winemaking Simulator (May 13th), for anyone who has ever wanted to own a winemaking business but feared taking the financial plunge; Foreclosed (summer), a narrative-driven mystery set in a cyberpunk world; and Figment 2: Creed Valley, a whimsical adventure sequel set in a human mind overrun by nightmarish creatures that represent insecurities and doubts. Additional games slated as coming soon include Grime, a side-scrolling RPG that sees players battling their way through a hellish landscape armed with "living" weapons; She Dreams Elsewhere, in which you play as a comatose woman on journey to confront her fears; Merek's Market, a chaotic crafting game that puts you in charge of a medieval armory; Death Carnival, a hectic top-down shooter (with online multiplayer) set within a televised blood sport where contestants battle mechs and monsters; Skyclimbers, a multiplayer city-building game meets action RPG that looks a lot like Horizon Zero Dawn; and Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch, which gives the iconic movie stoners their very own side-scrolling beat-em-up.

LG has revealed that its 2021 TVs will include a Game Optimizer that fine-tunes the picture for consoles and PCs. The feature gives you quick access to tweaks you'd be likely to use, such as lag reduction and variable refresh rate, but also reflects LG's focus on AI. You can not only enable AI-based game sound tuning, but even optimize the image for specific game genres -- LG will adjust for a first-person shooter, role-playing game or even a real-time strategy title. The TVs will also include more gaming-friendly apps. They'll now include Google Stadia out of the box, making cloud gaming that much easier.

Perhaps because many Americans were stuck at home during the global coronavirus pandemic, U.S. consumers spent more than $33.7 billion on video games in the first three quarters of 2020, according to research firm The NPD Group. That's an increase of more than 20% compared the $27.9 billion spent in the same period in 2019. Perhaps it's no surprise, NPD forecasts a 24% percent increase in holiday game spending compared to last year. Spending could be even higher except new consoles – the Microsoft Xbox Series X and S and PlayStation 5 (with Blu-ray Disc drive or disc drive-free digital version) – constantly sold out after November debuts. If you're looking for something to gift a gamer, or to treat yourself to something new to play during a "staycation," USA TODAY's Marc Saltzman, Brett Molina and Mike Snider recommend a handful of games, divided into various age groups (but be sure to read the recommended age rating before you buy).

Last night in a livestreamed broadcast, Sony showed its new video game console, the PlayStation 5, for the first time, along with 28 new games that will be out this year or next. It is a futuristic-looking thing, all white curves and black and blue-LED accents and a touch of mid-00s service robot about it. One version is digital-only, the other comes with a drive for people who prefer to buy games on disc. As cloud-based and Netflix-like subscription services have gained traction in the video game world, the "end of the console" has become a popular conversation point. Two years ago at E3, the yearly video games conference, Microsoft's Phil Spencer told the Guardian that "we pivoted about three or four years ago to thinking about the gamer first, not the device first … Our focus is on bringing console quality games that you see on TV or PC to any device."

From the developers of Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, it sends the player out to face creatures drawn from the gnarliest Greek legends and rescue the gods. A platform game for anyone who thinks video games are too easy these days, Ori draws its play inspiration from classics such as Mario, Mega Man and Metroid, but its looks are bang up to date. Guiding a spirit through an intensely beautiful forest, you'll come up against puzzles and obstacles that challenge both your mind and your reflexes. Let's hope they're still sharp. Originally released in 1997, Final Fantasy VII is one of the most beloved and acclaimed role-playing titles of all time.

With E3 wrapped up, you're probably ecstatic about all the new games that were just announced. And there was plenty of console news, too. Sony's already talking about its upcoming PlayStation 5, Microsoft is teasing its newest console -- codenamed "Project Scarlett" -- and rumors suggest Nintendo will soon debut an updated Nintendo Switch. That's not all: companies like Google are throwing their hat into the ring as well, promising a streaming gaming experience available nearly anywhere you can check your email. But what if you're in the market for a new video game console now, or considering one as a gift?

If you're going to try to keep up with the best video gaming has to offer, you'll want to start thinking about getting these titles when they launch. Gamers, get your thumbs ready. If 2019's E3 is any indication, you need to rest them up for the onslaught of upcoming titles, for all gaming platforms. Attracting roughly 60,000 attendees – all of whom play a role in the multibillion-dollar interactive entertainment industry – the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles once again shone a light on the near future of video games, hardware and services. Especially if you're into action-heavy games, the following are eight highlights from this year's E3 that will be available for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC and upcoming streaming platform Google Stadia.

In the last week, two of the world's tech giants have made a big play for the attention – and wallets – of the world's two billion gamers. Apple, already a big player in the video game market thanks to the iPhone and App Store, announced Apple Arcade, a subscription that will offer exclusive high-end games to be played on Macs, iPhones and iPads. And Google, a newcomer to video games, announced the subscription service Stadia, which will let players stream games to any screen from the cloud. These moves towards a Netflix-style subscription approach present slightly different visions of how video games will be made and played. Google and Apple's services will join Microsoft's Xbox Games Pass and Sony's PlayStation Now.