Can you stream VR games over the cloud?
If, like me, you started out with just a Meta Quest headset and did not have a powerful gaming PC available, it’s hard to look at what’s possible on PCVR and not feel some envy. But building a capable VR ready PC can get expensive and maybe you just want to try it instead of investing a lot of money into new hardware. If that’s the case then you should look into a service called Shadow PC which claims to stream VR games over the cloud.
Cloud gaming has come a long way in the past decade, and whilst it will never compete with playing on a local machine, it is getting close at this point. As long as you have a good enough internet, game streaming is a viable way to play in VR at this point.
The only company really offering VR game streaming at this point is Shadow PC. While Shadow PC is not the cheapest, it does deliver on its promise of giving you a VR capable PC anywhere you have access to a strong internet connection.
How much does Shadow PC cost?
As I mentioned, Shadow PC is not the cheapest, there are 3 pricing options starting at $19.99 for, but the priciest and most powerful option clocks in at $49.99. The first month is discounted so you can try it out for $9.99, but it is still going to be expensive after that, especially if you want to play games at higher settings.
As you can see in the specs table below only the POWER option offers a modern GPU capable of playing modern VR games. If you go for the more economical option you will be constrained by an older GTX 1080, which is capable of playing VR but you will need to lower the settings on most games if you want a smooth frame rate, and a smooth frame rate is more important than anything when it comes to VR games.
| Specs | DISCOVERY | BOOST | POWER |
| Price (First Month) | $9.99 | $19.99 | $34.99 |
| Regular Price | $19.99 | $29.99 | $49.98 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GTX 1080 (P5000) | NVIDIA GTX 1080 (P5000) | NVIDIA RTX™ A4500 |
| CPU | Intel Xeon™ (up to 3.1 GHz) | Intel Xeon™ (up to 3.1 GHz) | AMD EPYC™ (up to 3.7 GHz) |
| vCores | 4 vCores | 8 vCores | 8 vCores |
| RAM | 6 GB RAM | 12 GB RAM | 28 GB RAM |
| Storage (C:) | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD | 512 GB SSD |
| Storage (D:) | Up to 5TB HDD | Up to 5TB HDD | Up to 5TB HDD |
| Bandwidth | 1Gb/s down | 1Gb/s down | 1Gb/s down |
What is the performance of Shadow PC like for VR?
It’s important for any game streaming service to have a strong internet. That is especially important for VR too, as frame stutters can easily cause headaches or nausea. Shadow advises you should have a 50mbs connection and a 5ghz router if you want Shadow PC to get the performance necessary for VR games.
It also helps a lot if you are near a major data center so you can keep the latency down, therefore if you live in a very rural area you will likely have issues with Shadow PC. Having a fast stable connection, where you can have low latency is key to having a good experience with something like Shadow PC.
If you have a good internet connection and live near a data center, the performance of Shadow PC for VR gaming is typically excellent. With a fast, stable connection, you can enjoy smooth gameplay with minimal latency, especially when using tools like Virtual Desktop. The proximity to a data center ensures lower ping times, which reduces input lag and enhances the responsiveness of your VR experience. This setup allows you to stream high-quality VR games with impressive graphics, making it feel almost as if you’re playing on a local high-end gaming PC.
If you’re interested in trying out Shadow PC for VR gaming, you can find more information and make a purchase through my affiliate link. Please note that I may earn a commission from any purchases made through this link, which helps support the blog and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Thank you for your support!
In terms of the hardware capabilities, with the cheaper options being constrained by the GTX 1080, you shouldn’t expect to play modern VR titles on high settings. Whilst the GTX 1080 was a great card, it is 8 years old at this point and it is showing its age. You will be able to play titles like Half Life: Alyx with good fidelity and decent frame rates, but titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator won’t play well.
If you are willing to pay the $50 per month for the most expensive tier, and honestly at that point just save up for a PC, then you will find much better performance. The RTX A4500 is a much more capable GPU and should handle almost whatever you throw at it with ease.
Use Virtual Desktop for better performance on Shadow PC
Virtual Desktop is an application that allows users to wirelessly stream their PC’s display to a VR headset, enabling them to access and interact with their computer in a virtual environment. Primarily used for gaming, it allows users to play PC VR games on headsets like the Meta Quest without needing a physical wired connection, as long as the PC and headset are on the same high-speed network. Virtual Desktop is widely praised for its low latency, smooth performance, and the freedom it offers for wireless VR gaming.
Using Virtual Desktop with Shadow PC can significantly improve the overall VR gaming experience, especially in terms of wireless streaming. Virtual Desktop has been fine-tuned over the years, with regular updates that optimize performance for VR users. Compared to Shadow’s own beta app, which some users have found jittery or buggy, Virtual Desktop tends to deliver a smoother, more stable connection. This is because its developer has worked closely with the community to address issues and improve latency, visual fidelity, and streaming quality.
For users with good WiFi (ideally 5Ghz or WiFi6) and a strong internet connection, Virtual Desktop helps reduce input lag and provides more reliable wireless performance, making it easier to enjoy high-end VR titles without noticeable disruptions. Many users have reported better performance with Virtual Desktop when playing demanding VR games like Half-Life: Alyx or Skyrim VR compared to Shadow’s native app.
Is Shadow PC worth it for VR?
Shadow PC can be a viable solution to play games in VR, especially for those who want to experience PC VR titles without investing in expensive gaming hardware. With access to a high-performance virtual machine, users can play demanding VR games like Half-Life: Alyx or Skyrim VR on underpowered devices, including the Meta Quest 2. This eliminates the need for an upfront investment in a gaming PC, making it an attractive option for casual gamers or those on a budget.
However, the costs can add up over time. Shadow’s monthly subscription fee, starting at $29.99, offers continuous access to a high-end PC, but it’s a recurring cost that might exceed the price of building or buying a dedicated gaming rig in the long run. Moreover, additional features like more storage or higher performance tiers can increase the overall cost. For those who plan to game regularly, the subscription model may feel like paying for an ongoing service without owning the hardware.
If you only want to play a few specific VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx or Skyrim VR, Shadow PC is a flexible and convenient alternative to paying for an expensive gaming PC. With a strong internet connection, it allows you to enjoy high-quality VR experiences without the upfront cost of expensive hardware. For occasional or moderate gaming, Shadow can be a cost-effective solution. However, if you plan to game frequently or expand your VR library, building a dedicated PC might prove more economical in the long run.
How do I use Shadow PC on the Meta Quest?
It’s very easy to get Shadow PC working with Meta Quest headsets, there is an official early access app available on SideQuest. Simply connect to a 5ghz wifi network that receives 50mbs or more, log in and you will be able to access the cloud pc.
So to sum up, if you are looking for a way to try out PCVR but don’t want to spend a lot of money on getting a capable PC, Shadow PC can be a viable alternative. That is as long as your internet is good enough.
