In 2023, Google partnered with totally different PC producers to create Chromebook Plus—a brand new line of its stripped-down model in a laptop computer that runs its personal working system. The concept was to supply a extra highly effective model of the Chromebook to those that wished that further oomph. And earlier than Christmas, Google despatched me a brand new Acer Chromebook Plus so I might take a look at the gaming capabilities of this machine. After a number of weeks with it, I am glad to report that it is a strong laptop computer that I would buy sooner or later. But it surely’s not a great way to play most video games.
The Acer 516 GE is the particular one Chromebook Plus They despatched me to verify. And earlier than I deal with my points with streaming, I ought to make clear that the machine itself is modern, trendy, has strong battery life, and by no means gave me any technical points. Watching movies, typing and searching the net with the Acer Chromebook Plus was a really nice expertise.
Up to now, I’ve used Chromebooks and did not get pleasure from them. Streamlined ChromeOS laptops have been round for a few decade, however each time I touched one, I at all times walked away disenchanted by the dearth of efficiency and performance.
Now, in 2025, as extra apps are web-based and cellular {hardware} has turn out to be extremely quick, utilizing a Chromebook is not painful. In reality, whereas utilizing the Acer 516 GE I used to be forgetting it was a Chromebook, since lots of the issues I do on daily basis on a pc (checking electronic mail, chatting with coworkers, studying information, and writing tales) are finished by means of a browser. anyway. Consequently, I by no means had any issues utilizing the Acer 516 GE. Properly, till I attempted to play.
He 516GE Chromebook Plus It’s largely marketed as a gamer-focused machine. Google despatched it to me, a author in kotakuas a result of it’s supposedly a tool appropriate for avid gamers. But when you realize something about ChomeOS and Chromebooks, you may know that this stuff cannot play high-end video games. The answer? The facility of the cloud.
That is the massive promoting level of the 516 GE. You do not have to obtain video games or fear about technical necessities. Merely log into your most popular sport streaming service and play issues like Cyberpunk 2077 both fortnite immediately. And possibly, in one other 5 years, this promise will come true, however for now streaming video games continues to be a nasty method to play video games.
I attempted Fortnite, Cyberpunk 2077, and gears 5 utilizing totally different strategies, together with Sport Cross, Nvidia Geforce Now and Amazon Luna. And whereas some had been higher than others, none matched the expertise of enjoying a sport natively on a tool like a console or PC.
Now, you possibly can set up Steam on the 516 GE (it has a particular function inbuilt to permit this) and utilizing what I assume is Proton, I used to be capable of play some 2D video games like Vampire Survivors and Balatro superb within the 516 GE. However that is not spectacular in a world the place my telephone can do this too. No, the massive promoting level of this machine is with the ability to play high-end AAA video video games on the go, with no need to obtain them and with out having to shell out hundreds of {dollars} for a devoted gaming laptop computer.
Sadly, in 2025, even with Google Fiber Web (which I’ve), the 516 GE cannot get rid of the lag, jitter, and visible artifacts discovered when streaming video games.
So if you happen to’re in search of a robust Chromebook that may play some fundamental 2D video games and retro stuff (I used to be capable of get it). Turok working easily), then the 516 GE is value a glance. Simply do not anticipate it and its sport streaming capabilities to interchange your Swap, Steam Deck, or PS5 anytime quickly.
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