Ploud or Shadow
Shadow rents an entire Windows PC in a data centre, with its desktop, files and software. It is more than a gaming service. That is also what prevents it from running any PlayStation game.
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What Shadow really is
Shadow is the only major service that rents a machine, not access to a catalogue. You install whatever you want, including software unrelated to gaming: video editing, modelling and development. The company and its servers are French, and the lack of an hours cap clearly sets it apart from GeForce Now since 2026.
Why you will never be able to install a PS5 game on it
A Windows PC cannot run a PlayStation game. There is no working PS5 emulator, and there will not be one any time soon: the console uses a proprietary architecture and operating system. Installing a PS5 game on Shadow is not difficult, it is impossible. The reasoning is the same as for GTA 6 on PC.
Both, line by line
| Shadow | Ploud | |
|---|---|---|
| What you rent | A Windows 11 PC | A physical PlayStation 5 |
| What you install | Anything that runs on Windows | Your PlayStation games |
| PS5 exclusives | Impossible | Yes |
| Non-gaming use | Yes, it is a computer | No |
| Model | €32.99 to €44.98 per month | Hours credit, from €2.68 per hour |
| A month without using it | Billed | Nothing is deducted |
Swipe the table to see all the columns.
When to choose Shadow
If you want a computer, not a console, Shadow wins hands down. It replaces a €1,500 tower PC for €33 per month, can also be used for work, and has no hours limit. Ploud does only one thing and does not claim to do the other.
| Shadow | Ploud | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A Windows 11 computer, rented by the month and accessible from any screen | A dedicated physical PlayStation 5, by the hour |
| Price | €32.99 per month for PC, €44.98 for Power | Hours credit, from €2.68 per hour |
| Model | Monthly subscription, unlimited use | No subscription, nothing renews |
Swipe the table to see all the columns.
For games that only exist on console, keep your spot.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play PS5 games on Shadow?
No. Shadow rents a Windows PC, and PlayStation games are not distributed for Windows. No working PS5 emulator exists.
Is Shadow cheaper than buying a PC?
Over two to three years, the gap narrows. In the first year, yes, by a long way: €396 versus €1,500 for an equivalent tower PC.
Does Shadow have an hours cap?
No, and that is its main advantage over GeForce Now since NVIDIA introduced a monthly 100-hour cap in January 2026.
Can you use Shadow and Ploud together?
Yes, they do not overlap. Shadow for anything that runs on Windows, hours credit for anything that only exists on PlayStation.
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GeForce Now streams the PC games you already own from servers equipped with RTX cards. Ploud rents a physical PlayStation 5 by the hour. The difference is not quality, but kind: one needs a PC version to exist, the other does not.
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ReadCloud gaming on PS5, in 2026
No service streams the PlayStation 5 catalogue as a whole. PlayStation Plus Premium offers a selection subject to publisher agreement, and PC services like GeForce Now only have access to games that exist on PC. For the rest, you need a console.
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