Renting a Gaming PC: Why choose to rent instead of buy?

Instead of investing thousands of euros in a machine that will quickly become outdated, Shadow offers a different approach: renting a full Windows PC… in the cloud.

With component prices on the rise, renting a gaming PC is now one of the most flexible and cost-effective options. Shadow isn’t just a cloud gaming platform limited to a catalog; it’s a true, full-fledged Windows PC in the cloud.

By choosing to rent your gaming computer, you get access to a powerful machine that can run all your games (Steam, Epic, Battle.net) and software, without the constraints of buying physical hardware.

Rent your gaming PC

Comparison: Rent a Gaming PC or buy a desktop tower?

The traditional model of buying hardware comes with limitations that renting, especially through the cloud, helps you overcome. Shadow has “Netflix-ized” the PC so you can focus on what matters most: playing and creating.

No more hardware obsolescence or maintenance.

One of the biggest benefits of renting your gaming PC is peace of mind. Unlike a physical PC that requires manual, and often expensive, upgrades (RAM, graphics card, processor, etc.) to stay performant, Shadow takes care of hardware improvements for you. There’s no maintenance on your end, and you can switch plans to get more power with a single click.

Turn your Mac or old PC into a gaming machine.

Why buy a new PC when you can rent the power you need on the devices you already own? Shadow lets you play AAA Windows games on an older, low-powered PC, and even on a Mac, without compatibility issues or technical hassle. Your subscription turns any screen—a smartphone, tablet, Android TV, or a basic office computer into a high-end gaming PC.

Cloud Gaming PC Rental vs. Physical Gaming PC

Feature

Upgrades
Games &
Software
Portability
Playtime
RTX & DLSS compatibility
Connection

Shadow PC Rental (Cloud)

Simple, through your subscription Upgrades
Full Windows environment (mods, apps)* Games & Software
Play on any screen (PC, Mac, mobile) Portability
Unlimited Playtime
All plans are compatible RTX & DLSS compatibility
1 Gbps bandwidth included
(ultra-fast downloads) Connection

Physical Gaming PC (Purchase)

Manual and expensive Upgrades
Full Windows environment Games & Software
Limited to a single machine Portability
Unlimited Playtime
Depends on your configuration (expensive GPU) RTX & DLSS compatibility
Depends on your local
connection Connection

Renting a Gaming PC: a cost-effective, flexible solution

By renting a Shadow PC, you can access a full-fledged gaming computer in just a few clicks—built for AAA games and demanding software.

Instead of buying an expensive computer designed for gaming, your Shadow subscription lets you rent a cloud gaming PC right away for a low monthly cost, with support for RTX and DLSS technologies.

On top of that, your cloud PC gives you full Windows access (install whatever you want) and a dedicated ultra-fast internet connection (1 Gbps), so you can download games and updates almost instantly—regardless of your local connection.

Rent your gaming PC today

The technical advantages of renting a gaming rig with Shadow PC.

By choosing to rent a gaming PC with Shadow, you get instant access to a high-performance machine—ready to run your games on high settings and your favorite Windows software.

RTX & DLSS graphics

Enjoy ray tracing and high-resolution gaming without having to configure any hardware

Total freedom

Install your mods, connect your USB devices (controllers, keyboards, mice), and use your own game licenses

Full download speed

Your Shadow PC has its own 1 Gbps fiber connection. Download massive games in just a few minutes, regardless of whether you have DSL or fiber at home.