Unreal Gaming Expectations: How Chromebooks Fail to Deliver
The Rise of the Chromebook: A New Era in Computing?
In recent years, Google has partnered with PC makers to create a new line of Chromebooks, stripped-down laptops running the Chrome OS operating system. One such device, the Acer 516 GE Chromebook Plus, was sent to me for review. As a writer at Kotaku, I was excited to test its gaming capabilities.
A Sleek and Modern Design
The 516 GE is a sleek and modern device that boasts a solid battery life and never gave me any technical issues. Watching videos, writing, and surfing the web using this Chromebook was a pleasant experience. However, my enthusiasm was short-lived.
Gaming Capabilities
The 516 GE is marketed as a gamer-focused device, with the ability to stream high-end games instantly. I was skeptical, to say the least. I tried playing popular games like Fortnite, Cyberpunk 2077, and Gears 5 using different methods, including Game Pass, Nvidia Geforce Now, and Amazon Luna. Unfortunately, none of these methods provided a seamless gaming experience.
Disappointing Performance
The games I played suffered from lag, choppiness, and visual artifacts, which made for an unpleasant gaming experience. I also tried installing Steam on the 516 GE and playing some 2D games, which was a nice feature, but it didn’t exactly wow me.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Acer 516 GE Chromebook Plus is a solid device for basic tasks like browsing the web, writing, and watching videos. However, its gaming capabilities are severely lacking. While the idea of streaming high-end games instantly is enticing, the current technology just isn’t there yet.
Key Features:
- Sleek and modern design
- Solid battery life
- Can install Steam and play 2D games
- Gaming capabilities are disappointing
- Struggles with lag, choppiness, and visual artifacts
Is the Chromebook the Future of Computing?
While the Chromebook has made significant strides in recent years, it still has a long way to go to become a viable alternative to dedicated gaming laptops. However, who knows what the future holds? Maybe in five years, cloud gaming will have improved significantly, and the Chromebook will become a serious gaming contender.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for a powerful Chromebook that can play some basic 2D games and retro stuff, then the 516 GE is worth checking out. Just don’t expect it and its game-streaming capabilities to replace your Switch, Steam Deck, or PS5 anytime soon.
