Getting started with Loudplay

What Loudplay is, what to expect, and how to get from sign-up to your first game.

By Help Dmitry

• 4 articles

What is Loudplay

Loudplay is a cloud gaming service. You connect to a virtual gaming PC over the internet and play games on it as if it were a powerful computer in front of you — except it isn't, it's a server in our data centre, and your device just streams the picture and sends back your input. This article covers what the service is, who it's for, and what you should expect before signing up. What you actually get A dedicated virtual Windows PC with a discrete GPU (currently NVIDIA RTX A4000), 128 GB of RAM, and fast SSD storage. You rent time on it. While your session is active, the PC is yours — it runs Windows, you can install games through Steam or Epic Games, you can play. When the session ends, the machine is returned to the pool. Your installed games from Steam and Epic stay on the platform for a while (more on that below), but the machine itself is not "your" PC long-term. The point of the service is access to GPU power without buying a gaming PC. If your laptop or phone can decode an H.264/H.265 video stream and you have a stable internet connection, you can play AAA titles on it. Who Loudplay is for People who want to play modern games but don't have a gaming PC. People who travel and want to play on a laptop. People who want to try a new title before committing to a hardware upgrade. Mobile users who want a Windows-PC experience on Android. It is not for: competitive shooter players who need sub-20ms input latency (cloud gaming adds latency by design), people who want a permanent personal PC in the cloud (we don't sell that), or anyone who wants to play games protected by kernel-level anti-cheat — those don't run on virtual machines (see "Why Valorant, PUBG, Genshin Impact don't work"). How payment works You pay for time, not a flat subscription with unlimited usage. Two billing models exist depending on platform: - On Desktop (Windows, macOS) you buy hour packages: 3, 10, or 20 hours. The hours sit in your balance and tick down as you play. Bought hours expire 30 days after purchase. - On Android you subscribe through Google Play. The subscription gives you a fixed amount of hours per week or per month (e.g. 11 h/week, 22 h/month). Hours are not unlimited, and unused hours don't roll over. Your balance shows up inside the app after you sign in. Refilling the balance during an active session works. Where the servers are In the United States. You'll see the latency that comes with that — fine for most single-player and casual multiplayer games, noticeable in fast-paced PvP. There is no Europe or Asia option at the moment. What about a free trial Desktop has no free trial. To test the service, the smallest desktop package is 3 hours for $4 — that's the cheapest way to see whether streaming quality, latency, and game compatibility work for your setup. Android may offer a trial — it depends on your country and what Google Billing shows for your account. Open the app on Android and check the offer there; we don't promise specific durations because they vary by region. Where to download loudplay.io/download for the desktop client (Windows 7+, macOS 10.15+). The Android app is on Google Play. The Android app is adaptive and runs on Android TV devices via APK install — the dedicated Android TV listing has been temporarily removed from Google Play due to crash bugs. Next steps If you're new, the next article — "Quick start: from sign-up to your first game" — walks through the path from creating an account to launching your first session.

Last updated on Apr 27, 2026

Quick start: from sign-up to your first game

From a fresh install to your first game in about 10 minutes. This is the shortest path that works on both Desktop and Android. Before you begin You need: - A device that meets the system requirements — Windows 7+, macOS 10.15+, or Android 7+ - A stable internet connection (50 Mbit/s down recommended for 1080p, more for higher resolution or framerate) - An email address you can receive a code on - A payment method that works in your region (see "Payment methods and what's available where") Step 1. Download and install the client Desktop: go to loudplay.io/download and pick the Windows or macOS build. Android: install from Google Play. Run the installer. On Windows, run it as Administrator if you hit a permissions error. On macOS, drag the app into Applications. On Android, open the app from your launcher. Step 2. Create an account or sign in When you tap Sign in in the desktop launcher, your default browser opens at loudplay.io/auth/.... You sign in there, the browser hands the session back to the launcher automatically. This is intentional — see "Why the launcher opens your browser to sign in" if you want the full reason. Two paths are supported: - Email + 6-digit code (OTP). Enter your email, we send a code, you enter it, you're in. No password needed. This is the default flow for new users — your account is created automatically when you enter the first valid code. - Email + password. Standard sign-in for users who already set a password. Optional for new users — you can set a password later from Account settings. If you forget the password later, the "Restore password" button on the login screen sends a reset link to your email. For the limits on how often you can request codes, see "Login codes and email verification". Step 3. Top up your balance You can't start a session with an empty balance. The "Top up" button in the app opens the store. - On Desktop, you'll see hour packages: 3 h ($4), 10 h ($9), 20 h ($16). Pick one. Payment goes through PayLink (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, and JCB are accepted). Hours appear within 10 minutes after a successful payment — press F5 if they don't show right away. If you close the launcher mid-payment, the server completes the credit automatically once the bank confirms. - On Android, you'll see weekly and monthly Google Play subscriptions. Tap one and confirm through Google Billing. Trials, if available in your country, are listed in the same place. Step 4. Start the virtual PC Click the start button in the main app window. A queue appears. Queue times depend on the time of day (UTC+3): | Window | Typical wait | |--------|--------------| | Off-peak (00:00–13:00) | 0–10 min | | Peak (14:00–19:00) | up to 30 min | | Evening (20:00–23:00) | 8–24 min | Queue time is not charged — your balance only ticks down once the session starts. Step 5. Pick a game When the session starts, you land in the Game Catalog — a curated library of games available on Loudplay. The plain Windows desktop is hidden in this flow; you don't need it. Click a tile. The game's launcher opens (Steam, Epic Games, etc.). Sign in with your own launcher account, then start the game from there. If you want to install a game that isn't in the catalog: open Steam or Epic from inside the session and install it as you would on any Windows PC. Installs from Steam and Epic stay on the platform between sessions (see "How long your installed games are kept"). Step 6. End the session cleanly Hit Alt+Q on Desktop, or use the floating Quick Menu on Android. The session closes and remaining hours stay on your balance. If you just close the app window without ending the session, the session continues for a short timeout window — your balance will keep ticking down. Always end the session deliberately. Closed the launcher by accident? If the launcher closes during an active session (you closed the window, the app crashed, you switched devices), the session keeps running in the background. When you reopen the launcher, the dashboard shows an Active Session Card with a timer and a Resume button. Click Resume to rejoin the same session — you won't pay for a new one. Don't start a new session if you see the Resume card. The old one is still your time. What's next - If a game won't run, check "Why Valorant, PUBG, Genshin Impact don't work" before assuming it's broken — kernel-level anti-cheat is the most common reason. - If the stream is laggy or blurry, see "Stream is laggy or blurry — settings to try". - If your balance looks wrong after a top-up, see "Cross-platform balance".

Last updated on Apr 27, 2026

Supported devices and what you need on your end

What hardware and connection you need to run Loudplay smoothly. The service streams a real Windows PC to your device, so the client side is mostly a video decoder and an input sender — most modern devices are capable enough. Operating systems | Platform | Minimum version | Notes | |----------|-----------------|-------| | Windows | 7 or newer | x64 only | | macOS | 10.15 (Catalina) or newer | Intel and Apple Silicon both work | | Android | 7 or newer | Phone, tablet, or Android TV (via APK) | There is no native iOS app. There is no Linux client. There is no console (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) client. The Android app is adaptive and runs on Android TV devices via APK install. The dedicated Android TV listing has been temporarily removed from Google Play because of crash bugs in older builds — install the regular Android APK instead until the TV listing is back. Internet connection Cloud gaming is bandwidth-hungry and latency-sensitive. The numbers below are what works in practice: | Setting | Recommended | Notes | |---------|-------------|-------| | Download speed | 30+ Mbit/s for 720p, 50+ for 1080p, 75+ for 1440p | Stable rate matters more than peak | | Upload speed | 5+ Mbit/s | Used for input + voice | | Latency to US East | under 80 ms ideally, 150 ms still playable for casual | Higher = more input lag | | Connection type | Wired Ethernet > Wi-Fi 6/5 (5 GHz) > Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz often unusable | A wired connection or 5 GHz Wi-Fi is strongly recommended. Public Wi-Fi, hotel Wi-Fi, and crowded 2.4 GHz networks often introduce stutter that no in-app setting can fix. If you must use mobile data: 4G/LTE is borderline, 5G is usable. Yota mobile operator is known not to work — its network blocks the streaming protocol. Hardware on your end The client device only decodes video and sends keyboard/mouse/gamepad input back. Anything that can play 1080p H.264 video smoothly is enough. - A 5-year-old laptop with integrated graphics: fine. - A mid-range Android phone from the last 4–5 years: fine. - A smart TV with a Chrome browser: not currently supported (no web client at the moment). GPU on your local device does not need to be powerful. The heavy lifting happens on our server. Input devices Keyboard and mouse. Standard, including most gaming mice. Side mouse buttons (back/forward) are not currently passed through to the virtual PC. Gamepads. Most XInput-compatible gamepads work. The virtual PC sees them all as Xbox controllers, regardless of what they actually are. Multiple gamepads connected at once function as a single controller. Wheels, flight sticks, and HOTAS systems are not supported — the protocol doesn't pass their inputs through. On Android. You can connect a Bluetooth or USB gamepad. Connect or reconnect it during an active session — connecting before the session starts can leave the controller mis-detected. Microphone. Supported on Desktop only — toggle with Alt+R during a session. The Android app does not currently support microphone passthrough. Webcam, USB devices, VR headsets. Not natively supported. Some users have made specific USB devices work through third-party software running inside the virtual PC, but we don't promise compatibility. What to do before your first session - Restart your router if it's been online for weeks. Routers degrade. - Use Ethernet if you have it. Wi-Fi 5 GHz if you don't. - Close other bandwidth-heavy apps (downloads, streaming services in the background). - On Windows, run the Loudplay client as Administrator the first time to avoid permission issues. - On macOS, allow the client through System Settings → Privacy & Security if Gatekeeper blocks it. If something doesn't work after this, see "Stream is laggy or blurry — settings to try" or "The app crashes at launch on Windows or macOS".

Last updated on Apr 27, 2026

What the service includes and what you handle

A short list of what the service is responsible for, and what you handle on your side. Reading this once saves a lot of "wait, do you also include..." conversations later. What Loudplay provides - A virtual Windows PC with a discrete GPU (currently NVIDIA RTX A4000), 128 GB RAM, fast SSD storage, and gigabit internet. - The Game Catalog — a curated library of titles available on the platform, with search and genre filters. - Time on the machine, billed by the hour (Desktop) or by subscription (Android). - Steam and Epic Games installations that persist between your sessions for at least a few days. The more you play a game, the longer we keep it ready for you. - A pre-installed torrent client and the freedom to install any software you want during a session. - Compensation when something on our side breaks the experience (lags, freezes, broken streaming) — see "Refunds". What Loudplay does not provide - Game licences. We rent you the PC, not the games. If you want to play GTA V, Cyberpunk 2077, or any other paid title, you sign in with your own Steam, Epic, or Rockstar account — same as you would on a PC at home. The exception is genuinely free-to-play games (Dota 2, etc.), which are free to launch. - Permanent storage of arbitrary files. Your Documents, Downloads, and random files saved to the desktop will not survive between sessions. Only Steam and Epic install directories persist. - Saves outside game cloud sync. Enable Steam Cloud or Epic Cloud Saves for any game where progress matters. Locally saved games can be wiped when the machine is recycled. - Anti-cheat-protected games. Valorant, PUBG, Genshin Impact, NBA 2K26, Escape From Tarkov, Fortnite (in some modes) and similar titles refuse to run on virtual machines by design. This is not a bug we can patch — it's a deliberate decision by their anti-cheat vendors. See "Why Valorant, PUBG, Genshin Impact don't work". - Driver-level changes. You cannot update GPU drivers yourself. We handle drivers; if a game won't start because of an outdated driver, contact support and we'll escalate. - Outside-of-Steam/Epic installations that persist. You can install something from another launcher or a downloaded .exe, but it will be gone next session. Don't count on it. - Server location choice. All servers are in the United States. There's no Europe, Asia, or Latin America option right now. - VPN inside the virtual PC. Running a VPN client on the virtual PC is not allowed. What you handle - Your device — the laptop, phone, or TV that runs the Loudplay client. - Your internet connection. We can't fix Wi-Fi that drops or a 50 ms ping on top of a slow router. - Your launcher accounts (Steam, Epic, Rockstar, etc.) and their game licences. - Cloud-saving your progress. We strongly recommend enabling Steam Cloud or Epic Cloud Saves on every game you care about — relying on local saves is risky. - Choosing the right tariff. Hours on Desktop and Android subscriptions are not the same product (see "Cross-platform balance"). How sessions work in practice You start a session, you get the machine. The Game Catalog opens automatically — pick a tile or open Steam/Epic from inside the catalog and play. When you end the session, your installed games stay (Steam/Epic only). Your save files stay if cloud-sync is on. Next session, you connect, the Catalog opens again, and you can launch the games you played last time. After several days of inactivity on a particular game, it may be rotated out to free space — re-installing it takes another download. When something doesn't fit this list If you're trying to do something that's not on either list, ask. We'd rather you ask than buy time and find out it doesn't work. Contact: help@loudplay.io for support, partner@loudplay.io for partnerships.

Last updated on Apr 27, 2026