Maximum Settings vs Tencent START

Maximum Settings provides a cloud gaming PC that streams games and programs to users’ devices. Customers can install games they own or buy games through stores including Steam, GOG, Itch, and Epic Games Store, and personalize software on the cloud PC. The maker says CPU, GPU, RAM, and motherboard resources are not shared with other customers while they are logged in. Streaming is advertised up to 120 FPS and 4K on compatible devices and screens, with ray tracing support. Listed platforms include Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows; supported devices also include Apple TV, Chromebook, PS Vita, Wii U, LG webOS TV, and Raspberry Pi. The Maximizer Client is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Packages vary in daily usage allowances and storage; the AMD RX 7900XTX package costs C$29.95 a month and includes eight hours of daily usage, 750GB SSD storage, and 4TB mechanical storage. A trial is limited to the United States and Canada and requires a physical address and valid phone number. Maximum Settings recommends at least 10 Mbps download speed and a stable connection.

Tencent START streams games rendered on cloud servers to supported devices, so players can start supported titles without downloading them. The app listing says progress can continue across devices when players log in with the same account. Its library includes online, single-player, and independent games, organized with personalized categories and recommendations. Listed devices include iPhone, iPad, mobile devices, tablets, computers, and TVs; the iPhone app requires iOS 14.0 or later. Tencent describes START ENGINE as supporting real-time biological and dense plant rendering, dynamic tree simulation, and GPU-accelerated fluid simulation. Tencent Cloud says streaming uses Tencent-RTC and Tencent Mingmou encoding technology, and documents JavaScript, Android, and iOS SDKs and APIs. Its Game Streaming product is a PaaS solution for PC and mobile games, with functions migrated to application cloud rendering. Each concurrent cloud gaming instance supports one player at a time. A free plan is listed, and named paid options include a STARTvip student monthly card at 28 CNY a month, an eight-hour package at 28 CNY, paid once, and a VIP monthly card at 29 CNY a month. Other listed plans have no prices shown.