A method is provided, including: receiving, over a network by a cloud gaming server computer, a request from a client device to initiate gameplay of a cloud video game; assigning the client device to a data center from which to stream the cloud video game; loading a cloud gaming machine at the data center with the cloud video game; substantially simultaneous with the loading of the cloud gaming machine, performing a stream test between the data center and the client device to determine a quality of service of the streaming of the cloud video game; after completion of the loading and the stream test, initiating interactive gameplay of the cloud video game by streaming video data, generated from execution of the cloud video game by the cloud gaming machine, to the client device, and receiving input data from the client device to drive the execution of the cloud video game.