A computer-implemented method for online game streaming is provided. One example method includes receiving a request from a remote client to access a user account. The user account identifies information regarding the user and digital content available for the user to access from the remote client. The request is received over an Internet connection at a hosting service that includes one or more servers and the digital content including a video game. The method includes receiving selection of the game by the hosting service from the remote client and initiating, by the hosting service, a data rate test of the remote client. The data rate test is configured to identify a maximum available data rate between the remote client and one or more servers of the hosting service. The data rate test includes gradually increasingly the data rate and then gradually decreasing the data rate to identify an active data rate for streaming interactive content of the video game. The method also includes assigning the remote client to a server and setting the compression level to attain the active data rate having packet loss and latency that is within a predefined acceptable level.