Steam Link: Compatible Devices and How to Configure it

Streaming video games from your PC , that’s what Steam Link offers. An application launched by Steam with the idea of allowing the user to play their favorite games from other devices in a simple way. But, do you know from which devices you can do it and how to take advantage of it?

What is Steam Link

steam on phone
Steam Link is an application that Steam launched a long time ago. Its goal was and continues to be to extend the gaming experience beyond the computer . In other words, you can continue your game on a smartphone, tablet or television.

How is that accomplished? Well, the application connects to the computer through the local network itself and it sends a video signal in the same way that we now see services such as Stadia or GeForce Now doing. Of course, this option of Steam Link is prior to all this of video game streaming through the Internet, although it has not achieved much popularity among the majority of users.

The reason to remain somewhat unknown among many users is that, when playing at home, why would you do it on a phone instead of in front of your computer, with your good gaming monitor and the comfort of your chair.

Well, it is true that there are not many reasons, but these days when we are all at home, it may not be possible to play in front of the PC at certain times, so if you want to continue that game in another room, why not take advantage of it?

In addition, Steam Link is completely free and although the idea is to play the games on the platform, there is also the option to add games that are not from your store. The only requirement is to have a compatible device on which to install the application.

Where can I run Steam Link

Steam Link App

One of the great values of Steam Link is the variety of devices where it can be run. For starters, there is an application for both iOS and Android , the only requirement is that these devices have the appropriate system version ( Android 5.0 or higher and iOS 11 or higher ). But they are not the only devices where it can be installed.

If Steam Link is interesting for today, it is because it can already be run on many devices that are not a smartphone or tablet. For starters, any TV with Android TV can access the application, also many set top boxes or Apple TV itself. This opens the doors to a large number of users who are ready to continue their games from the living room television.

There are also other televisions, such as Samsung‘s, that offer their own version of Steam Link to connect remotely to the PC. If you go to the Samsung app store, you can download the app. Just a note, the TV must have a Bluetooth connection to connect one of the compatible controls. On mobile devices you can use the touch controls that are enabled.

Although if all this seemed little to you, watch out. You can also install Steam Link on a Raspberry Pi. The application installation process is not complicated, even if you don’t have much idea. All you have to do is have a Raspberry Pi 3B or newer model with Raspbian Strech . When you have access to the system, open the terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install steamlink

When you have it, just run the application and you already do the usual setup process. A very simple process, whatever the platform. If you have any questions, this official support page will solve any question for you.

The user experience

Steam Link Android

Playing through local streaming and being able to do it directly on the PC doesn’t seem like a great idea, right? Well, as we said, if you have the option to continue doing it normally, go ahead. Because you avoid the commitments that such a technology demands, such as having a good bandwidth. But if you can’t sit down leaving the computer or you don’t feel like it for whatever reason, take advantage of Steam Link.

If you have a 5 Ghz WiFi network, you will have no problem reaching 1080p resolution and 60 fps sustained. If you also have a wired connection, a powerful PC Gaming and the device where you run Steam Link also offers plenty of performance, for example an Nvidia Shield TV, you could reach 4K resolutions.

Configuración Steam Link

From the application itself there are also settings that you can modify to achieve the best possible quality . Both in the Windows Steam app, macOS or Linux go into the settings and check these values:

  • Depending on the connection and power of the equipment, activate or not the automatic resolution adjustment
  • You can select Fast, Balanced or Beautiful quality
  • If you have an AMD or Nvidia graphics, activate the corresponding hardware encoding (there is also an option for Intel graphics)
  • Prioritize network traffic

In the client, the most important thing is to adjust the option that activates the hardware decoding of the signal if there is support for it. This will depend on the device being used. Because even though you can use the application on a multitude of phones, tablets or televisions, the specifications of your hardware will mark the experience.

With all these adjustments and a check of the performance of your local network, the Steam Link experience surprises and makes playing from anywhere in the house something very similar to doing it in front of the team. If the computer is in a shared room, where at certain times there may be another person working or playing, etc., it is a great solution to not stay if you pass that level where you stayed the last time you played, or to play some games with friends in days of confinement.

The best devices to use Steam Link on your TV

NVIDIA Shield TV Pro top View

Your Android TV smartphone, tablet or television are already enough to take advantage of the Steam Link, but if you want to do it and get the best experience on the television, you have several options.

The first is to do it from another PC (any laptop) and connect it to the TV, for that the application runs the Steam application on both computers. On the server you will have to activate the option to broadcast at home or In Home Streaming from the settings. Then it is a matter of linking both computers. And the other option is to use powerful or optimized hardware, in those cases the two best options are:

  • The NVIDIA Shield TV , a set top box that we have already talked about and that you know is much more than a very capable multimedia player. It’s also a great gaming option because of access to GeForce Now and these perks like Steam Link.
  • Steam Link , Steam’s own hardware is still a great option, even if it is discontinued. It is true that it has limitations, such as the maximum speed of its ethernet connection and that it allows a maximum resolution of 1080p at 60 fas, but in many cases it is more than enough.

So now you know, now it’s a matter of choosing the option that interests you the most. But the most accessible will continue to be your smartphone, which if it is high-end and gives the option of sending the video signal through an HDMI cable, you can also connect it to the TV.

Steam Link Anywhere and Remote Play Together

Finally, there is one last option related to all this of the game via streaming and it is Steam Link Anywhere and Remote Play Together . These proposals allow us to forget the need to play within the same local network and the whole configuration process is similar. The only difference is that two variables come into play here that will mark the user experience: the internet connection of the server and that of the client computer.

If you have a good connection with both teams you can play your games from anywhere. So keep that in mind too. Even if it is to share games with other family or friends, also to play together as if you did it in local cooperative mode.

In summary, as you can see, there are many options to enjoy a good leisure time without having to tie yourself to your computer or location.