Steam Link
Steam Link screenshots (8)
Description Steam Link
Steam Link Transforms Your Android Device into a Remote Gaming Terminal
Valve's Steam Link app provides a direct pipeline from your gaming PC to your Android smartphone or tablet. This utility functions as a dedicated remote play client, streaming the live video and audio output from a computer running Steam directly to a mobile screen. Its operation is contingent on a host PC actively running the game, to which the mobile device connects as a secondary display. The core technology is a low-latency streaming protocol designed to minimize input delay, effectively extending your desktop gaming session to a portable format.
The setup requires pairing the Android device with the Steam client on the same local network. Performance is heavily dependent on network conditions; a high-bandwidth Wi-Fi connection is essential, and a wired Ethernet connection for the host computer is strongly recommended for optimal stability. The app supports multiple input methods, including touchscreen controls that simulate mouse clicks and keyboard inputs through customizable on-screen layouts. For complex titles, physical controllers are supported via Bluetooth, including native integration for the Steam Controller and compatibility with most standard Bluetooth gamepads.
Core Functionality and User Considerations
- Network-Dependent Streaming: Delivers real-time gameplay by encoding your PC's video output and decoding it on your Android device, requiring robust local network hardware.
- Flexible Control Schemes: Offers touchscreen emulation for casual titles and full Bluetooth controller support for a traditional console-like experience on your mobile device.
- Direct Steam Integration: Leverages your existing Steam library and friend list, requiring the desktop client to be running in the background to manage the streaming session.
We suggest trying Steam Link if you want to access your PC gaming library from anywhere within your home network without being tethered to your desk. Consider downloading it to evaluate the streaming potential of your local setup.
Heads up: you'll need wifi for most features. Some cool stuff is extra.