Do you both need to own the game for Steam Remote Play? A guide to seamlessly playing games online with friends.

As a tech geek and avid PC gamer, one of my favorite recent innovations from Valve has been Steam Remote Play Together. This nifty feature allows me to easily play local multiplayer games online with my friends, even if they don‘t own the games themselves!

In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll explain what Steam Remote Play is, how you can use it to play games online without owning duplicate copies, recommendations for optimal gameplay, limitations to be aware of, and some troubleshooting tips. Read on to learn how Remote Play Together can take your favorite co-op games online!

Here‘s how the magic of Steam Remote Play works

Remote Play, introduced in 2019, lets you stream games from your Steam library to any laptop, tablet or phone. This gives you access to your PC games away from your main rig.

But Remote Play Together is the real game-changer. It uses video encoding and streaming technology to share a local multiplayer game session online with friends.

Here‘s how it works under the hood:

• The host‘s gaming PC runs the game normally and encodes the video output in real-time. This video stream is uploaded to Steam servers.

• Friends receive this stream on their devices and their controller inputs are sent back to the host PC.

• Advanced compression and lag reduction algorithms ensure the video stream and inputs feel responsive.

• VoIP technology handles the voice chat, coordinated with the video stream.

The end result? Buttery smooth remote gameplay where your friends can join as though on the same couch, even if they don‘t own the game! The table below shows how Remote Play Together usage has grown massively over the years:

Valve has clearly struck a chord with Remote Play Together! Now let‘s see which games you can play.

You only need to own the game on one end!

The best part? Only one person needs to own the game – the host who initiates the session. So you and your friends can take turns being the host and enjoying online multiplayer without having to buy duplicate game copies.

Remote Play Together works with the vast majority of local multiplayer games in Steam. Some favorites include:

• Rocket League – The fast paced soccer battles are a blast online. This hugely popular competitive game sees the highest Remote Play Together usage.

• Overcooked 1 & 2 – Cooking games are fun chaos offline and online. Just be ready for some frenzied coordination!

• Portal 2 – Solving intricate puzzles together in the Portal universe is engrossing co-op.

• Stardew Valley – Farm together in the pixel paradise. You can even pass controls between players.

You can see the full list of supported games here. As you can see, primarily party/competitive games and co-op adventures work best.

How to set up Remote Play Together

Ready to enjoy online multiplayer? Here are simple steps to get started:

1. The host needs to own and launch the game on Steam.

2. Open the Steam overlay in-game (Shift+Tab default), go to Friends, right click a friend and select "Remote Play Together".

3. Send the invitation and they can click to join instantly! No Steam account required.

4. Friends can join on any PC (via Steam) or using the Steam Link mobile app.

5. Once connected, enjoy playing together! The host streams the gameplay to all connected players.

With modern internet speeds, Remote Play Together runs smoothly for most games, especially with multiple players connected over LAN. But here are some tips for optimal performance:

• Use wired Ethernet connections if possible, for lowest latency.

• Limit Internet usage during playtimes to preserve bandwidth.

• Enable hardware accelerated encoding in host PC settings if supported.

• Cap in-game framerate around 60fps to reduce streaming load.

• Turn down in-game video settings slightly if you face bandwidth issues.

Following these tips will get you the smoothest Remote Play Together experience. But how about playing games that aren‘t on Steam?

Enjoy non-Steam games with Remote Play too

You can also add non-Steam games to your library and share them online using Steam‘s technology. This lets you play co-op experiences like Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes or Jackbox party titles with friends online.

To add and share non-Steam games:

1. In Steam, go to Add Game > Add Non-Steam Game
2. Browse and choose the game executable to add.
3. The game will now be available in your library to launch and share!

Pro tip: You can even add emulators like RetroArch to Steam this way and play classic local co-op games together!

Troubleshooting common Remote Play issues

Of course, you may face the occasional hiccup when sharing games online. Here are some common issues and solutions:

Lag/latency – Try switching to wired connections, reducing video quality and game graphics settings.

Video quality drops – Lower in-game resolution if you face bandwidth issues. Upgrade internet plans if needed.

Disconnections – Check for firewalls, port blocking or inconsistent internet. Switch to wired connections if possible.

Can‘t connect – Ensure you are online and not set to offline or invisible mode on Steam. Re-send game invites if needed.

Can‘t voice chat – Double check mic permissions for Steam and ensure hardware is detected properly.

Trying the above should resolve most connection problems you face. Worst case, a router reboot or re-installing Steam can help.

Parting thoughts

While Steam Remote Play has its limitations, Remote Play Together turns it into an incredibly fun way to enjoy shared gaming – no purchases needed for your friends.

With a fantastic range of supported co-op and party games, it opens up opportunities for casual online gaming together. You‘ll no longer need to coordinate who buys which games!

So grab your favorite local multiplayer compatible games, connect with friends online, and enjoy endless playtime with Steam Remote Play. Game on!