Is there a Steam TV app? A Deep Dive into Steam Link Game Streaming

With over 30,000 games and 120 million monthly active users, Steam is by far the most popular digital distribution platform for PC games. But did you know Steam also allows you to stream your entire PC gaming library to your TV or mobile devices? Thanks to Valve‘s Steam Link technology, you can easily play your Steam games across all your screens.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about Steam Link game streaming and using the Steam TV and mobile apps.

The Evolution of Steam Streaming

Steam‘s built-in game streaming feature was first introduced in 2014 under the name In-Home Streaming. This allowed you to stream Steam games between two PCs on the same home network.

In 2015, Valve launched the standalone Steam Link hardware – a small box that let you stream Steam games to your TV. However, in 2018 Valve discontinued the Steam Link box and replaced it with mobile apps.

Now the Steam Link app is available for most major mobile and TV platforms, giving you access to your Steam library on the go or on the big screen. Steam Link streaming taps into your home network so you can play your PC games on any connected device.

Steam Link App Availability

The Steam Link app is widely available on the following platforms and devices:

• Android TVs and set-top boxes (Android 5.0+)
• Apple TV (4th gen or newer)
• iOS devices (iPhone, iPad – iOS 10+)
• Samsung Smart TVs (2016-2022 models)
• Android smartphones and tablets (Android 5.0+)
• Raspberry Pi
• Mac and PC (via Steam client)

Valve is continually expanding support to more TVs, so if Steam Link isn‘t yet available on your smart TV, check for updates periodically.

Steam Link Streaming Requirements

To use Steam Link for game streaming, here‘s what you need:

• A computer running Steam (Windows, Mac, Linux) connected via Ethernet or WiFi to your local network. This will be the host gaming PC.
• The Steam Link app installed on your streaming device like a smart TV, mobile device, or set-top box on the same network.
• A compatible game controller like an Xbox controller paired to your streaming device.

An ideal setup will use a wired Ethernet connection for both your host gaming PC and streaming device to ensure the fastest, most stable streaming performance.

For mobile devices, you‘ll need a strong WiFi router centrally located near your PC and mobile device to achieve low latency streaming over WiFi.

How Steam Link Game Streaming Works

Here are the basic steps for streaming games from your PC to another device with Steam Link:

1. Install and open the Steam Link app on your smart TV, set-top box or mobile device.

2. Make sure your gaming PC and streaming device are on the same home network.

3. In the Steam Link app, select your host gaming PC from the list of available devices running Steam.

4. Steam‘s Big Picture mode UI will load, giving you access to your entire Steam library on your TV/mobile screen.

5. Connect a controller to your streaming device via Bluetooth or USB.

6. Launch any game from your Steam library and it will begin streaming from your PC to the Link app at up to 60 FPS.

7. Play your game on the big screen while it runs on your gaming PC! Input is streamed back allowing full control.

Steam handles all the work of encoding, transmitting, decoding and displaying your game on the client device. All you need is a robust home network connection for a fluid streaming experience.

Steam Link Streaming Performance

For the best quality Steam Link gameplay, your host gaming PC and home network need sufficient bandwidth and latency capabilities. Here are some key factors affecting performance:

• Internet connection speed – For Remote Play over the internet, faster is better. 25Mbps is recommended for 1080p/60fps streaming.

• Host PC specs – A more powerful GPU, CPU and RAM will allow higher encoding rates for better quality. A GeForce RTX 30 series GPU is ideal.

• Game graphics settings – Lowering in-game resolution and graphics settings reduces encoding overhead. Shoot for 1080p medium settings.

• Network connection – Wired Ethernet provides lowest latency and highest throughput for both devices. WiFi works but may have intermittent lag.

• Router quality – A robust dual or tri-band router placed centrally can enhance WiFi streaming reliability.

Here‘s a quick streaming performance comparison across Steam Link platforms:

Device	Max Resolution	Max Framerate	Notes
Android TV	1080p	60fps	Performance dependent on Android device CPU/GPU
Apple TV 4K	4K	60fps	HEVC encoding support
Samsung TV	Up to 4K	60fps	VP9 codec improves latency
iOS	1080p	60fps	iPad Pro supports 120fps
PC/Mac	Up to 4K	60fps	Quality tied to host PC specs

Dialing in Your Steam Link Streaming Setup

To achieve an optimal Steam Link streaming experience, here are some tips for both your gaming PC setup and home network:

• Hardwire your connection – Use Ethernet cables for your host PC and streaming device if possible. This provides higher throughput and lower latency than WiFi.

• Update network drivers – Make sure you have the latest Ethernet/WiFi drivers installed on your PC and streaming device. Outdated drivers can hamper performance.

• Optimize PC graphics settings – Run your Steam games at 1080p resolution and reduce quality settings to ease encoding overhead. Cap framerate at 60 FPS.

• Set TV resolution to 1080p – Match the streaming and display resolution. Change TV display settings to 1080p 60Hz output for maximum performance.

• Adjust in-game options – Disable Vsync and limit framerates in games to 60 FPS. Lower antialiasing, shadows, effects, draw distance and other demanding settings.

• Use 5Ghz WiFi – If wireless, connect your devices to the 5Ghz band on your router rather than 2.4Ghz for faster throughput.

• Reboot your network devices – Power cycle your modem, router, PC and streaming device before streaming to clear any connectivity gremlins.

• Test different games – Lighter 2D indie games often stream better than demanding 3D titles. Find a balance that works smoothly.

With some tweaking and optimal hardware, you can achieve stutter-free 1080p 60FPS game streaming over Steam Link. For sharper 4K streaming, an even more powerful host PC is required.

Steam Remote Play for Online Multiplayer

A major benefit of Steam Link is that it enables online multiplayer gaming with your friends through Steam Remote Play Together. This feature allows up to 4 players to join your local co-op or multiplayer games over the internet through Remote Play.

To get started with Remote Play Together:

1. Designate your Steam Link streaming device as the "host" by launching Steam and starting a game session. This can be your TV, mobile device or PC.

2. Have your friends join the game remotely via Steam Remote Play on their PCs. They can click the Remote Play Together button on your shared or hosted game session.

3. Steam will handle streaming the game session video, audio and input to your friends over the internet so it‘s just like playing together in-person!

Some fun examples of games to try with Remote Play Together include:

• Sports games like FIFA, NBA2K, Madden, NHL
• Fighting games like Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Brawlhalla
• Co-op shooters like Borderlands, Gears of War, Halo
• Party games like Jackbox Party Pack, Overcooked, Move or Die
• Local co-op indies like Cuphead, Broforce, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

With Remote Play Together, the couch co-op and splitscreen experience goes online so you can enjoy playing together wherever you are.

How Does Steam Link Compare to Cloud Gaming?

Steam Link provides an excellent in-home game streaming solution for your existing Steam library. But how does it compare to dedicated cloud gaming services like Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, and PlayStation Now?

The main difference is Steam Link streams from a local device on your own network, while cloud gaming services stream over the internet from remote data centers.

Some pros and cons compared to cloud gaming:

Steam Link Pros

• Access your existing Steam library – no need to re-purchase games
• Significantly lower and consistent latency when streaming on a local network
• No internet data usage or bandwidth limits
• Free (no subscription required)

Steam Link Cons

• Requires owning a capable gaming PC
• Limited to in-home use unless using Remote Play
• Performance dependent on host PC specs and home network

Cloud Gaming Pros

• Stream across any internet-connected device
• Large libraries of new and classic games
• No need for gaming hardware
• Often more affordable than owning a gaming PC

Cloud Gaming Cons

• Requires a paid subscription
• Performance varies based on unpredictable internet conditions
• Limited access to PC mods, customization, and features like discord
• Game selection still maturing on newer services

When it comes to latency – the critical factor for streaming responsiveness – Steam Link over a local wired network simply can‘t be beaten by cloud gaming reliant on internet transfer speeds.

However, for total hardware freedom and mobility, cloud gaming certainly has its place. Cloud services can nicely complement a local Steam Link setup rather than directly competing.

Conclusion

Thanks to Steam Link, your Steam gaming library can follow you from your PC to the living room TV or on the go with just an app. With the Steam Link app available on most major smart TVs, set-top boxes and mobile devices, your Steam games have never been more accessible.

Setting up Steam Link only takes a few minutes and opens up exciting new ways to enjoy PC gaming in more places. You can play your favorite titles on the big screen, tap into online multiplayer with Steam Remote Play, and even stream classics from your backlog at max settings your PC can handle.

While there are some performance considerations, a wired Ethernet connection and some app tweaking unlocks Steam Link‘s full potential. For existing PC gamers, it‘s a superb free addition to the Steam suite – and your TV.