Steam app makes PC games playable on mobile devices

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 05/10/2018 08:45 AM | source: | 22 comment(s)

Valve, who we know from the game platform Steam is to release an app that enables you to stream PC games to your smartphones (or tablet). The new APP will be available in a week or two.

The app will appear in the week of May 21 and allow people to play games in their Steam library on their Android or iOS devices reports Valve. Basically, you'll stream the content towards your mobile device. This includes not just phones, but also tablets and set-top boxes such as Apple TV. To stream the games to the devices, a wireless 5GHz network or an internet cable to the Mac or PC is required. You can not play on the road. The Android version of the app first will appear as a beta, Valve mentions. The Steam Link app includes support for the Steam Controller and Apple-approved controllers.

It is not clear how the app will work with say touch control. Steam Link has been offered by Valve for some time now and works with Steam set-top boxes and Samsung smart TVs. Steam Link was not yet available on mobile devices.

-- Steam --

May 9, 2018 - Two free new apps - the Steam Link app and the Steam Video app - are preparing for launch in the coming weeks, both designed to extend Steam's suite of services and accessibility.

The Steam Link app, slated to launch the week of May 21st, allows gamers to experience their Steam library of games on their Android (phone, tablet, TV) and iOS-based (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV) devices while connected via 5Ghz network or wired Ethernet to a host system (Mac or PC), with Android access initially offered in beta. The Steam Link App will feature support for the Steam Controller, MFI controllers, and more across both platforms.

Later this summer, the Steam Video app is targeted for release, allowing users to enjoy the thousands of movies and shows available on Steam directly via their Android and iOS devices over Wi-Fi or LTE. In direct response to customer feedback, it will offer the ability to enjoy content in offline and streaming modes.

Steam is a leading platform for digital entertainment, offering thousands of games, movies, and films to millions of people around the world.

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Fox2232
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#5545386 Posted on: 05/10/2018 08:50 AM

OK... good. Would love to have game streaming working without being on same network. But VPN works on android too.

Not like you can play some fps, but a lot of good "point and click" games exist.

fantaskarsef
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#5545400 Posted on: 05/10/2018 10:07 AM

Where's my keyboard and mouse then?

Seriously, might be a good idea, at least they're testing out the technical possibilities. I already though steam in home streaming from PC to PC already was a good thing to give people. I wonder, does this app use Vulkan when run on mobile devices?

fOrTy_7
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#5545401 Posted on: 05/10/2018 10:13 AM

This is so needed. :rolleyes:

Meanwhile their PC client looks and acts like an app designed in early 2000s.
Steam Client does't even support DPI scaling. Oh wait, they added it as beta like two months ago and only for Windows 10 Update 4 of 5. Overlay DPI scaling was added late last year. It only took them like few years.

Meanwhile Origin and Uplay were completely redesigned to meet modern customer needs.
Steam Client is such a messy bloatware these days, and they focus on things like:
- updating the way that comments are handled in game reviews;
- scoring of game reviews;
- facelifting of Wishlist webpage.
- and now streaming from PC to Android tablets, who needs that?

Size_Mick
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#5545421 Posted on: 05/10/2018 11:54 AM

How many of you guys game on your phone regularly? Just curious.

Yogi
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#5545427 Posted on: 05/10/2018 12:21 PM

Meanwhile Origin and Uplay were completely redesigned to meet modern customer needs.

While I agree that steam is bloated and could do with some paring down, I still prefer it to Origin which I find overly "streamlined", to the point where it just looks like a smartphone app and is about as annoying to use.
Granted, some of that may be due to how little I use Origin.

coth
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#5545436 Posted on: 05/10/2018 12:52 PM

Nvidia GameStream + Moonlight do it well as well.

coth
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#5545438 Posted on: 05/10/2018 12:54 PM

Steam Client does't even support DPI scaling.

It's been in beta since over half a year and went to release few months ago. It uses Windows 10 1607 API. So time to upgrade your system. Upgrade is totally free.

Origin does not fully support DPI scaling. There are many elements remains non-scailed, like menus, popup dialogs.

fOrTy_7
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#5545441 Posted on: 05/10/2018 01:03 PM

It's been in beta since over half a year and went to release few months ago.

As I said it was only added for Windows 10 the newest update. It doesn't work on Windows 7, Windows 8 / 8.1 and early versions of Windows 10. Other apps including competitive game DRM clients (Origin and Uplay) do work on variety of Windows operating systems.

I
Origin does not fully support DPI scaling. There are many elements remains non-scailed, like menus, popup dialogs.

All elements are scalled. They just adjusted the the size of those elements because they were too big in early version of Origin with High DPI scalling.

It uses Windows 10 1607 API. So time to upgrade your system. Upgrade is totally free.

The fact that something is free doesn't make it good or better. Anyway Windows 10 in not free last time I checked. Besides that there is nothing in that system that would make me prefer it over Windows 8.1.

Humanoid_1
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#5545445 Posted on: 05/10/2018 01:18 PM

I think more and more people are wanting to stream games from their main gaming rig to their HTPC as such machines are attached 4k TVs and Projectors.
Even for 1080p gaming I'd rather stream than have my MSI gaming laptop's fan ramping up and being noisy.

I currently have tried using the hardware Steamlink device, but this cannot pass through a good steering wheel/pedal setup as it does not have the CPU power (75% CPU is used to stream 1080p, last 25% is for everything else and not dropping USB packets is top priority or else = bluescreen PC crash) to deal with such fine input controller info. It is a well known fault that can cause fps to drop commonly to 15fps and even as low as 2 - 5 fps.
I've not used it since I found such incredibly poor limitations.

Rainway has entered open Beta now and can stream to any device + is Free. I'll be giving that a try when I have some spare time

CalculuS
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#5545453 Posted on: 05/10/2018 02:08 PM

So how do the controls work? Just gotta plug in a controller?

Maybe im just dumb.

Agonist
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#5545461 Posted on: 05/10/2018 02:38 PM

Bout time.

Something like moonlight streaming without being locked to nvidia GPUs.

vbetts
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#5545463 Posted on: 05/10/2018 02:40 PM

So how do the controls work? Just gotta plug in a controller?

Maybe im just dumb.

Yup, uses any input(aside from touch screen controls) you have. Which for something like an Nvidia Shield handheld, this is perfect. Or, an Amazon fire stick or TV with an ethernet adapter...

-Tj-
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#5545465 Posted on: 05/10/2018 02:54 PM

Interesting concept!

So its kind of like nvidia shield where you can stream pc games and play on shiled?

Stormyandcold
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#5545470 Posted on: 05/10/2018 03:06 PM

How many of you guys game on your phone regularly? Just curious.

Not for a long time now. Mrs got iPhone 6s a while back, tried a few games very briefly just to see performance and never tried it again.

Yxskaft
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#5545496 Posted on: 05/10/2018 04:15 PM

Don't see the appeal in this.
When I read the headline, I hoped Valve finally was going to attempt making older PC games run on Android.

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