Stream Games From Another Computer or the Cloud - 5 Methods
The Evolution of Game Streaming
The landscape of game-streaming has significantly shifted since last year’s assessment of cloud gaming platforms. A notable trend involves solutions that facilitate streaming games from a personal computer within your home network to a separate device, potentially in a different location.
Current Game Streaming Options
This overview details the diverse range of game-streaming services currently available. These span from localized, in-home streaming capabilities to sophisticated cloud-gaming services that deliver games directly from remote data centers via the internet.
The options available cater to different needs and technical setups. Users can choose a solution based on their preference for local control or the convenience of accessing games from anywhere.
Local vs. Cloud Streaming
A key distinction exists between streaming games locally and utilizing cloud-based services. Local streaming leverages your existing hardware, while cloud gaming relies on the infrastructure of a third-party provider.
- Local Streaming: Offers lower latency and greater control over game settings.
- Cloud Gaming: Provides accessibility across multiple devices without requiring powerful local hardware.
Both approaches offer unique benefits, and the optimal choice depends on individual priorities and available resources.
The proliferation of these services demonstrates a growing demand for flexible and accessible gaming experiences. This trend is expected to continue as technology advances and internet infrastructure improves.
Steam In-Home Streaming
Related: How to Use Steam In-Home Streaming
A readily available solution for many users, this method is integrated directly within Steam. It facilitates the streaming of not only games purchased through Steam, but also other PC games – although official support isn't provided, functionality is generally achievable.
Steam’s in-home streaming capability was initially conceived for Steam Machines operating on Steam OS. Its purpose is to enable game streaming from a Windows-based gaming PC to a Steam Machine utilizing the Linux-derived Steam OS in a living room environment.
Alternatively, the feature extends beyond Steam OS. Steam in-home streaming can be activated on any Windows PC and used to stream games to devices running Windows, macOS, or Linux. Future updates will also allow hosting streaming games on macOS and Linux systems.
A practical application involves running demanding games on a powerful gaming PC and then playing them on a less capable laptop. It’s important to note that this feature is designed for use on a local network, as internet-based gaming would likely introduce unacceptable levels of lag.
To begin, access Steam’s Preferences menu and navigate to the in-home streaming settings.
NVIDIA GameStream
NVIDIA GameStream provides a method for streaming PC games, and is associated with guides on How to Play PC Games on Your TV.
This feature, available through the GeForce Experience application, is designed for users with contemporary NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards. Setup is straightforward; simply launch GeForce Experience, select GameStream, and configure the settings.
Compatibility Limitations
A significant restriction of NVIDIA GameStream is its limited device compatibility. Streaming is officially supported only to NVIDIA Shield Portable and NVIDIA Shield Tablet devices.
Streaming to other computers, even those equipped with NVIDIA graphics, or to alternative mobile devices is not natively possible. While third-party applications like LimeLight may offer workarounds for Android devices, these are not officially endorsed by NVIDIA.
Functionality and Network Requirements
Similar to Steam’s in-home streaming, GameStream is intended for streaming games from a personal gaming PC. This PC must feature a modern NVIDIA graphics card and be located on the same network.
Remote streaming over the Internet is also possible, though performance can vary considerably. The quality of the experience is heavily dependent on the Internet connection speeds at both the sending and receiving ends.
NVIDIA GRIDRelated: What Is Cloud Gaming, and Is It Really the Future?
While NVIDIA GameStream centers on broadcasting games directly from your personal computer, NVIDIA GRID utilizes a different method – leveraging remote servers. Presently, NVIDIA GRID is available as a beta program, with server infrastructure located solely in California.
Access to the service is currently restricted to users within the western United States who maintain a ping time of 40ms or less to NVIDIA’s servers situated in San Jose, California.
Furthermore, streaming capabilities are limited to NVIDIA’s Shield mobile devices; PCs and other mobile platforms are not supported. The service also does not extend to games that users have already purchased.
Currently, only games specifically optimized for NVIDIA GRID and hosted on NVIDIA’s servers can be streamed to compatible mobile devices. This represents the full extent of the service’s functionality.
Although its present utility is limited, NVIDIA may choose to expand its reach and enhance its features in the future. It appears to function as a testing ground for NVIDIA’s hardware and infrastructure.
This suggests it’s an exploratory venture rather than a consumer service poised for immediate widespread release.
OnLive: A Transformation in Cloud Gaming
The name OnLive may ring a bell, as they were pioneers in bringing the concept of cloud gaming to widespread attention. Despite significant media coverage, however, the service struggled to attract a substantial user base.
Recently, OnLive has undergone a significant shift in its business model. Rather than maintaining a proprietary game library requiring separate purchases, they now offer "OnLive CloudLift." This subscription service, priced at $8 monthly, enables users to stream games already owned on Steam to various devices through OnLive’s infrastructure.
This represents a notable improvement, allowing gamers to leverage their existing Steam collections instead of building a new library specifically for the OnLive platform. It facilitates a transition between PC gaming and streaming gameplay over the internet.
While more attractive, compatibility isn't universal. Essentially, a monthly fee of $8 grants access to stream a selection of games already acquired through Steam, utilizing OnLive’s servers.
The integration with Steam is a more sensible strategy, but many Steam users already possess capable gaming PCs. They can utilize Steam’s in-home streaming feature to play games in different areas of their homes.
A truly compelling offering would emerge if Steam were to acquire OnLive and provide a complimentary cloud-streaming service compatible with existing Steam purchases.
PlayStation NowWhile our focus has previously been on personal computers, Sony now provides game-streaming capabilities within the console gaming market. A substantial investment, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, was made by Sony in the acquisition of Gaikai, a firm specializing in cloud-based game-streaming technology.
This acquired technology was initially utilized for browser-based game demonstrations. Now, it powers PlayStation Now, a service enabling the streaming of select PlayStation 3 games to a variety of devices including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Vita, and compatible TV sets.
A Novel Streaming Approach
This represents a unique strategy, notably providing a pathway to experience PlayStation 3 titles on the more recent PlayStation 4 console.
Furthermore, the service extends gameplay to devices not traditionally considered gaming platforms. For instance, PlayStation Now facilitates direct game streaming to certain Sony BRAVIA television models.
Competition and Alternatives
Reports suggest that Microsoft is also developing a game-streaming solution for the Xbox, though no official details or confirmed leaks have surfaced as of yet.
Speculation indicates that Microsoft’s potential service could even permit streaming Xbox games directly to a web browser on a PC, should these rumors prove accurate.
Traditional remote-desktop software remains an option for some users. Applications like Splashtop are employed by individuals to stream games from their PCs to mobile devices, however, performance may not match dedicated game-streaming platforms.
- PlayStation Now streams PS3 games.
- Microsoft is rumored to be developing an Xbox streaming service.
- Remote desktop software offers an alternative, but with potential performance limitations.
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