Steam Link | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:41:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Steam Link | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Valve brings Steam Link to Quest headsets for wireless PC VR https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-brings-steam-link-to-quest-headsets-for-wireless-pc-vr/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-brings-steam-link-to-quest-headsets-for-wireless-pc-vr/#respond Thu, 30 Nov 2023 18:32:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=639398 Valve is bringing official Steam Link support to Meta's VR headsets. Starting today, Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro owners will be able to use Steam Link to wirelessly play their VR games on Steam through their headsets. You could previously use Oculus Link to wirelessly connect your Quest headset to your PC to …

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Valve is bringing official Steam Link support to Meta's VR headsets. Starting today, Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Pro owners will be able to use Steam Link to wirelessly play their VR games on Steam through their headsets.

You could previously use Oculus Link to wirelessly connect your Quest headset to your PC to play games owned on the Oculus/Meta store for apps and games. Now, you'll be able to do the same for all the games on your Steam library, but you will need a decent home network to get it running well without a direct wired connection.

There are some minimum requirements for using Steam Link with a Quest headset. Valve says you'll need a 5GHz wireless connection at minimum, as well as Windows 10 and a GTX 970 or newer graphics card. Those are just the minimum requirements though, Valve recommends WiFi 6 or WiFi 6E, 16GB of RAM and an RTX 2070 graphics card or newer for the best experience.

To get it all set up you'll need Steam and SteamVR installed and running on your PC. Then you'll need to connect your Quest headset to the same network as your PC and download the free Steam Link app for it. After that, the app will walk you through the rest of the steps.

KitGuru Says: Wireless VR has really taken over at this stage, with even enthusiasts swiftly growing sick of dangling cables and mounting sensors. With Steam Link, it will now be more accessible to access your PC VR games wirelessly with a headset like the Quest 3. Hopefully in the not too distant future, Valve will have a wireless VR headset of its own, something that the company has been rumoured to be working on in recent years.

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Valve may be working on a handheld Steam console https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-may-be-working-on-a-handheld-steam-console/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-may-be-working-on-a-handheld-steam-console/#respond Tue, 25 May 2021 11:22:38 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=516387 Over the last couple of years, Valve has been working on Steam Cloud Gaming, allowing users to connect their Steam libraries to services like GeForce Now. Valve's cloud ambitions may not end there though, as evidence is pointing to a new handheld streaming device currently known as ‘SteamPal'.  SteamDB creator, Pavel Djundik, brought attention to …

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Over the last couple of years, Valve has been working on Steam Cloud Gaming, allowing users to connect their Steam libraries to services like GeForce Now. Valve's cloud ambitions may not end there though, as evidence is pointing to a new handheld streaming device currently known as ‘SteamPal'. 

SteamDB creator, Pavel Djundik, brought attention to this today. After some datamining, code strings were found referring to “SteamPal”, “SteamPal Games” and “Neptune”, which is the codename for a controller Valve is also working on. There were also references to a “NeptuneGamesCollection” and a separate string for “Device Optimized Games”.

What this appears to be alluding to is a handheld streaming device with its own dedicated controller, which would be used for streaming Steam games. Not all games on Steam support gamepads/controllers, so that is where the ‘device optimised' list comes into play.

Valve dropped the Steam Controller and its Steam Link streaming device in favour of an app-focused approach for smartphones. It seems that Valve isn't done with ideas to deliver Steam games in a more streamlined, console-style format.

KitGuru Says: Valve works on new projects all the time, a lot of which don't reach the public announcement phase. Still, with cloud gaming finally beginning to gain some ground, this is a concept that has a lot of potential, especially as a replacement for the Steam Link concept. Would you like to see Valve bring out its own console-style streaming device for Steam games? 

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Valve releases Steam Link app for macOS https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/matthew-wilson/valve-releases-steam-link-app-for-macos/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/matthew-wilson/valve-releases-steam-link-app-for-macos/#respond Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:48:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=508734 Valve has announced plans to launch its dedicated Steam Link app for macOS this week. The app, which is available on other platforms already, allows users to stream their Steam games from a PC to any device with the app installed.  Steam Link is already available on a couple of Apple devices, including iOS and …

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Valve has announced plans to launch its dedicated Steam Link app for macOS this week. The app, which is available on other platforms already, allows users to stream their Steam games from a PC to any device with the app installed. 

Steam Link is already available on a couple of Apple devices, including iOS and the Apple TV. Today, Macs join that list, with the Steam Link app shipping through the official Mac App Store. The new app is much lighter than the full Steam client, coming in at just 30MB.

This follows just a few weeks after Valve released Steam Link for Linux devices too. At this point, Steam Link supports macOS, Linus, Android, iOS and Raspberry Pi devices. Of course, to stream to any of them, you will need a capable network and a gaming PC to actually run the games.

There are a few other system requirements to keep in mind. Steam Link works on Macs running macOS 10.13 or newer, both the Mac and a PC need to be connected to the same local network as well.

KitGuru Says: This would most likely be used on Mac laptops in a separate room of the house. It is a niche use-case scenario, but it is always good to see Valve supporting a wide range of users. 

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Valve discontinues the Steam Controller https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-discontinues-the-steam-controller/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-discontinues-the-steam-controller/#respond Wed, 27 Nov 2019 11:20:31 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=438396 Valve’s first foray into designing its own hardware brought the Steam Link and Steam Controller into the world. Both devices were designed with the goal of tackling PC gaming in the living room. Nowadays, Valve's primary hardware focus is virtual reality and the older devices are being left behind. The Steam Link was discontinued last …

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Valve’s first foray into designing its own hardware brought the Steam Link and Steam Controller into the world. Both devices were designed with the goal of tackling PC gaming in the living room. Nowadays, Valve's primary hardware focus is virtual reality and the older devices are being left behind. The Steam Link was discontinued last year and replaced with an app that serves the same function. Now, the Steam Controller is also being discontinued. 

The Steam Controller blended together some unique ideas. The touch pads offered greater sensitivity compared to thumbsticks and the haptic feedback was excellent, but aiming was still a tad awkward compared to using a regular analogue stick for camera movement. The controller will soon be out of stick entirely, putting Valve's previous experiment to rest.

Currently, Steam is having a 90% off sale on the Steam Controller, so there is still time to grab one before they are gone for good in some regions, unfortunately it is already out of stock here in the UK. A note on the page warns that there is “limited quantity remaining”, so once this batch is gone, you won't be able to get one through Steam anymore.

Of course, some of the benefits of the Steam Controller have also been translated into software on Steam. There is a controller customisation tool on Steam that works with almost any gamepad, users are also free to create game-specific profiles and upload them for others to try out.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I still have my Steam Controller, although it has been a very long time since I last used it. Did many of you ever pick one of these up? Are you thinking of picking up one before stock runs out for good? 

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Valve introduces Steam Remote Play for gaming away from your main PC https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-introduces-steam-remote-play-for-gaming-away-from-your-main-pc/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-introduces-steam-remote-play-for-gaming-away-from-your-main-pc/#respond Fri, 14 Jun 2019 15:15:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=415712 Back in March, the Steam Link Anywhere feature went into open beta, allowing users to stream their Steam games to a smartphone from outside of your home network. Now, that same functionality is also coming to Steam In-Home streaming, which is being renamed to Steam Remote Play. Steam Link hardware has been retired but the …

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Back in March, the Steam Link Anywhere feature went into open beta, allowing users to stream their Steam games to a smartphone from outside of your home network. Now, that same functionality is also coming to Steam In-Home streaming, which is being renamed to Steam Remote Play.

Steam Link hardware has been retired but the idea is still alive and well with Valve tackling it via software instead. Steam Remote Play will let you leave your gaming PC switched on at home and then run games on it remotely as long as the network you are on is up to the task. As was the case before, there are options to cap resolution and frame rate depending on how much bandwidth you have available to you.

So now, you can stream your Steam games to a laptop away from home, or stream them to your Android or iOS phone or tablet. The PC to PC remote play feature is still in the experimental phase but it should work fairly well.

This isn't the only update coming to Steam soon either. The new library UI overhaul is also on the way and should be available via the Steam Beta program within the next few weeks.

KitGuru Says: Steam in-home streaming has always worked quite well and now you will be able to do it untethered by your home network. This is particularly useful for me, as I use a MacBook Pro when working away from my main PC and as we all know, Apple's laptops don't necessarily handle high load situations very well when it comes to cooling. Do many of you use Steam's streaming features at all? Will you be testing this out?

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Valve’s Steam Link app is finally available for iOS https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valves-steam-link-app-is-finally-available-for-ios/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valves-steam-link-app-is-finally-available-for-ios/#respond Thu, 16 May 2019 08:20:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=412967 It has been almost one full year since Valve first announced that it would be bringing the Steam Link app to mobile devices. The Android launch went down swiftly without a hitch but for some reason, Apple took issue with Valve's app and withdrew its approval from the iOS App Store. We didn't know if …

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It has been almost one full year since Valve first announced that it would be bringing the Steam Link app to mobile devices. The Android launch went down swiftly without a hitch but for some reason, Apple took issue with Valve's app and withdrew its approval from the iOS App Store. We didn't know if Steam Link would ever gain approval for iOS, but that changed today.

The original Steam Link was a dedicated streaming box that you would plug into your TV and connect a controller to. The app works in the same way, granting users access to their Steam library to stream to an iPhone, iPad or Android device.

The Steam Link app has been available on Android for quite some time now but today, it finally became available on iOS. There is one notable difference though, the Android version gives you access to the Steam Store and supports buying new games, the iOS version does not.

This isn't too surprising and likely ties in to the ‘business conflicts' Apple first cited when withdrawing Valve's App Store approval.

KitGuru Says: There are other PC mirroring apps available on iOS, so the disapproval of Steam Link always baffled me. Better late than never though, I'll be giving the app a go at some point. Have many of you used the Steam Link app? Does it work well?

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Valve launches ‘Steam Link Anywhere’ in open beta https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-launches-steam-link-anywhere-in-open-beta/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/valve-launches-steam-link-anywhere-in-open-beta/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2019 09:23:51 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=407015 Last year, Valve retired its Steam Link hardware and shifted focus to a software app, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of Steam in-home streaming on Android and even some smart TVs. Now, just ahead of GDC next week, Valve has announced ‘Steam Link Anywhere', which will allow you to stream your PC games, well, …

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Last year, Valve retired its Steam Link hardware and shifted focus to a software app, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of Steam in-home streaming on Android and even some smart TVs. Now, just ahead of GDC next week, Valve has announced ‘Steam Link Anywhere', which will allow you to stream your PC games, well, anywhere.

The current Steam Link app paves the way for in-home streaming from PC to other devices. Steam Link Anywhere will open things up further, allowing you to stream your Steam library to devices outside of your home network. The app is currently in ‘early beta', with availability on Android and the Raspberry Pi- those who did buy Steam Link hardware will also get access to this functionality.

In order to access the beta, you'll need to opt-in to the Steam client beta on desktop and have the latest version installed. After that, you'll see an ‘Other Computer' option when searching for devices with Steam Link. Select that option, follow the instructions and you should be good to go.

As you would expect, you will need a strong upload connection from your home PC and a strong download connection for the network you are streaming to. Mileage will vary depending on network conditions.

Unfortunately, there is still no word on Steam Link availability on iOS, so those who were waiting to enjoy this on an iPad or iPhone are out of luck for now.

KitGuru Says: Valve will have a few Steam related announcements next week during GDC. It will be an important year this time around as Valve tries to keep developers from handing exclusivity over to the Epic Games Store.

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Valve is discontinuing the Steam Link box https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-news/matthew-wilson/valve-is-discontinuing-the-steam-link-box/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-news/matthew-wilson/valve-is-discontinuing-the-steam-link-box/#respond Tue, 20 Nov 2018 11:37:22 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=395640 Valve's first foray into designing its own hardware brought the Steam Link and Steam Controller into the world. Both devices were designed with the goal of tackling PC gaming in the living room. Nowadays, Steam Link is available as an app for in-home streaming, so Valve is discontinuing the physical box. Valve has officially sold …

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Valve's first foray into designing its own hardware brought the Steam Link and Steam Controller into the world. Both devices were designed with the goal of tackling PC gaming in the living room. Nowadays, Steam Link is available as an app for in-home streaming, so Valve is discontinuing the physical box.

Valve has officially sold out of Steam Link boxes in Europe and is close to being sold out in the US. Once those last remaining units are gone, Valve is not planning to restock for the foreseeable future. Instead, focus will be shifting to the Steam Link app, which is currently available on Android and some Smart TVs.

The Steam Link app has yet to arrive on iOS. Initially, the iOS version was approved for release on the App Store but Apple withdrew due to ties to the Steam Store. We haven't heard anything new about the iOS version of the app since then.

KitGuru Says: I had always meant to pick up a Steam Link to try out but I never got around to it. Did any of you buy a Steam Link? Do you use it regularly? 

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Valve removes the ability to purchase games in Steam Link iOS beta https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/ryan-burgess/valve-removes-the-ability-to-purchase-games-in-steam-link-ios-beta/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/ryan-burgess/valve-removes-the-ability-to-purchase-games-in-steam-link-ios-beta/#respond Fri, 15 Jun 2018 11:23:26 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376952 We've been following the rollercoaster ride that has been Steam Link for iOS for a few weeks now. At first, everything seemed to be going to plan on Valve's end, until Apple suddenly pulled its approval for the app. Since then, Valve has been reworking the app to try and get it approved once again, …

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We've been following the rollercoaster ride that has been Steam Link for iOS for a few weeks now. At first, everything seemed to be going to plan on Valve's end, until Apple suddenly pulled its approval for the app. Since then, Valve has been reworking the app to try and get it approved once again, with the first major change being the inability to purchase games through the app.

There has been a TestFlight programme that allows users to test out beta versions of upcoming apps. The folks at Toucharcade were fortunate enough to be part of this, in the updated version of Steam Link for iOS, Steam store pages now display the following message: “Available for purchase from your PC”. This appears to be in direct response to a recent iOS guideline addition that Apple made, allowing streaming/mirroring apps onto the App Store, as long as all purchases are processed outside of the iOS ecosystem.

 

If you already have existing credit on your Steam account, then you will still be able to make purchases on the Steam marketplace. However, you won't be able to add funds to your Steam Wallet within the iOS version of Steam Link, nor will you be able to purchase full games from the store.

Apple has yet to approve the app after these changes, but it seems like a solid step in the direction Apple wants. Rather than throwing in the towel, Valve is putting in the work to try and resolve this situation to ensure as many users as possible can have access to game streaming.

KitGuru Says: It's understandable that Apple would impose these restrictions but its still an anti-consumer stance that impacts nobody but the average user. Hopefully, this change will be enough to bring the Steam Link app to the App Store. How do you think Apple has handled this situation?

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Apple’s Phil Schiller responds to questions about blocking Valve’s Steam Link app launch https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/matthew-wilson/apple-revoked-valves-steam-link-app-approval-over-business-conflicts/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/apple/matthew-wilson/apple-revoked-valves-steam-link-app-approval-over-business-conflicts/#respond Mon, 28 May 2018 16:30:30 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=374335 Update (28/05/18): Last week we learned that the Steam Link streaming app would remain exclusive to Android for the foreseeable future, as Apple revoked Valve's App Store approval. At the time, Apple cited ‘business conflicts' after a secondary review of the app. This was disappointing news to many PC gamers who happen to own an …

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Update (28/05/18): Last week we learned that the Steam Link streaming app would remain exclusive to Android for the foreseeable future, as Apple revoked Valve's App Store approval. At the time, Apple cited ‘business conflicts' after a secondary review of the app. This was disappointing news to many PC gamers who happen to own an iOS device or an Apple TV. Now, Phil Schiller, Apple's VP of marketing, has responded to customers emailing in questioning the decision.

The email reply was posted to Reddit and says the following: “We care deeply about bringing great games to all of our users on the App Store. We would love for Valve’s games and services to be on iOS and AppleTV”. The email then goes on to reiterate that the review team found that the app “violates a number of guidelines”.

Specifically, the email explains that the app reportedly violates guidelines around ‘user-generated content'. This part in particular makes it sound like Apple is nervous about allowing users to play content on its devices that it has not directly approved of. One particular game launch occurred recently that could have raised alarm bells for Apple in terms of content on Steam.

Original Story (25/05/28): It looks like Android will have the exclusive on Valve's new Steam Link app for a while, as Apple is spoiling PC Gamers' fun and blocking the launch on iOS. Today it was revealed that Apple has rejected the Steam Link app from the App Store, and a follow-up appeal from Valve was denied.

The Steam Link app allows PC gamers to stream their Steam library to any device. Valve planned to roll the app out on Android, in addition to iOS and the Apple TV. The frustrating part is, Apple did approve the Steam Link app on the 7th of May, at which time, Valve publicly announced the release.

Unfortunately, Apple later revoked the approval, claiming that there were “business conflicts” that had gone unnoticed by the initial review team. At this time, it is unclear what these conflicts are.

That's all the information we have for now, but it looks like iOS users will be left out for the time being.

KitGuru Says: This is an unfortunate turn of events for many iOS users like myself. I was looking forward to testing out Steam in-home streaming once again on my iPad, but unless Apple changes its mind, we won't be getting that opportunity. 

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The Steam Link app has launched for Android https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/matthew-wilson/the-steam-link-app-has-launched-for-android/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/apps-software/matthew-wilson/the-steam-link-app-has-launched-for-android/#respond Fri, 18 May 2018 14:47:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=373734 Last week, Valve announced the next step for the Steam Link, opting to release it as an app for iOS and Android. The app will allow you to stream your Steam library to more devices than ever before, ranging from smartphones and tablets, to Android TV boxes or the Apple TV. The final version of …

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Last week, Valve announced the next step for the Steam Link, opting to release it as an app for iOS and Android. The app will allow you to stream your Steam library to more devices than ever before, ranging from smartphones and tablets, to Android TV boxes or the Apple TV. The final version of the app doesn't have a final release date yet, but if you're on Android, then you can download the beta now.

The original Steam Link was a dedicated streaming box that you would plug into your TV and connect a controller to. Eventually, Valve released a Steam Link app for select Smart TVs and now, that same functionality is heading to iOS and Android.

Valve still recommends a 5GHz wireless connection, or an ethernet connection for optimal performance. The app will support the Steam controller, in addition to other gamepads.

The Steam Link Android beta is live on the Google Play Store starting from today. Currently, the app is limited to streaming over WiFi or Ethernet, so if you happen to have an insane LTE data plan, you won't be able to use it for game streaming just yet.

The app will support up to 4K/60fps streaming, but Valve expects 1080p/60 to be the best performing option and the standard quality you should expect from most games.

KitGuru Says: I currently use an iPhone and an Apple TV, so I won't be able to try out the Steam Link app just yet. However, I know most of our readers are on Android, so give the app a try and let us know how you get on!

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Soon you’ll be able to stream Steam games to iOS and Android https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-news/matthew-wilson/soon-youll-be-able-to-stream-steam-games-to-ios-and-android/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-news/matthew-wilson/soon-youll-be-able-to-stream-steam-games-to-ios-and-android/#respond Thu, 10 May 2018 09:17:10 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=372952 It has been a few years since Valve first unveiled the Steam Link, and over time, we've been wondering what the next step is for Steam in-home streaming. Now Valve has lifted the curtain on its plans, announcing the Steam Link app for iOS and Android, which will let you stream PC games to a …

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It has been a few years since Valve first unveiled the Steam Link, and over time, we've been wondering what the next step is for Steam in-home streaming. Now Valve has lifted the curtain on its plans, announcing the Steam Link app for iOS and Android, which will let you stream PC games to a number of devices.

The original Steam Link was a dedicated streaming box that you would plug into your TV and connect a controller to. The app will work in the same way, allowing you to access your Steam library from an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Android device.

Valve still recommends a 5GHz wireless connection, or an ethernet connection for optimal performance. The app will support the Steam controller, in addition to other gamepads.

Aside from game streaming, Valve is also planning to roll out a Steam Video app, which is another push towards making Steam an all-encompassing entertainment platform, with access to movies and TV shows.

The Steam Link app will be releasing at some point before the end of the month. More specifically, Valve hopes to roll it out during the week starting on the 21st.

KitGuru Says: I've always liked the idea of the Steam Link, and Valve's in-home streaming solution has always worked fairly well for me. It will be interesting to see how well it works on mobile though. Will any of you be getting the Steam Link app when it launches? 

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Valve’s Steam Link app for Samsung Smart TVs has left beta https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/valves-steam-link-app-for-samsung-smart-tvs-has-left-beta/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/valves-steam-link-app-for-samsung-smart-tvs-has-left-beta/#comments Fri, 11 Aug 2017 14:30:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=340299 Update: Today, Valve announced that it's Steam Link app for Samsung Smart TVs is no longer in beta. This means anyone with a 2016 or 2017 Samsung Smart TV should be able to download the app and start streaming PC games directly to their TV. Supported controllers include: Steam Controller. Xbox 360 wired and wireless. …

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Update: Today, Valve announced that it's Steam Link app for Samsung Smart TVs is no longer in beta. This means anyone with a 2016 or 2017 Samsung Smart TV should be able to download the app and start streaming PC games directly to their TV.

Supported controllers include:

  • Steam Controller.
  • Xbox 360 wired and wireless.
  • Xbox One wired.
  • Logitech F510/F710.

You should be able to find the app within the Samsung Hub, though regional availability may differ.

Original Story: While Sony may have dropped PlayStation Now support for Samsung's smart TVs earlier this year, it looks like the folks at Valve are willing to step in to fill the void. This week, a Steam Link app began rolling out for Samsung 4K Smart TVs, allowing them to stream Steam games directly without the need to buy the Steam Link.

The app is in beta and currently only available in select markets. At the moment, it is compatible with the Steam Controller but more support is coming. As for quality, the app is currently capable of 1080p and 60 frames per second, though 4K streaming support is coming later down the line.

The app isn't available just yet here in the UK but if you do happen to live in an area with access (like the US), then you should be able to find the Steam Link app via Samsung's TV app store. Those looking to stream PC games will need a strong network, while Ethernet is always encouraged in these cases, a 5GHz WiFi connection could also do the trick.

Valve announced its plans to join up with Samsung at the Steam Dev Days conference last year. Now this year, the app has quietly begun rolling out in beta form, with a proper global release expected before the end of the Summer.

KitGuru Says: I have a Samsung TV in a separate room of the house to my PC, so the Steam Link is something I have been considering. Fortunately with this app coming out, it looks like I'll be able to save the money. Have any of you tried the Steam Link before? Does it work well?

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Valve giving away its complete pack to Steam hardware buyers on Mac https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/valve-giving-away-its-complete-pack-to-steam-hardware-buyers-on-mac/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/valve-giving-away-its-complete-pack-to-steam-hardware-buyers-on-mac/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2015 17:00:13 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=272139 If you happen to be one of the Mac owners that likes to use Steam, and you picked up the recently released Steam controller or Steam Link streaming box, then you may have realized that neither of those things actually work properly with OS X right now. As a result, Valve is offering its ‘Complete …

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If you happen to be one of the Mac owners that likes to use Steam, and you picked up the recently released Steam controller or Steam Link streaming box, then you may have realized that neither of those things actually work properly with OS X right now. As a result, Valve is offering its ‘Complete Pack' to all users affected as an apology, while also promising to resolve the issues soon.

In an apology email sent out to OS X gamers, Valve said: “We greatly appreciate your early pre-purchase of the first Steam hardware units. Unfortunately, there are some temporary software issues that prevent the hardware from functioning with Macs”. The email then goes on to say that the issues should be fixed within the next few weeks.

Steam-Link

The Steam Link doesn't actually stream from Macs right now, while the Steam controller doesn't support gamepad emulation at the moment. As an apology, Valve will be gifting its complete pack to the accounts of those affected. It will appear as a Steam gift from Valve, judging by the wording from the email, which you can read in full, HERE. 

The Valve complete pack has gone through a few iterations over the years but right now it includes the Team Fortress games, the Counter-Strike games, all of the Half-Life titles, Ricochet, Deathmatch Classic, the Left4Dead games and finally, the two Portal titles. The usual price of the bundle is £75, though it tends to get a significant discount during sale periods.

KitGuru Says: While most aren't likely to be gaming on a Mac, Valve probably should have warned OS X users against buying its hardware until the software was properly up to scratch. That said, this seems like a decent enough apology, unless you happen to already own all of the Valve games. 

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The Steam Controller and Steam Link come with two free games https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/the-steam-controller-and-steam-link-come-with-two-free-games/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/the-steam-controller-and-steam-link-come-with-two-free-games/#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:22:56 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=265191 Earlier this year, Valve opened the flood gates for pre-orders of the Steam Controller and the Steam Link streaming box. Things were already off to a good start, with early bird stock selling out pretty fast but now Valve is looking to sweeten the deal with two free games for those who pre-order. The first …

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Earlier this year, Valve opened the flood gates for pre-orders of the Steam Controller and the Steam Link streaming box. Things were already off to a good start, with early bird stock selling out pretty fast but now Valve is looking to sweeten the deal with two free games for those who pre-order.

The first game you'll get is Portal 2, which seems like an easy choice for Valve to make. The second game is not one of Valve's own but one that has exploded in popularity in recent weeks, that game is Rocket League, which has consistently been on the top sellers list on Steam since its launch.

Steam-Link

Rocket League is definitely a game worth giving a go  if you're in to competitive/sport style games, both Jon and I have been playing it quite a bit this month, as have many, many streamers.

Obviously, given that this is Valve's first venture in to the hardware realm, pre-ordering may not be the best idea until we've seen some reviews of the Steam Link or Controller. However, if you have the money and are willing to risk it out of curiosity, then we certainly can't fault you for that. The Steam Controller and Steam Link come in at £39.99 each, you can buy both directly through Steam already. Units will begin shipping out on the 10th of November, just in time for Fallout 4.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: If you don't already own Portal 2 or Rocket League, then this sweetens the deal a little bit if you were looking at getting the Steam Controller or Steam Link. I'll probably end up getting both out of curiosity. I've previously tested Nvidia's streaming with the Shield Tablet, so I'm pretty interested to see how Valve's implementation performs. 

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Early stock of Steam Link and Controller now sold out https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/early-stock-of-steam-link-and-controller-now-sold-out/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/early-stock-of-steam-link-and-controller-now-sold-out/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2015 09:05:24 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=256709 A few weeks back, Valve announced the final version of the Steam Link and the long-awaited Steam Controller, along with pre-orders for both. At the time, those hoping to be early adopters could pre-order and get the hardware a few weeks early in October. However, early stock has now sold out so from this point …

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A few weeks back, Valve announced the final version of the Steam Link and the long-awaited Steam Controller, along with pre-orders for both. At the time, those hoping to be early adopters could pre-order and get the hardware a few weeks early in October. However, early stock has now sold out so from this point on, all pre-orders will be for the 10th of November release date.

Valve initially announced the Steam Controller back at the end of 2013 and since then, it has been through several key iterations. If you look at the final version compared to Valve's original vision, you can see that a lot has changed, with features like the touch screen being removed and an analogue stick being added.

Valve Steam Controller

Right now in the UK, both the Steam Link streaming box and the Steam Controller cost £40. You can pre-order directly through Steam and then pick up at a GAME store on the day of release. Alternatively, you could order one of GAME's own bundles.

The main downside to pre-ordering is that nobody has really had any proper hands on with either the Steam Link or the Controller, aside from a few members of the press at trade shows.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I'm looking forward to trying out the Steam Link and Controller myself, although I haven't pre-ordered either just yet. Are any of you planning to try out the Steam Link or Controller?  If streaming performance is good enough then I could see myself using the Link a fair bit on my TV. 

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Valve shows off Steam controller with new video https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/valve-shows-off-steam-controller-with-new-video/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/matthew-wilson/valve-shows-off-steam-controller-with-new-video/#respond Fri, 05 Jun 2015 18:59:26 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=253000 The Steam controller, various Steam Machines and Valve's own Steam Link streaming box are all now available for pre-order with release dates set for between October and November. While we have seen the Steam controller evolve through many iterations since its reveal in 2013, only those attending specific trade shows have actually got to see …

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The Steam controller, various Steam Machines and Valve's own Steam Link streaming box are all now available for pre-order with release dates set for between October and November. While we have seen the Steam controller evolve through many iterations since its reveal in 2013, only those attending specific trade shows have actually got to see the gamepad upfront.

To give people an idea of how the controller works with PC games, Valve has released a new video, going over the final version of it and all of its features:

Steam-Link

[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fs2Yh1PFwM']

Controls will be customizable in order to tailor to each specific game you have installed. You will also be able to download profiles from the Steam Community.

The controller has gone through some significant changes since we first saw it around 18 months ago, the two track pads are still there but the touch screen is gone. Additionally, instead of a D-pad on the bottom, there is now an analog stick, , with the AXYB buttons on the adjacent side.

The controller features triggers on the back and haptic feedback reactors for the pads.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: The Steam controller looks very different to the standard pads we are used to seeing these days. I'm looking forward to trying one out for myself later on in the year. Are any of you going to try the Steam controller out? Do you think its a little too out of the box?

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The Steam Link and controller now have a release date https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/console-desktop-pc/matthew-wilson/the-steam-link-and-controller-now-have-a-release-date/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/console-desktop-pc/matthew-wilson/the-steam-link-and-controller-now-have-a-release-date/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2015 18:01:16 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=252747 Valve's Steam Machine dream may have died down a bit but that doesn't mean that it has given up on the idea of bringing PC gaming to the living room entirely. We've been following the Steam controller throughout its development for some time now and a while back, Valve also announced the Steam Link, its …

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Valve's Steam Machine dream may have died down a bit but that doesn't mean that it has given up on the idea of bringing PC gaming to the living room entirely. We've been following the Steam controller throughout its development for some time now and a while back, Valve also announced the Steam Link, its own tiny streaming box capable of streaming your Steam library to another room in the house.

Now, pre-orders are live for Valve's first foray in to the hardware game with the Steam controller and Steam Link. GAME UK has its first batch up, although for some reason, they only appear to be selling bundles, rather than giving customers the option to just buy a controller or just buy a Link.

Steam Link

GAME has the UK exclusive on the Link and controller as well so this is more or less what you are stuck with. The cheapest bundle sits at £60, getting you a £20 Steam wallet code and a controller. For £90 you get the controller and a £50 Steam code and for £140 you get a £100 Steam code and the controller.

If you do want the Steam Link streaming box, then you will need to spend at least £99.99, which nets you the Steam Link, the controller and a £20 Steam code. The next bundle includes the Link, controller and a £50 Steam code and the final bundle, coming in at £179.99 will get you a £100 Steam wallet code, the Link and the controller.

We do not yet know if GAME will begin selling the Steam Link or controller separately, nor doe we know if the devices will become available at more retail stores. You can view all of the bundles, HERE. Those who buy-in early will get their orders on the 16th of October while general release doesn't land until the 10th of November.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: I do find it a bit disappointing that you can't buy the Steam Link or controller separately without being roped in to wallet codes, I think that may put a few people off. That said, I'm still interested in testing the Steam Link for myself and finally getting my hands on that crazy controller Valve have designed. 

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