Upcoming Steam Link App Will Let You Play Steam Games on Your iPhone, iPad and Apple TV

[Menel]

I wonder if TV would have the horses for that? Conceptually, it would probably have (want) to be backwards compatible with the "4" too, instead of being a 4K exclusive.

https://support.apple.com/kb/sp724?locale=en_US

• H.264 video up to 1080p, 60 fps, High or Main Profile level 4.2 or lower

Looks compatible to me.

 

[69Mustang]

I don't think there's a difference in latency, or it's tiny. And the bandwidth of 2.4GHz wireless-N should be more than enough.

That's incorrect. Latency is still a problem even with some hardwired connectivity... especially if multiplayer is involved. Some games won't even allow you to connect if your latency is too high. Other games allow players to boot you if your latency is going to affect others negatively.

Also if your network is crowded, the worse the situation becomes. I don't understand what type of gamer this would actually appeal to really. If you have the PC/Mac, why introduce more chaos with another node?

 

[user1234]

Hate to be "that guy", but Wi-Fi wasn't a thing for consumers in 1990. Heck the Internet was barely a thing. There were big ol' routers the size of a pizza box which you'd have to smother with a pillow to keep quiet and would download at a blazing 14.4KB/s.

Not being pedantic, just thinking it's crazy how quickly things have evolved. Your children wouldn't be able to imagine that there was a time without the Internet, or wireless networking. Many can scarcely believe it now.

I hate to be "that guy", but kb/s.

(Sorry, I just had to. Don't ask me why because I don't know)

 

[fairuz]

That's incorrect. Latency is still a problem even with some hardwired connectivity... especially if multiplayer is involved. Some games won't even allow you to connect if your latency is too high. Other games allow players to boot you if your latency is going to affect others negatively.

Also if your network is crowded, the worse the situation becomes. I don't understand what type of gamer this would actually appeal to really. If you have the PC/Mac, why introduce more chaos with another node?

You're referring to latency in online games where players connect across the Internet. Most of that latency is in the ISP's domain. Steam link goes over your home LAN, where it's never an issue unless you're on wifi and far from the access point.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I hate to be "that guy", but kb/s.

(Sorry, I just had to. Don't ask me why because I don't know)

Balls, I had it as bits originally and I changed it to bytes cause I thought "Nah, it wasn't that slow!"

Hoist by my own petard huh.

You're right, you really didnt need to be that guy, and it was my fault I suppose for specifying 1990 rather than the 90's. Good on you

Ah man but Wi-Fi still wasn't a thing readily available or common in the '90s, lol

Again, I didn't mean it as being pedantic or rude. It just made me smile with nostalgia, have you seen that iBook G3 keynote where Steve Jobs showed it was connected to the Internet wirelessly and everybody lost their minds? It's mad how quickly things have changed.

 

[thisismyusername]

Wow. I wasn't expecting this at all. This is pretty cool for folks who can't directly connect their PC to a TV and don't want yet another box under their TV.

I still much prefer the more direct solution to playing PC games on a TV... put a TV near your PC or vice-versa and run an HDMI cable directly between the two (I have a TV and recliner in my office with my TV being a third monitor for my PC when it's on). Obviously not a viable option for lots of folks but it's great when it is.

 

[Rigby]

Can you please explain how the steam controller- distinguished from Made For IPhone controllers in the article - will work on iOS devices because I thought controllers HAD to be made for iPhone?

I think the idea is that you can either use a Steam Controller that's connected to the computer that's running and streaming the game, or a MFI controller that is connected to the iOS device or Apple TV.

 

[tophr]

Cool, but... has Steam updated to be a 64bit app yet?

 

[projectle]

There are a number of devices on the market that share their antennas between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz 802.11 wireless. As such, when using a controller and data, it can cause interference and latency spikes. Saying 5GHz is a good catch-all for hardware you don’t know as it requires a separate antenna.

 

[zantafio]

wow Civilization V on my Apple TV!!

 

[Mabus51]

Can I play Civ VI on my AppleTV then? what do I need?

iMac 5K + AppleTV 4K + ?

Civ VI is available on iPad which you can AirPlay to AppleTV.

 

[GubbyMan]

Just curious, why do they require a 5GHz wifi network? And also, how do they even know? Man, that's layer 1 or "1.5," I forget...

Bandwith is fine even on 2.4 but latency and consistency is not good enough.

Your iOS device manages the WiFi connection so it knows you are using 2.4 or 5.0.

 

[GeneralChang]

I'd imagine it'd be paired with your PC. At least, that's how I'm envisioning it for my use.

I'm not sure which controllers to buy now, the SteelSeries Nimbus or Steam controllers.

Edit: $41 vs $75 on Amazon. Easy choice when I gotta buy 4. lol

Which price was which? Because having used both pretty extensively I can vouch for the Nimbus being a much better controller, though if you want to have a prayer of playing PC-only games that don't have controller support baked in, the Steam Controller is probably your better prayer.

 

[Eorlas]

Since the ATV 4k supports 4k, will the app support 4k streaming across the network?

 

[fairuz]

Cool, but... has Steam updated to be a 64bit app yet?

Nope, just checked. At least in macOS. I don't get why.

 

[Neodym]

I hate to be "that guy", but kb/s.

kB/s or (better) KiB/s.

 

[ignatius345]

Pretty interesting for AppleTV. Anyway I hope Valve update Steam for Mac, it is sill so “Mavericks”, it doesn’t even has os native full screen.

It's really bad. 32 bit. Still doesn't even have retina text and graphics on the home screen.

 

[fairuz]

It's really bad. 32 bit. Still doesn't even have retina text and graphics on the home screen.

I like Steam's service, but everything about the app has always been bad. Glitches, bad performance, and annoying UI alike. At least the overlay is cool, except idk why they made the default keybind shift + tab and also made notifications appear on top of my current game by default every time a friend plays a game I don't even have.

 

[ErikGrim]

Civ VI is available on iPad which you can AirPlay to AppleTV.

Whilst this is true, you still need to control it. If you just want to mirror it to your TV and still control it on your iPad, what's the point?

 

[adamjackson]

Civ VI is available on iPad which you can AirPlay to AppleTV.

I don't play games on iOS.

1. Not going to buy something I already own
2. I want a real keyboard and mouse
3. Almost universally, iOS versions are **** in graphics and features compared to the PC counterparts

I'm an adult with a big-screen TV and a full size Macintosh. Not sure why anyone would opt to hold a device in their hands and look down on it causing neck and back issues or deal with finite battery life and a touch screen. iOS games are for children.

 

[Minorite]

Nice! Played Darkest Dungeon on PC and iPad, but Gabe gave me a chance to check my skills on iPhone! Also should be interesting to play old city-builders like Ceasar 3.

 

[ErikGrim]

2. I want a real keyboard and mouse

You are not going to get that on the Apple TV so what's your point again?

 

[adamjackson]

You are not going to get that on the Apple TV so what's your point again?

Isn't this a screen-mirroring application basically? The appleTV supports bluetooth peripherals. I want to play Civ on my 65" 4K display using the iMac as a processor. If that's not what is happening then I'll keep using the 5K iMac.

 

[sirwoodland]

So my Xbox one controller with wireless adapter that I’ve currently got hooked to my steam Link won’t work? Bummer. I’ve got an Apple TV and steam link, was hoping to ditch the link completely...

 

[jonnysods]

Why would I play it on my phone if I have to be in the same house as my computer?