What's the point of this?

[Jaffacake]

Hard not to ask this and sound critical, which I'm trying not to, but wondered why people use this?

I've got a high powered gaming PC, connected to a lovely monitor and superb surround sound system. It works well.

I turn on my Steam Controller for the first time in a while and was prompted to add Bluetooth LE support to it if I wanted to use Steam Link - which led me here.

So I updated my controller, installed the Steam Link app on my tablet and paired the controller with the app. Then I connected to my PC...which failed as I had to enter a PIN on the PC. I went back downstairs, unlocked my PC and found Steam had crashed. I had to end tasks and re-open. I then had nowhere to enter my PIN.

I went back upstairs and my tablet connection had failed. So I attempted reconnection and it prompted for another PIN. So I went downstairs and entered this on the PC, locked my screen, went back upstairs.

Back upstairs, my connection was successful but now I was being prompted to update my Steam audio drivers. Another trip back downstairs. I took the tablet with me this time.

Drivers updated, which thankfully didn't need a reboot, all finally started working. I fired up a driving game and was impressed as my tablet appeared to successfully display the game in the same native 1440p I have on my PC - my tablet is also 2560x1440.

So after my efforts I can now use my Steam controller to play compatible games on my tablet, on the same network, in the same house. The PC also appears to need to be powered on, unlocked, with nobody else using it.

So, back to my quesion, what's the point? Why would I want to game, in the same house, using an inferior set-up?

I'm genuinely curious what use cases people have for this. It's good that we can, and it works well, but I just don't see why I would ever use it.

Thanks for any feedback.

[_I_]

main use is for party gaming on a tv
the link can connect 4 wireless controllers
(steam controller, x360 with dongle, xbone, xbones, ds3, ds4) any combo at the same time

there is a patch to allow steam streaming to unlock the host pc
it can also use wol to turn on the host pc (but cannot be used to login)

there are 2 pin types
1. device shows a pin to enter in host pc to allow it to connect
2. set in steam -> settings -> streaming -> pin, makes you enter this pin on the device to connect

not everyone has a gaming or htpc pc on the tv capable of gaming

you can also install retroarch for playing snes/nes/sega games on the link directly
and/or kodi on the link if the tv does not have media streaming abilities

[Greed]

It's not just Steam gaming functionality but streaming the PC itself. I have a 60" tv in my bedroom but it's a fairly older model so there are no apps on it. I minimize big screen mode and watch shows and movies i have on my pc or watch anime on streaming sites. So, for me, it's being able to use my pc in my bedroom or in my living room. Before i got the Steam Link hardware i'd use the app on my phone to play Slay the Spire while laying in bed or cooking.

[_I_]

you can set the link to begin streaming in desktop mode
link menu -> settings -> streaming -> advanced -> enable start streaming desktop

https://www.howtogeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ximg_5a8cb8587e793.jpg.pagespeed.gp+jp+jw+pj+ws+js+rj+rp+rw+ri+cp+md.ic.bkpyt7Diq-.jpg

[CheeseBoar]

Another feature of both the Steam Link hardware and the app which is seemingly never advertised by Valve (which infuriates me) is that you can stream your games online. I just got back from visiting family about 1,200 miles away from my house, and I was able to stream my desktop to my Steam Link without any input, audio, or video lag at 1080p after lowering the streaming bitrate. It was absolutely fantastic to be able to take my entire library across several states without having to have an expensive gaming laptop to play them natively.

[Jaffacake]

Thanks for the feedback, seems most use cases depend on hardware which is no longer on sale.

Future-Proof - how do I connect remotely on the app? I tested this but it couldn't find my PC.

[Kandarihu]

I only have use of this when I travel to where my relatives live for Christmas vacation. They generally have me sleeping in the basement. But they do have several parties. One of the parties is for the church Singles group on Christmas Eve. Another is for extended family on Christmas afternoon. And even around that time, I'd like to be able to show them videos from my HDD via VLC. My PC is a hefty chonker of an HTPC. I don't have the raw brute strength to bring that up to the living room/office and back down again. I tried that the year before I bought the Steam Link. It was an ordeal that I'm getting too old to keep doing. The Steam Link is a godsend for times like these. I just wish I had more opportunities to use this.

[DaveMoo]

I just play on my desktop for the most part. But if my wife wants to play a game from my Steam library or we want to play coop (or she wants to watch me play a game), I stream to my living room through Steam Link. I know other people like couches, but I don't. My 2018 Samsung Series 8 QLED is great, but my 1440p is giving me a better resolution than I am willing to attempt with the Steam Link app over powerline networking.

I could also see using touch capable games on tablets through Steam Link. Civ V was great on a surface pro with touch. I have no idea though if steam link supports touch screens.

[CheeseBoar]

Originally posted by Jaffacake:

Thanks for the feedback, seems most use cases depend on hardware which is no longer on sale.

Future-Proof - how do I connect remotely on the app? I tested this but it couldn't find my PC.

You need to forward the streaming ports in your router settings first...

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8571-GLVN-8711

...and then, when you go to search for your PC on the Link, just manually type in your public IP instead, and it should find it.