Stream It yourself
Much like PlayStation’s Remote Play, there are other ways to stream games
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same network, using the computer’s monitor as a second screen, and
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in situ on the console, players can return directly to the big screen once the
living room has been vacated.
Steam users have this option, too, albeit in reverse; in November 2015, Valve
launched Steam Link, which enabled anyone to stream their Steam library from
their gaming PC to their smart TV or mobile device, over a local connection.
Initially, Valve sold a piece of hardware that supported Steam Link – DEODFNER[
UHPLQLVFHQWRIWKH2Q/LYHFRQVROH – but it was discontinued following the rise of
smart TVs, which could support Link via an app. For the smart-TV-less, it’s still
possible to pick up a Link unit on Amazon, or use a Raspberry Pi to replace it- Valve’s software is eminently compatible with the single-board computer. Just
don’t bother getting a Steam controller for it.
Another option for home streaming is Apple’s AirPlay.
Apple TV supports second-screen functionality
for other Apple hardware, enabling a spot of
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for gaming, to be fair, but it’s good for a few
games of Fortnite on the big screen without
needing to splash out for a console or gaming
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enables your TV to display a live stream from your
PC, but in practice this tends to be poor for gaming –
sorry Google fans, you’ll need to wait for Stadia.
Steam Link
is great – just
avoid the Steam
controller.member counts, but those numbers
have been trending steadily
downward, while modern free-to-play
games such as Fortnite operate a
season pass system rather than
premium membership subscriptions.
It’s easy to argue that fully
subscription-driven games will never
overtake the simple pleasure of buying
a game once and owning it forever.
That said, many were skeptical of
Netflix when it emerged, and now DVD
retailers are being crippled by the
video-streaming giant.
So, is streaming-based gaming the
way of the future? We don’t really think
so, but we’re ready to be proven
wrong. It feels as though we’re stuck in
a loop; this streaming technology
keeps coming around, and each time
the industry arrives at the same
conclusion: It’s a nice idea, but typical
Internet connection quality isn’t
enough to support it. Stadia is flashy,
and Google undeniably has the power
to throw staggering amounts of
money at it, but if it won’t run on your
average household broadband, there’s
no way it can take off. But hey – it’s
early days. Stadia is set to launch at
the end of 2019, and a lot could
change in that time. Q
Technology
Cloud gaming
August 2019 | |^63