How is the scaling on the Steam Link app now?

[Defy Belief]

I had the idea to buy a Steam Deck soon, i've been playing a lot of handheld games via GFN and my phone with a Nacon MGX Pro. Main reason for this 'upgrade' is the library limitation on GFN.

After this thought, I then had another idea of using that £4/£500 to build a mid-range gaming pc instead, where if needed, I could play games on my TV, but mainly remotely on my phone (at higher settings, frame rate, longer battery life etc)

I remember previously (talking years ago!) the app often had issues scaling to mobile devices, Do any people still use the Steam Link app and what results do you get generally?

Network connection is not an issue, PC would be wired to router etc and I have good speeds.

Please note whilst remotely, i'm still in my house Just when the TV is occupied etc, I just pick up and play currently.

 

[Defy Belief]

Depending what kind of games you play I think your best option would be a Deck, best of both worlds and can always get a dock for the TV?

Or you could look at a console as I have used the PS5 remote play which works pretty well.

Can't imagine the Deck with its power though being able to drive something at decent quality at a slightly higher resolution though. 4/500 quid I could build something around something like a 2070 ish, get DLSS benefits etc too for higher resolution.

I have been debating a PS5, as I do want to play God of War and Spiderman, but I have loads of games in my PC library that I want to play first (But its also annoying that the ps remote play you have to use a dualshock controller, which wont be as nice as my NACON in terms of a handheld experience.)

 

[Defy Belief]

Nobody using steam link app with their PC gaming anymore then?

 

[Defy Belief]

Mobile devices wise: I have tried it with a 2018 model Ipad (standard 10'' model) and a ps5 controller via BT on the Ipad, it worked flawlessly with God of War while on the loo, the connection test went up to 150 or 300 mbit I think so a good stable AP + wifi adapter is an necessity. Ipad has a good wifi adapter... I haven't really tried it on my phone because I think the screen (<7'') is way to small for gaming.

I must say I've only played it twice and only for a short while, I did not modify any gfx settings and I think it auto adjusted to Ipad because the game is remote play optimized, I guess you need to filter your game library in big picture with ''remote play optimized''. I mainly use the Steam Link app on my Samsung TV's, which is limited to 1080p I think (but naively rendered at 4k at pc) but works otherwise OK (and have the same aspect ratio as my PC).
The TV apps work mostly flawlessly, more than a hundred hours in the past 3-4 weeks. Through controllers connected to the TV directly don't have rumble/haptic feedback ( though you can circumvent that if physically not far by just connecting a ps5 controller to pc via bluetooth or a very long usb cable. I use it upstairs with a wired Xbox360 controller, downstairs (tv is not far from pc) with wired Stadia controllers or BT PS5 controllers...

I kind of remember rumble working ok with xbox360 controller on my samsung tv upstairs so perhaps my gamepad profile messed up or it depends on the game, but otherwise it's quite a good experience, I play more on my tv's with steam link than on my pc directly because of the games I play recently.

Adventure games, 3rd person games, hack and slash, fighting, racing, it all works pretty great. Many games don't have nice controller support though (strategy, sims, some shooters). Old GFWL games work flawelessly and most modern games aswell, even games that say partial controller support usually work without hassle.

Awesome write up / explanation That answers a lot of my questions...i've kind of got used to gaming on my Pixel 6 now, its not ideal, but it is easy. Will take a look and see what games in my library are remote optimised too!

Appreciate the thoughts on not all having console support, I would only really be using games with proper controller support to be fair, then anything that requires/better suits m+k and I get chance, I can hook it up to a monitor I have