Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Fancy playing your Linux gaming library from Steam on your phone? You're going to be able to later this month. On top of that, they're also going to let you stream your video purchases too.

Here's the full press release they just sent over:

NEW STEAM APPS TO EXTEND SERVICE OFFERINGS

May 9, 2018 - Two free new apps - the Steam Link app and the Steam Video app - are preparing for launch in the coming weeks, both designed to extend Steam's suite of services and accessibility.  

The Steam Link app, slated to launch the week of May 21st, allows gamers to experience their Steam library of games on their Android (phone, tablet, TV) and iOS-based (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV) devices while connected via 5Ghz network or wired Ethernet to a host system (Mac or PC), with Android access initially offered in beta. The Steam Link App will feature support for the Steam Controller, MFI controllers, and more across both platforms.

Later this summer, the Steam Video app is targeted for release, allowing users to enjoy the thousands of movies and shows available on Steam directly via their Android and iOS devices over Wi-Fi or LTE. In direct response to customer feedback, it will offer the ability to enjoy content in offline and streaming modes.

Steam is a leading platform for digital entertainment, offering thousands of games, movies, and films to millions of people around the world. For more information, please visit www.steampowered.com

One of the things that stopped me personally buying any video content from Steam, was that you needed the main Steam client directly to actually watch them (so, PC only). Allowing us to watch them on tablets and phones might tempt me to use that side of Steam a little more in future so that's great. Having the offline ability also sounds good, so hopefully we can download stuff while at home to our phones and tablets to watch on our travels.

I'm very curious to see how well the Steam Link app holds up streaming from Ubuntu to my Android tablet, could make for some interesting gaming sessions after a long day. I've asked Valve if it will fully support a Linux host machine, since for all we know "PC" may just mean Windows, but I hope Valve won't let us down there.

Update - 09/05/18 18:34 UTC - Valve have confirmed to me that Linux hosts are supported for the Steam Link app game streaming. They apologised for not mentioning it directly.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Steam, Valve
29 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. You can also follow my personal adventures on Bluesky.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
33 comments
Page: 1/2»
  Go to:

km3k May 9, 2018
I hope they allow the touch screen to act as mouse inputs on phones/tablets. That would be a great way to play mouse-based games without a PC.
WorMzy May 9, 2018
I would hope that Valve have learnt from previous incorrect labelling of "Windows" as "PC", but I'll not hold my breath..
skyrrd May 9, 2018
That's awesome news. There are mostly two things i was/am waiting for with steam link/streaming

First was a mobile client for in home streaming
Second would be basic app support for the steam link (e. G. native netflix app)

I guess the latter will not happen so soon and who knows in what direction steam will evolve.
hardpenguin May 9, 2018
So, there's no reason to buy a Steam Link anymore and they won't produce any new ones ever again?
buckysrevenge May 9, 2018
I only own some of Double Fine's Amnesia Fortnite seasons, but I like that it provides an alternate audio track for commentary, something I don't see on any other streaming video purchase sites that I'm aware of. Does anyone know if this is a common option for videos (especially movies) on Steam?
1xok May 9, 2018
I don't think Valve will be offering a cloud service on this basis in a not so distant future. For people who have an appropriate network connection. Hence their commitment to SteamOS and AMD.

The PC market has not been a growing market for a long time.


Last edited by 1xok on 9 May 2018 at 6:16 pm UTC
x4mer May 9, 2018
Second would be basic app support for the steam link (e. G. native netflix app)

I guess the latter will not happen so soon and who knows in what direction steam will evolve.

Steamlink has native app support, but not very much. I don't think there's a native Netflix app, but there is Kodi for Steamlink, which I have installed on mine. If Kodi has a Netflix plugin, then there you go.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/1/
Liam Dawe May 9, 2018
Update - Valve have confirmed to me that Linux hosts are supported for the Steam Link app game streaming. They apologised for not mentioning it directly.
chimpy May 9, 2018
I wonder if the dongle is required to connect the steam controller via Bluetooth to your Android device. If I recall correctly the steam link doesn't need the dongle
Pinguino May 9, 2018
Sounds cool! I wonder if they would also target Chromecast devices, that might make me buy a Steam Controller.
skyrrd May 9, 2018
Steamlink has native app support, but not very much. I don't think there's a native Netflix app, but there is Kodi for Steamlink, which I have installed on mine. If Kodi has a Netflix plugin, then there you go.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/1/

Yes you are right but no usable apps. Kodi on steam link is said to have very limited performance and netflix for kodi (with widevine and inputstream) is a hit and miss. Sometimes it works and then it breaks again. Had it running on raspberry pi for some time but in the end bought a smart tv.
Skylead May 9, 2018
I hope they fix streaming steam games from a linux host. It almost always grabs the wrong monitor for me (dual 1080p) or tries to launch the game spread across both monitors on the host when I'm using the steam link. :/ this is not an issue with a windows host and leads to me booting my windows partition to play couch coop games that would otherwise be logging time on the linux install instead of the windows binary.
Fraaargh May 9, 2018
Please Valve, if you ever read this, please consider making an app for the Raspberry Pi also: I blogged about it a few days ago, we have NOTHING to stream games from Linux to a Raspberry Pi.
Purple Library Guy May 9, 2018
Huh. So let's see . . . if Google ever gets Android stuff working on Chromebooks, that would give you Steam games via link on Chromebooks as a side effect.


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 9 May 2018 at 11:26 pm UTC
Janne May 9, 2018
Game streaming has worked surprisingly well for me. A couple of years ago I played through XCOM and logged many, many hours on Kerbal Space Program streaming the games from my Linux desktop to my (even then) anemic laptop, just so I could sit in the living room with my family instead of holing up alone in the workroom. It'll be fun to see what games of mine (if any) are actually playable on a smartphone screen.
KohlyKohl May 10, 2018
I hope they fix streaming steam games from a linux host. It almost always grabs the wrong monitor for me (dual 1080p) or tries to launch the game spread across both monitors on the host when I'm using the steam link. :/ this is not an issue with a windows host and leads to me booting my windows partition to play couch coop games that would otherwise be logging time on the linux install instead of the windows binary.

You should be able to just disable the monitor you don't need. Seems like a simpler solution than booting into Windows.
14 May 10, 2018
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
I can picture myself flying up the stairs, three steps at a time, with a tablet to keep myself alive in Insurgency, so I can get a snack.
melkemind May 10, 2018
View PC info
  • Supporter
Huh. So let's see . . . if Google ever gets Android stuff working on Chromebooks, that would give you Steam games via link on Chromebooks as a side effect.

Many Chromebooks already have Android support, including my Acer Chromebook 14, which I've had for months. I have both Android apps and Ubuntu running on it.
syxbit May 10, 2018
If they've now confirmed Linux as a supported host, why don't they update their news site!
This kind of ambiguity hurts the Linux community. You'd think they'd want to boast about Linux/SteamOS support....
Mountain Man May 10, 2018
Streaming games to your phone? Yes please!

Well, it might work well with action games with a minimal interface like Tomb Raider or Mad Max, but it will be useless for interface intensive games like anything by Paradox, or RPGs.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.