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.
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
buckysrevenge May 9, 2018
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
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/
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.
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 9 May 2018 at 11:26 pm UTC
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.
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.
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
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.
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