Steam Link app now available for the Linux desktop

Finally!

Edit: arg, seems like x86_64 only. Why Valve? Why? We were able to run a normal Steam Linux client on x86 before :( What is really missing is an Arm64 build of the steam-link :(


Last edited by Julius on 2 March 2021 at 9:33 pm UTC

It's surprisingly that they are using flatpak, they should release Steam officially on flatpak or create a sandbox solution with their Steam Runtime, most of the users of rolling distros are having problems on CSGO because of the new glibc, which not happens with the flatpak version.

This is what was missing for a proper local streaming setup. You can stream games using a standard Steam client, but if you have to enable Proton, change command line arguments, etc., you'd have to physically do it on the host machine. Well, no more!

I've never had great use on my Steam Link, but that's always nice seeing improvement over there! :)
Despite discontinued is the Steam Link hardware still being updated with latest software updates ?

This is huge, especially the bit about they releasing it on flathub.

I wish they built it for ARM as well, though maybe it is usable in qemu-binfmt? Is it using HW-accelerated decoding with VA-API or similar?

I also wouldn't be surprised if it ends up reverse-engineered.

Nice, r/cloudygamer can finally stop asking the question "which Android box should I get"!

So if I have a Windows 10 PC running steam, I can play via my Laptop/Linux but I need a Steam Controller? I don't understand how this works.

I find Steam Link such an exciting piece of technology, but people barely pay any attention to it. The possibilities! Get a single good desktop PC, with all its versatility (install whatever you want, navigate with any peripherical, customize it, whatever), but play on your TV like a regular console or on a portable device (including any android phone or tablet). This is the kind of tech that enables stuff like Stadia or GeForce Now, but without the strings attached - you can just rent a server from anyone and stream you games however you want. It's even an interesting possibility beyond games - just use your phone as a thin client for your powerful desktop!

Now it's possible to just share your games for some remote couch gaming, which is just great. Eases multiplayer with your friends, instead of finding a random stranger that purchased the game.

So if I have a Windows 10 PC running steam, I can play via my Laptop/Linux

You already could, as well as Linux <—> Linux. But you needed to install the Steam client and have a Steam account. Now you don't.

but I need a Steam Controller?

You don't need a Steam controller. They don't even make them any more.

This is huge, especially the bit about they releasing it on flathub.

I wish they built it for ARM as well, though maybe it is usable in qemu-binfmt? Is it using HW-accelerated decoding with VA-API or similar?

I also wouldn't be surprised if it ends up reverse-engineered.

This ! Steam Link would go very well with the Pinebook Pro (well, assuming it can use the hardware decoder)

Hmh, never thought about that for my home / couch setup. Not the Linux-PC side... that's one anyway, but I could put one of those Raspberry Pis to use and use it as a console setup for steam link on PC... never even came to my mind. And probably still can make use of those nice Steam controllers? :D.

Finally!

Edit: arg, seems like x86_64 only. Why Valve? Why? We were able to run a normal Steam Linux client on x86 before :( What is really missing is an Arm64 build of the steam-link :(

Does the Raspberry Pi 4 run arm64 binaries? Maybe they'll release an update for the Rpi version (I mean this: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6153-IFGH-6589 ) eventually.


Last edited by walther von stolzing on 2 March 2021 at 11:36 pm UTC

Does the Raspberry Pi 4 run arm64 binaries? Maybe they'll release an update for the Rpi version (I mean this: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6153-IFGH-6589 ) eventually.

The RPI4 hardware yes, but I think the app only works with Rasbian which last time I checked was still 32bit only. Also for some strange reason the Steamlink app for the RasberryPi depends of some specific code from the RasberryPI GPU driver and refuses to work on any non-Rasberry hardware because of that.

I really like the idea of Valve's Remote Play Together, it simply makes a lot of sense. I like to compare video games and board games, and you wouldn't ask every player of a board game to pay for the game.

So, as with board games, I like to discover new games my friends might have and, if I like them, I buy them in order to play it whenever I want too.

This is true for the multiplayer part of a game only. The solo/scenario part is yet another reason to buy a game (to me).

This is huge, especially the bit about they releasing it on flathub.

I wish they built it for ARM as well, though maybe it is usable in qemu-binfmt? Is it using HW-accelerated decoding with VA-API or similar?

I also wouldn't be surprised if it ends up reverse-engineered.

They've had a Steam Link App for ARM for quite some time.. You can install it within retropie quite easily.

https://www.reddit.com/r/RetroPie/comments/a2va0q/how_to_add_steamlink_to_emulationstation/

It's surprisingly that they are using flatpak, they should release Steam officially on flatpak or create a sandbox solution with their Steam Runtime, most of the users of rolling distros are having problems on CSGO because of the new glibc, which not happens with the flatpak version.

Steam has their Pressure Vessel system, called the "Steam Linux Runtime" in Steam itself, which is based on Flatpak - which is also why the Flatpak package of Steam has trouble using it.
They have a public gitlab project for pressure vessel at https://gitlab.steamos.cloud/steamrt/steam-runtime-tools/-/tree/master/pressure-vessel

And they are also working on improving support of the Flatpak package of Steam;
https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/issues/3797
https://github.com/flatpak/flatpak/pull/4018
https://gitlab.steamos.cloud/steamrt/steam-runtime-tools/-/merge_requests/203

It's surprisingly that they are using flatpak, they should release Steam officially on flatpak or create a sandbox solution with their Steam Runtime, most of the users of rolling distros are having problems on CSGO because of the new glibc, which not happens with the flatpak version.

As far as I understood, they do help for the steam flatpak. But it still has rough edge, so I would expect they don't want to make it official yet. They definitely should do it in the end though.
Good new is, they did not use snap package, so everyone can have access to it already, and without all snap issues.

will this work with q4os it's a fork Debian I have an old tiny Optiplex that be great for a remote pc

As long as you have flatpak support, yes. It is the wonderful part of flatpak :)

Good to know, although I wished it didn't use flatpak.

Oh well, running Steam on my headless desktop and streaming games to my nine year old laptop works fine (at least for most games) so I won't complain.

I really like the idea of Valve's Remote Play Together, it simply makes a lot of sense. I like to compare video games and board games, and you wouldn't ask every player of a board game to pay for the game.

So, as with board games, I like to discover new games my friends might have and, if I like them, I buy them in order to play it whenever I want too.

This is true for the multiplayer part of a game only. The solo/scenario part is yet another reason to buy a game (to me).

Really like that board games comparison!

And about solo, it depends, sometimes you bring a fried to your house and have they try a bit of a single player game just for show off. With remote play you can also do that. Specially those nasty games that play tricks on the user assumptions and joke on them, like Indecision or Eryi's Action.

EDIT: Ery is native, but Indicision I played via proton.


Last edited by nullzero on 3 March 2021 at 11:41 am UTC