Valve releases Steam Link macOS app on the Mac App Store

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in Mac Software edited March 2021
Valve has quietly released a macOS version of its Steam Link client, making the platform available for Mac users from the Mac App Store.

Credit: Valve
Credit: Valve


Steam Link is a platform that allows users to play games streamed from a host computer to devices like an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. As of Monday, the list of compatible Apple devices now includes the Mac, as spotted by Reddit users.

"The Steam Link app allows you to play your Steam games across all your computers. Just pair an MFI or Steam controller to your Mac, connect to a computer running Steam on the same local network, and start playing your existing Steam games," Valve says of the platform.

According to Valve, the macOS Steam Link app works best over a 5GHz Wi-Fi network or Ethernet. The app requires macOS High Sierra 10.13 and later, and both the host computer and the receiving devices need to be on the same local network.

"Video and audio data is sent from your computer to the Steam Link, while your controller input is sent back in real time. Virtually every game that your computer runs can be played on your device using Steam Link," Valve says.

Apple initially rejected the Steam Link app from the App Store in 2018 because of developer guidelines barring streaming games. A year later, it made its return to the platform to the App Store after Valve and Apple worked together to resolve guideline issues.

The Steam Link app is available as a free download on the Mac App Store via this link.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,727member
    Can the PC version stream to Apple devices?  That would be nice as everything worth having on Steam is PC only.  My hope is one day 4K streaming from PC host to any Apple device including Macs on the same LAN.
    edited March 2021
  • Reply 2 of 8
    nicholfdnicholfd Posts: 824member
    MacPro said:
    Can the PC version stream to Apple devices?  That would be nice as everything worth having on Steam is PC only.  My hope is one day 4K streaming from PC host to any Apple device including Macs on the same LAN.
    Yep - system hosting Steam can be a PC or Mac.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 8
    rob53rob53 Posts: 3,251member
    Steam Link is an Intel app, not Universal. Why did they release it this way???
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 8
    cloudguycloudguy Posts: 323member
    rob53 said:
    Steam Link is an Intel app, not Universal. Why did they release it this way???
    Because latency/lag is an issue with Steam Link even with good Wi-Fi. Coding the app natively reduces the lag. Also, as I stated earlier to an editorial on this topic, there are maybe 5 million M1 Macs in the wild with the vast majority being 8 GB RAM Mac Mini or MacBook Air devices that secondary or tertiary devices for enthusiasts, devices for (mostly smaller) development shops or machines for "entry level" users who rely primarily on first party Apple software and web apps (because that was all one could use the Intel Core i3 Mac Mini and MacBook Air for). Apple Silicon is going to have to pick up more market share before writing apps for it is going to be a moneymaking endeavor.
  • Reply 5 of 8
    InspiredCodeInspiredCode Posts: 403member
    Although I wish Valve did a better job with OpenVR on Mac, it is great that they champion cross-platform gaming. The Wine project has also been running significantly more games on Mac due to their support of the project. I hope Apple keeps Rosetta 2 around beyond the transition period since it is a great companion to Wine. Many Windows games run amazingly well using Steam, Wine (PortingKit or Crossover), and Rosetta 2. The AoE Definitive Edition series seems to run better on my M1 then on my highly speced Windows machine.
    edited March 2021 kurai_kagewatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 8
    InspiredCodeInspiredCode Posts: 403member
    rob53 said:
    Steam Link is an Intel app, not Universal. Why did they release it this way???
    I imagine it will soon. They obviously have a ARM64 version since it also runs on Apple TV.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 8
    skingersskingers Posts: 32member
    MacPro said:
    Can the PC version stream to Apple devices?  That would be nice as everything worth having on Steam is PC only.  My hope is one day 4K streaming from PC host to any Apple device including Macs on the same LAN.
    Yes, tried this exact thing last night to both my Intel Mac Pro and M1 Air streaming from my Razerblade laptop and it was slick and smooth.  People have been talking about the lack of M1 native client, which of course would be better, but I can't say it felt any different to how it was on my Intel MP.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 8 of 8
    MacProMacPro Posts: 19,727member
    skingers said:
    MacPro said:
    Can the PC version stream to Apple devices?  That would be nice as everything worth having on Steam is PC only.  My hope is one day 4K streaming from PC host to any Apple device including Macs on the same LAN.
    Yes, tried this exact thing last night to both my Intel Mac Pro and M1 Air streaming from my Razerblade laptop and it was slick and smooth.  People have been talking about the lack of M1 native client, which of course would be better, but I can't say it felt any different to how it was on my Intel MP.
    Thanks.  What's the maximum resolution with a pc host and Mac client? 
    watto_cobra
Sign In or Register to comment.