How To Stream and Cast Steam PC Games to a Television

Playing PC games on a big screen TV can provide an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience. With Steam, the popular PC gaming platform, there are several methods to stream and cast games from your computer to a TV. This guide will walk through the main options to fit different needs and setups.

Hardware Streaming Devices

Steam Link

The Steam Link is a small device that connects your PC to a TV over a home network. It allows you to stream Steam games to play on the big screen. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. Connect the Steam Link to your TV with an HDMI cable
  2. Connect it to your network router with an ethernet cable for best performance
  3. Turn on the Steam Link and follow the on-screen setup instructions
  4. It will now detect your PC with Steam installed on the local network
  5. You can then browse and play your Steam library games on the TV using a controller

The Steam Link provides low latency streaming optimized for gaming. An advantage is it works independently without tying up your PC. A limitation is the device is no longer manufactured, so you would need to find one second-hand.

Nvidia GameStream/Moonlight

If you have an Nvidia GPU, their GameStream technology allows streaming games to other devices on the local network. This includes:

  • Nvidia Shield TV
  • Smart TVs with Moonlight app
  • Mobile devices with Moonlight app

GameStream provides optimized low latency streaming for Nvidia GPUs. Setup steps:

  1. Install Nvidia GeForce Experience on your gaming PC
  2. Enable GameStream in the Nvidia control panel
  3. Connect the client device on the same network
  4. Open the GameStream app and select your PC
  5. Stream your games using the GameStream interface

A limitation is that GameStream requires an Nvidia GPU. Moonlight offers wider compatibility for non-Nvidia GPUs.

Software Streaming

Steam Remote Play

Steam Remote Play is a free feature that allows streaming games to other devices through the Steam client. Devices that support Steam Remote Play include:

  • Windows and Mac PCs
  • iOS and Android mobile devices
  • Raspberry Pi

To set up Steam Remote Play:

  1. Install the Steam client on your gaming PC
  2. Install the Steam client on your streaming device
  3. Log into the same Steam account on both devices
  4. Initiate remote play from the client device
  5. Stream games directly from your gaming PC

Steam Remote Play provides direct access to your Steam library. An advantage over hardware solutions is that it doesn’t require any additional hardware purchases.

Chromecast

While not optimized for lower latency, you can cast your entire desktop including Steam to a TV using Google Chromecast. Steps:

  1. Connect the Chromecast dongle to your TV’s HDMI port
  2. Install the Chromecast extension on the Chrome browser
  3. Open Chrome, launch a Steam game
  4. Click the Chromecast icon to select your TV
  5. Cast the Chrome tab to play the game on your TV

A benefit of Chromecast is wide compatibility with most smart TVs. A drawback is potential lag compared to streaming devices.

Tips for Smoother Game Streaming

Here are some tips to help your game streaming setup:

  • Connect devices via ethernet for higher reliability
  • Enable gaming mode on your TV to reduce input lag
  • Set the streaming PC power settings to high performance
  • Close other intensive apps when streaming games
  • Ensure your router placement covers both areas well
  • Consider a mesh network if your house has Wi-Fi deadspots

With the methods above, you can enjoy your Steam library on the big screen! Game streaming provides flexibility on where and how you play games.

My Experience Setting Up Game Streaming

As an avid PC gamer with over 200 games in my Steam library, I really wanted to be able to stream games to my living room TV. This would allow me to play games on the couch with a controller for a more relaxed experience.

I tried a few different streaming methods over the years. Initially I used Steam In-Home Streaming which allowed me to install Steam on my laptop, connect it via HDMI to the TV, and stream games from my gaming PC. This worked pretty well but having to lug my laptop around was a bit cumbersome.

I later upgraded to an Nvidia Shield TV device. With its GameStream technology optimized for Nvidia GPUs, it streams games flawlessly from my RTX 3080 PC. The interface makes it easy to browse and launch my Steam library. The lower latency is great for action games. One downside is it only works with Nvidia GPUs.

Most recently, I have been using the Steam Link app built into my smart TV. After connecting my TV and gaming PC to the same network, I can directly stream Steam games to the TV. The streaming performance and latency is impressive considering it requires no additional hardware. The flexibility to access my Steam library from any TV is awesome.

Overall, technology advancements the past few years have made game streaming much more accessible. With solutions like Steam Remote Play and GameStream, playing your high-end PC games on the TV is easier than ever before!