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Nvidia GameStream
The great thing about Steam In-Home Streaming is that it works well with any gaming rig and supports remote streaming on a range of clients and operating systems—but it’s limited to Steam games alone. An alternative option for Nvidia graphics card owners (with sufficiently powerful hardware) is the company’s GameStream technology.
Officially, the feature allows you to stream PC games, at resolutions up to 4K with HDR support, to Nvidia Shield consoles and tablets. But with a little work and support from a third-party, open-source app called Moonlight, you can extend those streams to a swathe of devices.
Terry Walsh/IDG The GameStream option in the settings of Nvidia's GeForce Experience.
To get started, you’ll need to install the Nvidia GeForce Experience app on your primary gaming PC, which is used for driver updates, game optimization, broadcasting and more. Once the app is installed, click the Gears icon to open the Settings panel, then select Shield. Throw the slider switch next to GameStream to enable the feature.
Head to your Nvidia Shield console or tablet and go to My Library > Set up GameStream. Log in with the same account you use for the GeForce Experience app and your PC will be connected.
You should now be able to view GameStream compatible titles in My Library on the Shield. Just select one to play!
Terry Walsh/IDG Your GameStream-compatible PC games are available on your Nvidia Shield after setup.
Moonlight: Stream PC games to mobile and more
Combining Nvidia’s technology with the free, open-source Moonlight GameStream client software allows you to push your gaming experience even further—especially since GameStream’s remote streaming feature allows you to stream your games over the Internet if your network’s fast enough.
Moonlight supports Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs, Android smartphones and tablets, iPhones, and iPads. Even the Raspberry Pi and other embedded devices can join the fun. In fact, the developers are testing client support on any device that can run the Google Chrome browser. This will become the default client going forward, supporting hardware accelerated video decoding up to 4K resolution, Xbox and DualShock controllers, keyboard and mouse input, and remote audio.
Once you’ve installed Nvidia GeForce Experience and have GameStream up and running on your main gaming PC, you can proceed to install the Moonlight client on your remote device. Note that you’ll need the Java SE Runtime installed on some devices before you can run Moonlight. If you’re going with Moonlight Chrome (which I recommend), download and drag the .CRX file into the Extensions page of Chrome at Menu > More Tools > Extensions.
Terry Walsh/IDG Moonlight installed in Chrome.
When Moonlight is installed it will search the local network for a PC running Nvidia GameStream. If one can’t be found, you can add your gaming PC manually via its IP address.
Terry Walsh/IDG Your gaming PC should be automatically found on the network.
Click or tap your PC’s tile and a PIN code will be displayed. Enter that code on your gaming PC to pair the devices. Once hooked up, you’ll see compatible titles in your game library displayed for selection.
Terry Walsh/IDG Moonlight’s simple, but attractive interface displays your game library cover art.
Once again, streaming is simple. Connect a controller, select your title and you’re good to go!
Terry Walsh/IDG Streaming Sonic Generations remotely in a Mac Chrome browser window with Moonlight.
Moonlight works just as well on an Android smartphone, iPhone, or other mobile device. Once paired, your game library is displayed on the handset and you’ll find that your games stream beautifully on a strong, local network connection. Again, resolution and FPS targeting controls are available that allow you to adjust graphics quality if you experience network lag.
Depending on the title, you’ll need to experiment with controller options for the best experience, but mobile editions of Moonlight support popular Bluetooth devices and provide an on-screen overlay for touch control. Games requiring intricate keyboard and mouse controls may not be well suited to your smartphone, however.
Terry Walsh/IDG Streaming The Division to your mobile phone may not be the very best way to enjoy the game, but it’s possible!
Unlike Steam In-Home Streaming, Moonlight also offers remote streaming outside the home. Configuration is a little more complicated but once set up, can work well. You’ll need to forward a number of ports through your router to ensure traffic routes to and from your gaming PC correctly. Setting up a static IP address for your PC and Internet account would also be advisable.
A sneaky round of Overwatch at your desk while the boss is in a meeting? No problem.
Cloud-based streaming: Liquid Sky and GeForce Now
By now, you’ve hopefully learned that streaming PC games around the home and beyond is quite straightforward. But two new cloud-hosted services are aiming to make life even simpler for gamers. Liquid Sky and Nvidia’s GeForce Now for PCs and Macs services, both currently in the testing phase, will stream the latest games to your devices from powerful remote computers.
Subscribers benefit from the ability to play the latest games at ultra-quality settings, without the need to buy (and regularly upgrade) expensive gaming hardware. Liquid Sky’s basic, ad-supported service is free, with pay-as-you-go and monthly plans starting from $4.99.
LiquidSky How LiquidSky streams PC games from the cloud to your device.
Meanwhile, Nvidia has announced planned monthly fees of $25 for 20 hours of gaming, which could be quite the investment for avid gamers. Both services also require you to bring your own games to the party and, once you add in the cost of high-speed Internet access (you’ll need at least a 20Mbps connection for the best experience), that GeForce GTX 1080 Ti may not seem so expensive after all.
Originally billed for early access testing in March, GeForce Now for PCs and Macs has yet to launch. With Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang recently hinting that it could take up to ten years for the service to scale, compelling cloud-streamed gaming may remain on distant horizons for some time.
Fortunately, with a kick-ass gaming PC in the den and the support of services like Steam In-Home Gaming, Nvidia GameStream and Moonlight, you’re free to play wherever and whenever you choose.
