Play your games wherever you want: the best ways to stream games on PC and consoles

Let’s say you’re *so close* to finishing that last grueling quest in Fallout 4, but you just can’t bear to sit in front of your computer screen for another minute. Or your marathon Halo 5 multiplayer session has hit the start of a Red Sox game. And now, your spouse’s icy gaze forces you to turn off the TV. You, my friend, need to start broadcasting your games.

So what is game streaming?

Game streaming is a more interactive version of video streaming (think Netflix). When you stream a movie or TV show through Netflix, you don’t actually download that video to play. It is played on a remote computer somewhere on the Internet and the images and sounds are sent to your TV or computer.

It’s the same idea with game streaming. And with games, streaming technology is breaking down age-old barriers between consoles and PCs. Now, not only can you easily play your PC games on your TV, but you can also play your console games just about anywhere in the house. And there are many ways to do it.

For just one example, you can stream from your Xbox One to a Windows 10 PC. To do this, you just need to turn on your Xbox One, use your home wireless network to connect it to your Windows 10 PC or tablet And voila: you can now control your game from your PC while the game is running. the Xbox One. The Xbox One sends video and sound to the PC, and the PC knows (once a game controller is plugged into it) that it’s the system you’re controlling the game from, not the console.

Several companies use different approaches to make their gaming systems more flexible. Here are some of the best options for streaming your games. Whether you’re playing on a modern video game console or a PC, luckily you have a few options.

Top pick for PC gaming: Valve steam link

What do you need:

• Steam link ($50)
• TV or monitor supporting a minimum resolution of 720p
• PC running Windows Vista or newer, Mac OS X Yosemite or newer, Linux Ubuntu 12.04 or newer.
• Input device like a game controller, or a mouse and keyboard

Is it good for me?

Valve’s Steam Link is a tiny device that makes it easy to play PC games on your TV. Once connected to the same network as your gaming PC via Wi-Fi, or wired via Ethernet cable, simply plug the Steam Link into any HDMI-capable display. Steam Link will stream your PC display to your screen and you’ll see any games you’ve purchased on Steam – games purchased on other platforms (like EA’s Origin or GOG.com) will work just fine, once that you will have added them to your Steam library.

The Steam Link has USB ports and supports a mouse and keyboard, as well as many modern gamepads, including the Xbox 360 controller. If you have Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter, you can plug it in to use your Xbox 360 wireless controllers. And the PlayStation 4’s DualShock controller can be paired via Bluetooth. Valve also offers the easily customizable Vapor Controller. It offers programmable touchpads that you can modify to navigate many games, but it will cost you an extra $50.

What are the disadvantages ?

Valve recommends sticking with a wired network, and I agree. My experience was generally flawless, thanks to connecting via Ethernet to a well-oiled home network and a capable gaming PC. Some Steam Link testers have reported a drop in performance in games when streaming via Steam Link. And while some of my colleagues do just fine with good wireless routers, our own tests were often slow and jerky. But the biggest downside here is the lack of 5.1 surround sound support; being stuck in stereo is one of the few things that keeps me from using the Steam Link full time.

PC Gaming Finalist: Nvidia GameStream

What do you need:

• An Nvidia Shield device, such as the Android TV Shield
• TV or display that supports HDMI; 4K Ultra HD support is required for 4K streaming
• PC running Windows 7 or newer; an Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 or higher; 3.1 GHz Intel Core i3 or 2.8 AMD Athlon II X4 630 or better; 4 GB of RAM

Is it good for me?

Nvidia’s GameStream uses Nvidia’s GeForce GTX graphics cards to stream games installed on your PC to a TV, via compatible Nvidia Shield devices. If your PC has a supported Nvidia graphics card, you can play games remotely on a Shield or Shield tablet, or stream them to your 4K TV and play in 5.1 surround sound with an Android Shield TV. Sign up for Nvidia’s GeForce Experience beta and you’ll get access to features like GameStream Co-op, which will let you stream your game to a friend’s PC and even let them in on the action. – no specialized equipment required.

The Shield Android TV includes a controller and the Shield tablet supports Bluetooth gamepads. You can pair a keyboard and mouse via Bluetooth for games that need them, and you can easily add games installed on your PC that aren’t officially supported by Nvidia’s GameStream. And Nvidia’s Shield range also includes Android devices: full access to the Google Play Store means you can give your PC a rest and enjoy mobile games on your TV.

What are the disadvantages ?

Nvidia products are not cheap. The Android TV Shield will set you back $200, and the base model Nvidia graphics card you’ll need starts at around $100. And while the ability to play 4K games is great, if you don’t have a gaming PC that can handle it, or a 4K TV, you’re better off sticking with the cheaper Steam Link.

First choice for console gaming: Microsoft Xbox One paired with Windows 10

What do you need:

Is it good for me?

If you have a PC that’s running Windows 10, you’ll be able to easily stream anything on an Xbox straight to your PC, over your home network. Simply sign into the Xbox app in Windows 10 and tap the “Connect” icon in the left menu to pair with your console. You will also need to connect your Xbox One controller via a micro-USB cable, if you did not take a wireless adapter.

Your console does all the hard work, which means your PC doesn’t have to be powerful – note that the tiny screen of a Windows 10 tablet will offer less space than a gaming PC’s monitors This means any Windows 10 PC in your house can suddenly be a display for your Xbox One; this will come in handy if another member of your household wants to watch TV, but you’re tearing your hair out trying to defeat the final boss in Halo 5. Now you can go finish your game on a Windows 10 tablet or PC, while your partner catches up on their favorite TV shows. Instant win-win. And best of all, the transition is seamless: you can simply pause the game on your Xbox or PC and pick up where you left off when you switch platforms.

What are the disadvantages ?

Xbox One’s streaming feature only works with machines on your home network, so don’t expect to tap into your Xbox while you’re on the road. You’ll also have the best experience if you’re connected to your home network with an Ethernet cable; I have a pretty good router and a fast connection, but when I’m streaming action over Wi-Fi, things can get really choppy.

Finalist for consoles: Sony PlayStation 4 and PS4 Remote Play

What do you need:

Is it good for me?

The PlayStation 4 is also capable of streaming games over your home network to a secondary screen. But your options are rather limited: PS4 Remote Play works on PlayStation Vita, PlayStation TV and a select group of Sony devices.

If you don’t mind playing console games on smaller screens, this might work for you. The Vita will force you to adapt to some sometimes-awkward virtual controls to replace the physical buttons that aren’t available, but Xperia devices can be paired with a DualShock 4 controller. The PlayStation TV can also work with a Dual Shock 4, and With Remote Play, you can effectively game your PS4 from any screen in your home. And like the Xbox One and Windows 10, you can switch between devices as you please without much hassle.

What are the disadvantages ?

I’ve had surprising use of the PlayStation Vita’s PS4 Remote Play, but that’s still not reason enough to go out and buy the $200 portable device; the appeal of the $100 PlayStation TV is also limited. Unless you already have one of these supported gadgets, you probably won’t encounter Remote Play. Of course, that could all change soon – Sony has promised Remote Play support on PCs.

Honorable Mention: Nintendo Wii U

What do you need:

Is it good for me?

Nintendo’s tablet controller doubles as a secondary screen, and in many games you can get a full view of the action right on that little screen. I realize this technically stretches the definition of the whole streaming thing, but when I need to spend some time with Yoshi’s Woolly World without hogging the whole TV, it’s a nice option to have on hand.

What are the disadvantages ?

The range of the Wii U tablet is extremely limited, so don’t expect to walk around your house, or even your tiny San Francisco apartment. The Wii U library is also a bit lacking.