Even with some annoyances, game streaming can feel like a Steam Deck cheat code

The Steam Deck’s competitors, whether they’re the old guard Ayaneo family, the luxe Asus ROG Ally X, or the shapeshifting Lenovo Legion Go, usually share the same attack line: they can play more of your games. The Deck’s compatibility issues aren’t nearly as issue-some as they were at launch, but between its Linux-based SteamOS and its relatively mild processing power, but it is true that beefier Windows handhelds will more likely cater to your entire cross-launcher library.Unless, that is, you get something else to run them for you. Streaming games on the Steam Deck has emerged as a nifty workaround for the portable PC’s lingering compatibility woes, making even officially unsupported games playable. Usually with much better performance, too, as the actual rendering work is done remotely – what you see on the Deck’s screen is basically a video feed of that remote device’s display output, with your control input beamed the other way via a low-latency connection. And because you’re not using SteamOS or the internal hardware to actually run the game, it’s not bound by their limits.I’ve occasionally suggested the Steam Deck streaming route ‘round these parts, and there are a few ways to go about it. Steam Remote Play, for instance, lets you use your own desktop PC to power games on the Deck, while Xbox Cloud Gaming provides access to Game Pass games that are otherwise completely blocked off. Though even I had missed how, earlier this year, Nvidia had released a Steam Deck-specific installation kit for their GeForce Now service. A rare act of openness, by the green giant’s standards, towards what could in a roundabout way be considered rival hardware. Read more

Steam Deck Academy brings together all our guides and explainers on getting the most out of your Steam Deck, no student loans or sweaty dormitories required. The Steam Deck ’s competitors, whether they’re the old guard Ayaneo family, the luxe Asus ROG Ally X , or the shapeshifting Lenovo Legion Go , usually share the same attack line: they can play more of your games. The Deck’s compatibility issues aren’t nearly as issue-some as they were at launch, but between its Linux-based SteamOS and its relatively mild processing power, but it is true that beefier Windows handhelds will more likely cater to your entire cross-launcher library.

Unless, that is, you get something else to run them for you. Streaming games on the Steam Deck has emerged as a nifty workaround for the portable PC’s lingering compatibility woes, making even officially unsupported games playable. Usually with much better performance, too, as the actual rendering work is done remotely – what you see on the Deck’s screen is basically a video feed of that remote device’s display output, with your control input beamed the other way via a low-latency connection.

And because you’re not using SteamOS or the internal hardware to actually run the game, it’s not bound by their limits. I’ve occasionally suggested the Steam Deck streaming route ‘round these parts, and there are a few ways to go about it. Steam Remote Play , for instance, lets you use your own desktop PC to power games on the Deck, wh.