Valve Steam Link for iOS and tvOS brings desktop games to Apple devices

Valve Software will be making its digital storefront more useful for mobile users, by preparing the Steam Link and Steam Video apps for iOS enabling gamers to stream a PC or Mac game, or video content bought from the store, to their iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.

The Steam Link app, announced on Wednesday and launching the week of May 21, will extend the existing Steam In-Home Streaming service to work with more devices. The current version allows users to play a game on one PC or Mac from another computer, streaming a live video feed over a home network to the client while relaying back gameplay commands back to the host.

When launched, the app will allow the stream-based gameplay of the user's Steam library to work on an iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, played over a 5GHz home Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. An Android version will also be available, with the app initially offered in beta on that format with iOS arriving at a later time.

The app will also support a number of different game controllers, including Valve's own Steam Controller and MFi controllers, as well as on-screen controls.

Due later this summer, the Steam Video app will provide access to movies and shows owned on the user's account. Able to be streamed over Wi-Fi or LTE, the app will also provide both streaming and offline modes, making it useful for those preferring to have a local copy of video content.

This is not the first time Valve has attempted to bring PC and Mac gaming to the living room, as it also sells the Steam Link, a compact set-top box that works with the Steam In-Home Streaming platform. Supporting the Apple TV and its existing accessory range will give Valve a second valuable way to compete against the other mainstream game consoles from Microsoft and Sony, as well as each of their storefronts.

Valve has taken tentative steps into the mobile space, with its only iOS release so far being its Steam Mobile client, providing access to its storefront and community services. The company is also working to ship "Artifact," a digital trading card game that it expects to release on PC and Mac later this year, followed by an iOS launch in mid-2019.

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11 Comments

Ben_is_Steamed 1 comment · 6 Years

About 6 years ago

No one has a Steam Controller and neither Xbox Wireless Controllers or DualShock 4 controllers will pair with iOS devices, so this is completely useless.

Mike Wuerthele 6901 comments · 8 Years

Ben_is_Steamed said:

No one has a Steam Controller and neither Xbox Wireless Controllers or DualShock 4 controllers will pair with iOS devices, so this is completely useless.

We'll take a look at it when it ships. I'm intrigued by "other game controllers" as Valve puts it.

supadav03 503 comments · 10 Years

Ben_is_Steamed said:

No one has a Steam Controller and neither Xbox Wireless Controllers or DualShock 4 controllers will pair with iOS devices, so this is completely useless.

MFi controllers will work as well so something like the Nimbus should work great. The build quality and buttons are almost on par with its console counterparts.

This has def peaked my interest. Don’t game much on my Mac but the ability to stream it to my TV and play with a controller may change that. Sounds like the best way yet for the Apple TV to be a legit gaming machine.

Lab4Us 32 comments · 6 Years

Ben_is_Steamed said:

No one has a Steam Controller and neither Xbox Wireless Controllers or DualShock 4 controllers will pair with iOS devices, so this is completely useless.

Would tend to agree. If they wanted this to be successful out the gate, minimum XBox controller would work and ideally the PS4 controller along with it. I use my Xbox One controller for several pc games. Not inclined to learn all new commands when I still have that XBox one controller.

galfridus 45 comments · 6 Years

Ben_is_Steamed said:

No one has a Steam Controller and neither Xbox Wireless Controllers or DualShock 4 controllers will pair with iOS devices, so this is completely useless.

Untrue. I have a Steam Controller (bought it with a Steam Link a couple of years back and was not impressed... but this? Maybe.). I can't be the only one with an Apple TV and a Steam Controller (can I?). I also have an old MFi controller. I'm curious to see which works better.