Valve has revealed plans to launch two new apps that will let players stream games and videos from Steam without an expensive Steam Link box.
According to a new press release from the company, Valve said the Steam Link app and the Steam Video app are meant to “extend Steam’s suite of services and accessibility.”
“The Steam Link app,” Valve writes, “allows gamers to experience their Steam library of games on their Android (phone, tablet, TV) and iOS-based (iPhone, iPad, Apple TV) devices while connected via 5Ghz network or wired Ethernet to a host system (Mac or PC), with Android access initially offered in beta.”
Basically, the Steam Link app extends the Steam In-Home Streaming service of the Steam Link set-top box, which currently allows players to stream Steam games from one PC or Mac to another computer. The host computer streams a live video feed across a home network to the client computer, while the client computer relays gameplay commands back to the host computer.
A beta will offer only Android support at first, and your device will have to be connected to the local network through either a 5Ghz wireless or wired Ethernet connection. You’ll be able to use the Steam Controller, MFI controllers, and other devices to play.
The Steam Link app will be followed “later this summer” by a Steam Video app. This will allow you to watch the movies and shows sold by Steam on the aforementioned devices. As latency is much less of a concern, you’ll be able to stream video over Wi-Fi or LTE. Valve says it will also support offline playback.
The free Steam Link app will be available for phones and tablets running Android or iOS starting the week of May 21.
