In the UK, I was able to get a physical Steam Link when Valve was selling them for less than US dollars. While browsing through the Steam website, I spotted the bargain I was looking for, so I bought the controller on a whim. The black puck has left a good impression on me, and every alternative service pales in comparison.
The steam link is easy to understand. You can use it to stream games from your PC to your TV, just by plugging it into your TV's HDMI port. I was able to use it over wi-fi, but you could connect it directly to your network for a better connection. You can use it to hook up wired controllers, mice, keyboards, or headsets if you don't have a lot of wireless peripherals.
I have had access to both a computer and a gaming console over the years, so I have never considered giving up my loyalties to either side of the debate. There are some games that are better to play on a couch. The physical Steam Link gave me the best of both worlds: I could play both The Witcher 3 and World of Warcraft from my living room, or I could play both from my bedroom.
I have issues with the Steam Link app even though it seems to be superior to its predecessor.
When we split, the ex- partner got the Steam Link, which was discontinued by Valve and no longer listed on its platform. The Steam Link app is available on most smart TVs and can be downloaded directly from the App Store. On paper, it offers some advantages over the obsolete box, such as regular software updates and support for 4K streaming where the Steam Link was capped at1080p. I have experienced a lot of issues with it, and now I am looking for a new device.
On the days when it doesn't work, the stream randomly freezes or crashes, and the input lag is so bad that I usually abandon efforts and play on my PC directly. Sometimes the app won't load on my PC and I have to uninstall it and re- install it on my TV. I have never experienced any of these issues with the original steam link hardware.
Even though I have a better tech setup and faster internet, I can't duplicate the reliability of the original steam link.
I have a better internet connection than I used to. The TV I have is less than a year old. When I used the Steam Link hardware, my gaming computer was closer to my TV than it is now. The steam link app should work by all accounts. It doesn't.
My previous experience with other services hasn't been as good. The GameStream feature on my Shield TV came very close, but in February of next year, it will be discontinued. I have personally experienced mediocre performance, despite paying for the priority tier, when using the Steam Link app. I have found other cloud streaming platforms to be unreliable due to the amount of time it takes to process data. Cloud gaming tech is neat, but it is not a viable replacement for hardware.
Outside of searching for used Steam Link listings online, there are two other options remaining. The other is to connect my TV to my computer. I never had to do the same thing for the physical Steam Link. I didn't have to pull cables around my living room because it worked perfectly on my lower internet connection.
If I wanted a dedicated PC for my TV, I would have to fork out a lot of money. I already have a perfect gaming PC in another room, so I am only half thinking about that. It takes a lot of money to recreate an experience that used to cost me less than a cup of coffee.
The limitations of the hardware made it obsolete.
The software version of the dongle can be used on non-HDMI devices, which is why Valve decided to stop selling it. I am not the only one who is unhappy with the app. Other users have compared their experiences using the two Steam Link versions to see which gave better performance.
Cloud gaming has been pushed to consumers this year despite the impending shutdown of Stadia. It is possible to get a gaming Chromebooks with a pre-installed GeForce Now service, and it is also possible to get a xbox cloud gaming headset. When it works, streaming games from the cloud is great, but for people like me, it isn't a viable alternative to game streaming in the real world. Nothing will top that1080p dongle until cloud gaming becomes exciting.
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