The Steam Link has been a rousing success with PC gamers wanting to play their Steam library from the couch, and while recent sales on the device have made the prospect of playing PC game on a big screen TV more affordable than ever, owners of a 2016 or 2017 Samsung UHD Smart TV can now use the Steam Link for free. Well, sort of.
Released today, a beta version of the Steam Link App is the result of a year-long promise by Valve and Samsung to bring the functionality of a Steam Link natively to Samsung TVs. As stated, the app is available as a free beta from the Samsung Smart Hub app store. There are a few sticking points, though.
During the beta, gameplay will be limited to 1920x1080 resolutions at 60 frames per second and the app will only support the Steam Controller. On the plus, VR games will be playable via the HTC Vive. The app is also only available in the US during its beta phase. Once the full version is released globally, however, it will support full 4K and additional controllers. It should be noted that while the app will work over a fast 5 GHz wireless network via the TVs internal wireless card, Valve strongly recommends a hardline Ethernet connection.
To learn more about the Steam Link App for Samsung TVs, check out this thread on Valve’s Steam forum.
Samsung is adding Steam Link functionality directly to their latest line of Smart TVs. If you are in the United States and have a 2016 or 2017 Samsung UHD TV, we'd like to invite you to help test the Steam Link App, now available as a free beta from the Samsung Smart Hub. The App uses the same streaming technology as Valve's Steam Link, allowing users to play their favorite games, and even spectate VR games on the HTC Vive, wherever they watch TV. During the beta, playback of 1080p video at 60 FPS and support for the Steam Controller are included. For worldwide release later this summer, support for streaming 4K resolutions and additional controllers will be added. Note: Streaming to the TV requires a Steam Controller and a high-quality network, at least 5GHz. A wired network is strongly recommended. Please let us know how this is working for you and post feedback and questions on the Steam Link discussion forum: steamcommunity.com/app/353380/discussions/
Sam Medley - Senior Tech Writer - 1345 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2016
I've been a computer geek my entire life. After graduating college with a degree in Mathematics, I worked in finance and banking a few years before taking a job as a database administrator. I started working with Notebookcheck in October of 2016 and have enjoyed writing news and reviews. I've also written for other outlets including UltrabookReview and GeeksWorldWide, focusing on consumer guidance and video gaming. My areas of interest include the business side of technology, retro gaming, Linux, and innovative gadgets. When I'm not writing on electronics or tinkering with a device, I'm either outside with my family, enjoying a decade-old video game, or playing drums or piano.
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