Can You Use Steam Remote Play to Play Non-Steam Games?
Steam Remote Play is a fantastic feature that allows you to stream your games from your PC to any device, whether it’s a TV, phone, or tablet. But can you use Steam Remote Play to play non-Steam games?
Direct Answer: Not Exactly
According to Valve, the company behind Steam, Steam Remote Play only works with games that are installed and activated on your Steam account. This means that you can only play games that are available on the Steam store and installed on your Steam library using Steam Remote Play.
However, there are some caveats to this rule. In the past, it was possible to add non-Steam games to your Steam library and play them using Steam Remote Play, but this is no longer supported.
Why isn’t Steam Remote Play Supported for Non-Steam Games?
There are several reasons why Steam Remote Play isn’t supported for non-Steam games. First and foremost, Steam’s infrastructure is designed to support games that are installed and activated on the Steam platform. This means that games that are not installed or activated on Steam may not be able to take full advantage of Steam’s streaming capabilities.
Another reason why Steam Remote Play isn’t supported for non-Steam games is that it could potentially allow users to stream pirated or illegal games. By limiting Steam Remote Play to only work with games that are installed and activated on Steam, Valve is able to ensure that only legitimate games are played through the service.
Workarounds for Non-Steam Games
Although Steam Remote Play isn’t supported for non-Steam games, there are a few workarounds you can try. For example, you can use other streaming services like Moonlight or Kodi to stream your non-Steam games. These services allow you to stream games from your computer to any device, whether they’re installed on Steam or not.
Another option is to use a PC gaming console like NVIDIA GeForce NOW or Google Stadia, which allow you to play PC games on a variety of devices without having to install them on Steam.
Comparison of Steam Remote Play with Other Streaming Services
Here’s a comparison of Steam Remote Play with other popular streaming services:
| Service | Streaming Capability | Compatibility | Game Library |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Remote Play | Steam games only | Limited | Huge |
| Moonlight | Any PC game | Unlimited | Small |
| NVIDIA GeForce NOW | Any PC game | Unlimited | Huge |
| Google Stadia | Any PC game | Unlimited | Huge |
| Kodi | Any PC game | Unlimited | Huge |
As you can see, Steam Remote Play has limited compatibility compared to other streaming services like Moonlight, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Google Stadia, which allow you to stream any PC game. However, Steam Remote Play has a huge library of games, which may be a major advantage for gamers who only play games available on the Steam store.
Conclusion
While Steam Remote Play isn’t supported for non-Steam games, there are several workarounds you can try. If you’re a gamer who only plays Steam games, then Steam Remote Play is a fantastic way to play your games on any device. However, if you play non-Steam games or want more flexibility, then you may want to consider other streaming services.
Additional Resources
- Valve’s Official Statement on Steam Remote Play: https://store.steampowered.com/halflife/remote_play_faq.html
- Moonlight’s Official Website: https://moonlight/stream
- NVIDIA GeForce NOW’s Official Website: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce NOW
- Google Stadia’s Official Website: https://stadia.google.com/
- Kodi’s Official Website: https://kodi.tv/