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Moonlight on Steam Deck: Remote play from your PC to your Deck

  • 2024-11-20

Moonlight and Sunshine on Steam Deck Scenarios
Moonlight and Sunshine on Steam Deck Scenarios

Ever Wondered if Your Steam Deck Can Handle 4K Gaming?

Did you know that your Steam Deck can push up to 4K at 120Hz when connected to an external display, freeing you from the limits of its compact 800p screen? It’s confirmed on the Steam Deck’s official spec page!

Unfortunately, although the specs support this high resolution, the Steam Deck’s performance struggles to keep up, often leaving you playing at 1080p for a lag-free experience when connected to an external display. We understand your frustration with these limitations.

With Moonlight and Sunshine, you can leverage your PC’s processing power to enhance your Steam Deck experience. Pair it with a 4K-compatible dock for an immersive, high-resolution gaming experience that fully utilizes your larger display.

What is Moonlight and Sunshine?

  • Sunshine: Installed on your gaming PC as the server, Sunshine streams game visuals, audio, and controls.
  • Moonlight: Installed on your mobile device (Steam Deck, phone etc.), Moonlight connects to Sunshine for game streaming anywhere.

When do you need Moonlight and Sunshine?

Scenario 1: When You’re at Home on the Same Network

Imagine you’re at home, relaxing on the sofa and playing your Steam Deck in handheld mode. You notice it's starting to heat up, and the maximum resolution you’re getting is 800p.

Meanwhile, in your bedroom, you have a gaming PC with a powerful NVIDIA or AMD GPU, and you want to take advantage of its capabilities.

By connecting to your home network, you can make this happen! Stream games directly from your PC, with your Steam Deck receiving the visuals and acting as a remote controller.

Moonlight and Sunshine on Steam Deck Scenarios
Moonlight and Sunshine on Steam Deck Scenarios

Scenario 2: Streaming Remotely While You’re Away from Home

Moonlight and Sunshine also let you stream games remotely, so you don’t need to be on the same network as your PC. You can still connect to your gaming setup if you’re traveling or just away from home. All it takes is downloading an additional tool on your PC, and you’re ready to play from anywhere!

Moonlight and Sunshine on Steam Deck Scenarios
Moonlight and Sunshine on Steam Deck Scenarios

Benefits of Using Moonlight and Sunshine for Streaming

  • Running AAA Games Natively at Home

Stream high-performance AAA games from your powerful host PC, which handles the demanding processing and delivers top-tier graphics to your Steam Deck.

  • Efficient Memory Usage

Games run directly on the host PC, reducing memory usage on the Steam Deck.

  • Lower Power Consumption

Since the host PC runs the games, the Steam Deck uses less power, helping to extend its battery life during longer sessions.

  • Quieter Operation

With the heavy lifting done by the host PC, the Steam Deck’s fan operates more quietly, offering a more enjoyable gaming experience.

  • Versatile PC Connection

Moonlight and Sunshine allow your Steam Deck to function as a general-purpose remote desktop for gaming and accessing other PC applications and tasks.

What do you need to have to stream from your PC remotely?

1.Hosting gaming PC

  • Any modern GPU from AMD, NVIDIA and Intel
  • Windows 10 or 11 (Windows 7 and 8 are not supported)
  • macOS 12 and newer (experimental)
  • Linux (Debian 11, Ubuntu 22.04, Fedora 38 and newer)

2.Steam Deck

3.A strong network connected to your PC (around 100Mbps for 4K streaming)

4.A strong network connected to your Steam Deck

 

Enhance Your Remote Streaming Experience with the GR10

Moonlight and Sunshine on Steam Deck Scenarios
Moonlight and Sunshine on Steam Deck Scenarios

For the ideal remote gaming setup, the GR10 is your go-to solution, offering powerful features to support smooth 4K streaming. Here’s how it can enhance your experience:

  • 2.5GbE Ethernet Port: Provides a fast and reliable network connection, ensuring smooth and stable streaming, even at 4K.
  • HDMI 2.1 Support: Fully supports 4K at 120Hz, allowing you to enjoy stunning and larger visuals when streaming with Moonlight.
  • USB-A and USB-C Ports: Equipped with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port, all supporting 10Gbps data transfer, making it easy to connect controllers or other peripherals.

beCreatus GR10 Steam Deck Dock | USB4 Mobile Docking Station

The GR10 is the perfect device to support your 4K streaming needs and elevate your remote gaming experience to the next level.

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