Soon you can play PC games on your smartphone or tablet via the Steam Link app for iOS and Android. Valve announced Steam Link for mobile devices along with Steam Video, an app that lets you watch movies and shows available on Steam on your Android or iOS device. The Steam Link app release date is slated to be "next week" while Steam Video is out "later this Summer".
According to Valve, Steam Link app allows you to play your Steam Library on Android or iOS devices including smartphones, tablets, Android TV, and even Apple TV. No requirements have been made public just yet aside from the need to be connected via 5GHz network or wired Ethernet to a host system (Mac or PC). Android access will be initially offered in beta, although no further details have been provided on how or when this would be accessible for all. The Steam Link App will feature support for the Steam Controller, MFI controllers, and more across both platforms.
As for the Steam Video app, it will let you watch video content from Steam on your iOS or Android device over WiFi or LTE. Interestingly, you will be able to download your videos to watch offline, ensuring you don't have to be online at all times.
The release of these two apps further cement Steam's position as the go to place for PC gamers. Though we won't be surprised to see specific games be disallowed from Steam Link. Valve usually lets developers set access restrictions and not too many take advantage of Steam Family Share, hopefully this won't be the case here given that you still need your PC to be running to take advantage of this.
Steam owner Valve has been in the news of late for a host of reasons. From acquiring indie outfits like Campo Santo to making new games like Artifact, it seems that although appears to be its big revenue driver, it's not shy from exploring other opportunities. More so when you consider the likes of Activision looking to break out from the Steam ecosystem and make its games exclusive to Battle.net like Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.
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