Steam to launch apps for streaming videos and games to Android and iOS devices

Video game developer Valve has recently decided to continue to expand the streaming capabilities of Steam to include Android and iOS powered mobile devices that connect to the same network as the host system. Valve is planning to achieve this by the upcoming release of a pair of mobile apps.

The first one is the Steam Link mobile app, which is expected to roll out on the week of May 21st. What this app will basically do is stream video content or games from the user’s library to an Android running smartphone, tablet or even smart TV, or an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. The only requirement is that the user must have a Steam host system that is connected to the same network as their handset or connected device. Similar to many other cloud solutions out there, Steam needs a 5 GigaHertz or Ethernet connection between the host and the router, and also between the host (a PC or a Mac will do) and the handset or connected device.

Despite the fact that both the Android and iOS versions will be released at the same time, the former will initially be made available only in the beta iteration. According to Valve, the mobile app will be offering full support for the Steam Controller, plus the MFI controllers.

Later this year, specifically during the upcoming summer season, Valve is also planning to launch a Steam Video mobile app. This service will be able to allow users to stream their Steam video content library to any Android or iOS mobile device, over a Wi-Fi connection or an LTE network. Additionally, the app also comes with support for offline viewing.

Right now, systems that are designed to stream to a fair range of handsets and connected devices are sort of a rarity. As a matter of fact, only Blade Shadow seems to come to mind. While it is true that there are other similar solutions, a vast majority of them feel like experimental efforts, or to put it differently, just not quite there yet. 

Make no mistake, Valve’s offering is far from being perfect, but it does appear to have done so many things right. No doubt about it, many will be wondering if Steam will be able to handle super high resolutions, especially with varying qualities of host systems and Wi-Fi or LTE networks. But the brand has had previous experience with streaming games from local systems. If it can further figure out the complexities of streaming to mobile devices and smart TVs, it just might manage quite well.