Steam Link Reviews

I got mine as part of the initial pre-order wave in October and I've been very happy with it... works for non-steam games as long as they are added to steam, such as Minecraft... also worked adding a web Browser to steam and surfing the internet (though streamed media like Amazon Prime Video was choppy and unwatchable). The kids love it too, and it means that they can now play games "on Daddy's computer" in the lounge, instead of upstairs on my gaming PC (and Steam Family View means I can restrict what games they can play). Occasionally I have to go upstairs to troubleshoot something... Zone alarm in particular can cause some headaches, but I've not had any issues with the link or steam crashing that other reviewers have mentioned, and it always finds my PC on the network (my wife's laptop too, but that's not great for streaming from!) Some things do look a bit different, whether that's because I'm used to seeing them on a monitor, or because of the compression that goes on as part of the streaming, I'm not sure... in particular it was hard to tell the difference between some of the blocks in my inventory in Minecraft.. So far I've tried a fair few lighter games including Minecraft, Portal 2, Peggle, Pinball FX2, Sonic Racing Transformed and Gauntlet, and all have been playable. I intend to try some more demanding games soon, like Shadow of Mordor. My only major gripe at the moment is the absence of voice chat. You can pair a bluetooth headset with the steam link, but so far no audio is output to it. I believe this is in the pipeline, so I am eagerly anticipating that. Therefore, for now, I'm not using the link for online multiplayer games.

PRO: Very idiot friendly PRO: Works with Steam on Linux PRO: Works with Steam on Wine on Linux running Windows games CON: Can accomplish similar results using a very long HDMI cable and wireless controller PRO: The HDMI cable will probably be more expensive than the Steam Link given how often it goes on sale and setting up / taking down multiple monitors conventionally can be a hassle PRO: Can mirror your monitor when doing non-Steam things CON: Did not play audio at all and lagged when I connected to it with Steam running in WINE PRO: By adding programs like Kodi to Steam through the "Add a Non-Steam game to my library" feature you can add a little more functionality, like streaming media while keeping Big Picture Mode. I got it cheap, it's great for the money.

Pros: + Very small, lightweight, and cheap + Extremely easy to set up - just plug it in and it starts up. Once it's on the network, it immediately found the Steam PC, and with one click (plus a security-confirmation on the PC), I was all set up! + Supports Steam Controller, PS3/PS4 controllers, and XBox One S controllers out of the box, wireless or wired. Also supports wireless XBox One and XBox 360 controllers if you have the PC dongle. Can play with 4 wireless controllers at once [i](possibly more, I haven't tested)[/i]. + Supports 802.11 AC [i](the new, super-fast WiFi standard)[/i] + Streaming for most games has been fantastic! Cons: - [b]No power button[/b]. After turning it off, there is no way to turn this thing on without a paired controller, short of unplugging it and plugging it back in. What!? - Only 3 USB ports. Given that the magic number for local-multiplayer games is 4 players, the lack of a 4th USB port is very strange. To play a game with 4 wired controllers you need a USB hub. - A small number of obscure games simply don't work. Crysis worked fine at 60fps, but I couldn't get more than 1fps from 'Papa and Yo', despite the game playing fine on my actual PC. - A large number of people have run into an issue where the audio will lag behind the video by 1-2 seconds. I haven't experienced this, but it's all over the forums. - There is a noticeable input lag, probably about 100ms. This amount of lag is really only an issue in games where quick reflexes are required. It was a small annoyance in FPS games, and a huge annoyance in fighting games. I would not recommend playing Towerfall on a Steam Link. Overall: Despite a number of glaring issues, I'm very happy with my purchase. I've been looking for a device to play PC games on my couch for a long time, and I've finally found one. 7/10 [Edit May 2017]: Updated my review because one of my "cons" was fixed!

what the hell its $1 right now with the ICEY bundle lol, go grab it! EDIT: during the time i posted this there was a deal going on but it is now no longer available...i say if you can get this on sale like i did for around $20, then its a definite buy if your confident in your internet connection

1: Do not use Wifi, use a LAN connection. 2: This is not going to give you a replicated PC experience 3: Dont even bother trying to play online FPS with it, its really for single player FPS or Multiplayer games that dont need low latency to play. 4: Scale down Steam link to 720p for a better experience and reduced lag. 5: If cant handle 1 to 4, dont bother buying it as your expectations are out of whack. Connected it LAN and worked 1st time and I like the fact it comes with lan and hdmi cables. I would suggest doing the update as the out of box version was a little cumbersome to configure. Once the update happened, then it was just fine. Dont think for a minute you can use it for FPS online, as the minor lag is enough to get you frustrated, but if you want to sit and play single player games, it works just fine with wireless keyboard and mouse. (bought the cheap Poloroid Key/mouse from Asda). Steam Link also works fine with Emulators such as Dolphin and Cemu (you have to add them as games to steam) and with a wired xbox 360 controller into link. As far as controllers go, it doesnt state it works with a Xbox One wireless controller (so dont complain like some here), so be aware that you may have to pay extra via a 3rd party if you want that, unless they add it to the firmware update later. If you think this is going to give you a duplicate experience as sitting at your PC, simply do not buy it, because it wont. All the whiners in this section clearly havent got the sense to google the product and read up on it. Improvements: Could do with an on/off switch on the device itself as most dont want to leave it on 24x7 and to have to physically unplug it just silly.

Got it today and hooked it up as quickly as possible. Been looking forward to using the Link to play games on the TV without needing to haul my PC out to the TV or run a long HDMI cable to the TV. Played some NBA 2k16 and Mad Max and had very little lag over wifi or LAN. I planned on using wired connection but wanted to see how it would perform over my 802.11n network. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the game actually ran over wifi. Wired connection is better, but in my tests, not immensely better. Your results will of course vary based on network congestion, 2.4Ghz range congestion, etc. Link found my steam PC quickly and connected to it. First showing the desktop of my PC and suggesting that I launch Big Picture mode. After launching big picture mode it was easy to browse to different games and launch them. I'm using a wireless Xbox 360 controller adapter with it and it worked flawlessly right out of the box. My only complaint right now is the fact that my PC has an ultra widescreen monitor (3440x1440) connected to it. When I stream a game, the game streams at 3440x1440. It ends up looking small with black bars on the top and bottom of the game. This makes sense since it is streaming from the PC, I guess I just expected the link to auto adjust down to 1080p to match the TV. Not a big deal, just have to switch the desktop resolution prior to launching the game or, if the game supports it, adjust the resolution within the game. (Note: Thanks to Nabushi in the comments, I was able to fix the resolution issue. Very happy!) Overall I'm quite happy with the Steam Link. It's nice to be able to stream PC games to the TV and not need to lug around my PC or string HDMI cables everywhere. Also nice that I can move it around to any other TV's or take it on a road trip with me. Thumbs up!

Got this little thing a few days ago, along with the Steam Controller. Needless to say, this device worked exactly as advertised: a small device that allows you to stream and play your favorite PC games in 1080p/60FPS straight to your living room TV. Setup was relatively easy enough. I plugged in the A/C and HDMI cords to their respective ports and pressed the guide button on the Steam controller to start it up. After about a minute of setting the device up, another press on the guide button took me immediately to Big Picture Mode and the rest was history. The Steam Link will play all Steam games and apps in your library. It'll even play non-Steam games so long as they are added to your Steam Library. I was able to play Dead Space 3 and The Witcher 3 without any trouble. I've also played Fallout 4, Skyrim, PAYDAY 2, Max Payne 3, and GTA V with minimal to no issue whatsoever. As Valve stated on the product page, a wired network is strongly recommended. And it works flawlessly when you do have it connected via an ethernet cable. That being said, a wireless connection doesn't deter the streaming quality much. Although it'll all depend on the strength of your Wi-Fi connection and the location of your Steam Link and TV. In addition to the Steam Controller and the Keyboard & Mouse, the Steam Link also offers native support for several third party controllers as well, including the XBOX ONE (wired) & 360 (wired/wireless) controllers and even the PlayStation 4 controller (albeit with no vibration). I haven't experienced any visible input lag from any of the aforementioned controllers and the buttons are mapped well for each game. The Steam Controller gets the added benefit of allowing you to map the buttons to your liking, even on older games that lack controller support. Keep in mind that this is only a streaming device and not a micro PC or Steam Machine. Therefore, your PC will need to be on in order for the Steam Link to work. Your PC will also be running the game as if you were playing from your desk, so you won't be able to use it for other purposes until you quit the game. Overall, the Steam Link is without a doubt, the best streaming device available right now. And for $50, it is also the best value you can get for a game streaming device, compared to the $200 Nvidia Shield or the $100 NZXT DOKO. This is definitely a much better, and more budget-friendly alternative to a $500 game console or Steam Machine or lugging your huge chassis around from room to room. A definite must own for your living room.

I have had a Steam Link for about 6 months now. I use it quite a bit even just for HTPC-type usage. Browsing the internet, watching YouTube videos, and streaming some sports games via the browser's webpage. They all work really well. When I first received the Steam Link I was not very happy with the performance/latency/fidelity of the stream and determined it was due to the WiFi's busy network. I run Ubiquiti APs and did find that congestion caused issues so I ran a snaked a wire to the Steam Link. NIGHT AND DAY difference. If you do not have a busy WiFi network I am sure it would work much better as I have seen at a friend's place but for me, it would not cut it. My wife and I have Steam controllers and we love them - I have never been into consoles nor has she (PS2 was the last one, before that NES) and so it was an easy transition as I did not have to adjust to it but just learn it. The best part of the controller is the customizability. You can tweak the controller's settings to allow very good responsiveness to suit your gameplay style. I still do not recommend shooters with a controller - I simply cannot get the hang of it but am better with the Steam Controller than say an Xbox controller because of the right touchpad vs a joystick. Some tips: Ensure hardware acceleration is ON, Connect via Cat5\6, and if the PC is powerful enough set the streaming quality to MAX. It plays everything beautifully on our two Skylake-based gaming PCs and enterprise-grade switch (really low latency).

Since this is on sale for the weekend deal at 30% off, I figured I would pick a second one up for our bedroom TV. Before doing so, I figured I would come check the reviews to see what other customers thought of their links. I am somewhat shocked by the negative reviews. First, let me state I have had my first Steamlink since release. My house is wired for ethernet, but where I wanted to stream from had a faulty connection. In preparation for that November 10 release, I repaired my Cat5e cable to maintain that gigabit ethernet connection. Let me tell you that was not even necessary here. 801.11n WiFi will handle adequate streaming just fine as I tried it when my ethernet switch failed. Now, I will state I am also running fiber for my internet connection and have a rather high end PC - I run 5880x1080, so Surround gaming with dual nVidia cards. NO games lag at 1080p. Is this necessary for flawless Steamlink gaming? The reviews here would lean my opinion toward a no for that answer. The few negative reviews largely circle around performance issues, to which I would probably attribute network or internet connectivity from reading through them. The systems looked sound. To further attest to its ease of use and accessibility, my wife, who is not as technically-minded as myself, was able to pick up some beloved Final Fantasy classics and access them in our living room without too much issue. She had a greater learning curve than myself, but if you will notice my profile and the hundreds of hours spend in FF8, she hardly hated the experience; quite the opposite as she was partially the driving force for wanting a second link in our bedroom. I, myself, have played over 100 hours of Fallout 4 from my couch thanks to my Steamlink (hundreds more hours of various other games as well), and the picture on my 65" TV is actually better (albeit slightly smaller) than my gaming rig. That would be one of my caveats - be prepared for a varied experience when it comes to picture quality. Various games look undoubtedly better on a TV than on your PC, other games look decidedly worse. Alien: Isolation, for example, looks terrible on the big screen but impeccable on the PC. Were it consistently one way or the other, I would be looking into upgrading screens somewhere. As it stands, this appears to be a software issue and unavoidable. My other complaint, and this is largely unique to a Surround setup: transitioning between PC resolution and TV resolution needs a little work. If "Windowed Borderless" were an option for every game, this likely would not be an issue. If I wish to retain my Surround setup, I need to run games windowed, which frequently means unseemly Windows borders to ruin immersion on the TV. I can toggle between Surround and just 3 1920x1080 screens, but that is added hassle that ruins the convenience pull of this product. Overall, this is an awesome piece of hardware to allow Steam gaming in your living room. It has a few kinks to still work out, but Valve does not disappoint with the updates or listening to their users to improve their features. Any company that does that with not only their software, but now their hardware means you are in good hands with their products. I have recommended getting a Steamlink to any of my gaming friends. General Pros/Cons breakdown: Pros: - Great convenience to be able to play from additional TVs in the home - If you have small children, not being tied to a PC for gaming allows more freedom to keep the rugrats in line - Wonderful product support/improvement from Valve - Relatively small pricetag Cons: - Slight hiccup with resolution changes - Potentially inconsistent display quality - Slower networks not advised

Updated Review! tl;dr: Despite some limitations, this device does what I, personally, need it to - it lets me use my main PC with the TV, without needing to change any cables or move anything. The good: * This device has replaced my media center PC -almost- completely * In tandem with steam controllers, works OK for browsing the internet, watching YouTube/Netflix, etc * Firmware updates have solved a lot of issues with certain games not working and general stability * On a wired network, it works well enough for games with precise timing requirements like Street Fighter - even through about 60 total feet of ethernet cable, a router, and a switch. * Plays nicely with wired xbox controllers, steam controllers, joysticks, mice, keyboards, etc. * Tiny box. I have considered using a command strip to attach it to the back of my TV. The Bad: * Video compression artifacts make movie watching not quite as good as using a BluRay player or directly connecting your PC to the TV. If you're watching Netflix, it matters less. Not always noticable. * No 4k support or >60hz means it has a limited shelf life. Works fine with a 4k tv, though, but it scales to 1080p. Be prepared. No black bars, though. * Does NOT work with a wireless Xbox One controller dongle. You have to plug it into your computer itself. This still works fine, but it's a bit annoying. Microsoft giveth, Microsoft taketh away. * Steam occasionally crashes. This will leave the game running on the host computer while the stream (and input!) stop. Does this suck? Yes it does! * The Wake-On-LAN feature only sort of works for me. I usually have to walk back to the computer to turn it on or restart Steam/login (like if the above happens). This seems like a hard limitation of the technology, but it isn't fun. Be aware. * The slightest touch of any input device that's connected to the Steam Link will wake it up, which, with my TV, means the TV automatically switches to that input and Steam enters big picture on my computer. Super annoying. * There's no "ON" button. The above is the ONLY way to get it to turn on. This is frustrating when you use an Xbox One controller, because it's connected to the host PC, not the Steam Link. I have to plug another controller in, get into the Steam Link, then unplug it. Also super annoying. Now I know, I know, that's a big list of cons and relatively few pros. But those pros are REALLY NICE and the cons are mostly just moderately obnoxious and intermittent. Every time people come over and I'm able to put on some Towerfall or ScreenCheat or Rocket League or , or a YouTube video, or a movie, with relatively little hassle, I'm glad I bought it. Worth every penny. Notes: * 24fps movies are going to judder on a 60 hz display. This is a fact of math, and not the fault of the device. * Steam's built in controller keyboards are nice, but not super easy to get open when you need them in a pinch. If you decide to close big picture mode, get a couch keyboard. * You can do whatever you want on your computer by just closing big picture mode. You can browse Reddit, you can do video editing, whatever. Would not recommend video editing. --- Original Review Below --- I think it's important to understand what the steam link is, and is not, before buying it. It IS NOT: * A Netflix box * A multi-media streaming device * A replacement for a media center PC (mostly - see my update below) * A replacement for a gaming console It IS: * An awesome little device that will let you bring your big-rig PC into the living room, without actually moving it. I have no idea if it works over WiFi, but I can state confidently that it runs games seamlessly through an ethernet cord. I have about 50ft of ethernet cord between my PC and the steam link, and there is no discernible lag. I can couch-coop in Rocket League with friends and play against people online, and suffer no technical disadvantage. I still use the media center PC for what it's good for, and I still use the PS3 as a netflix box (there's no native Netflix app for Steam yet, so the controls aren't very good), but now I use the Steam Link to play games with, when friends come over. One caveat; this won't stream above 60hz, 1080p, which puts kind of an expiration date on the product for relevancy... however, given the price tag, I think that's pretty reasonable. Not a device for everyone, but if you find yourself wishing your main PC was in the living room because the media center PC won't run Far Cry 4 or something, this is the ticket. -- EDIT 1/3/2016 -- You CAN use it for more media PC type applications, if you close big picture mode on the host PC after initializing streaming. This can allow you to watch movies and browse the web normally, though I don't particularly recommend movie watching with this device - as some other reviews have noted, the sound quality is not the best, plus 24fps movies have judder when displayed at 60fps. Thoughts on the keyboard - I've played with both the dual thumb stick QWERTY keyboard and the pie menu flower-keyboard, and I think both have the potential to be very fast when you get used to them. Still not as good as a real keyboard, but clearly miles and miles better than anything I've seen a console try. For games with heavy typing, I still recommend mouse and keyboard.