Valve strongly recommends tethering an ethernet cable to the Link, and after some rough experience streaming games over my Wi-Fi connection, I wholeheartedly agree. The next step involves connecting the Steam Link to the same home network that your computer is running off of.

Xbox One controllers will work, too, but only when wired up to the Link. Whether you have Valve's official Steam Controller, a trusty wired or wireless Xbox 360 controller, or just a standard keyboard and mouse combo, setup is simple and intuitive for beginners and experts alike. That said, there are a few initial steps to run through. Anyone who is comfortable navigating Netflix should feel right at home here.įrom the time I powered on Steam Link to when I began playing only took a few minutes. That's mostly due in part to its Big Picture feature, Valve's controller and TV-friendly interface that gives gamers a slick, refined view of the Steam universe. Steam isn't known for being the most user-friendly application out there, but it's gotten remarkably easier to use in the past few years. Aside from the Link itself, there's a power adapter, as well as an HDMI cable, an ethernet cable and some universal plug adapters (types C, I and G are included). Inside the box, Valve includes everything you need to get started. It can stream any (read: any) game in your computer's Steam library over a wired or wireless local connection.

Each is no bigger in size than most modern portable hard drives and weighs just about as much a smartphone or two stacked together.Īnd while Amazon and Apple's offerings might have Valve's box beat in terms of the devices' vast multimedia catalogs, the Steam Link totally cleans the floor of the competition with its own expansive game selection. As a result, it could very easily slip past the scuffle and make a home for itself in your living room.įor comparison's sake, this game streaming device isn't all that much different in appearance to recent, popular streaming boxes like the Amazon Fire TV or the new Apple TV. Set-top boxes are fighting each other for a spot, but Valve's streamer does what most others cannot. The Steam Link is making its entrance during a time when real estate on our entertainment center has never been more of a precious commodity.

Valve Steam Link at Amazon for $235.99 (opens in new tab).

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