Steam Link App Now Native on Apple Vision Pro
▼ Summary
– Valve is releasing a Steam Link app for the Apple Vision Pro to stream traditional 2D games from a user’s PC or Mac over a local network.
– The app explicitly does not support streaming VR games, and Valve has not announced any plans for SteamVR support on the headset.
– This official app provides a simpler method for game streaming compared to existing third-party tools on the Vision Pro.
– The current test version supports streaming up to 4K resolution and allows adjustment of the display curve in panoramic mode.
– The Vision Pro’s connectivity for external gaming has improved since launch, though it remains less straightforward than on some competing headsets.
Valve has officially launched a native version of its Steam Link application for the Apple Vision Pro, enabling users to stream their existing Steam game libraries directly to the mixed reality headset. This development provides a seamless method for playing standard PC and Mac titles on the Vision Pro’s immersive display, connecting wirelessly to a host computer on the same local network. It is crucial to understand that this service streams only traditional 2D games, not VR titles designed for platforms like SteamVR. While this move could potentially pave the way for future virtual reality support, Valve has not announced any plans to bring SteamVR games to Apple’s headset.
The Steam Link app has been available on other Apple platforms, including Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, for some time. These versions allow compatible controllers to pair with the device, streaming games not only from other Apple computers but also from Windows or Linux gaming PCs. The new native Vision Pro app offers a more integrated and reliable experience compared to previous workarounds, such as using third-party tools like ALVR, which required more technical setup.
For those interested in testing the software, Valve is distributing it through Apple’s TestFlight platform for pre-release applications before a full App Store launch. The current build supports streaming at resolutions up to 4K and includes a feature to dynamically adjust the display curve when using the panoramic viewing mode. This native support addresses a notable limitation highlighted in early reviews of the Vision Pro, which criticized its restricted connectivity with external gaming devices and content ecosystems outside Apple’s control. Although the situation for gamers has improved significantly since the headset’s launch, accessing such content can still be less straightforward than on some competing hardware.
(Source: Ars Technica)
