Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
In recent times, I’ve had a sophisticated relationship with gaming. Whether or not you need to name it burnout or mid-thirties malaise, I simply couldn’t discover the motivation to play my favourite video games.
The answer for me has been retro handhelds. Unchaining myself from the PC I sit in any respect day is precisely what I must get again into gaming. However what about all these Steam video games I’ve impulse-purchased through the years?
That’s the place Steam Hyperlink is available in. For years, the Android app was a joke, however a enormous replace final November introduced not solely new options like HDR and AV1 streaming, but in addition assist for greater than 500 Android gadgets. With that in thoughts, I made a decision to provide it a check over the vacations, and I can’t consider I haven’t tried it sooner.
Steam Hyperlink will get it accomplished
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
After a really fast and simple setup, Steam Hyperlink was primed and able to go. I examined it on a Google Pixel 9, REDMAGIC 10 Professional, and AYANEO Pocket Evo handheld. I additionally targeted on taking part in at residence on native Wi-Fi since that’s the place Steam Hyperlink actually shines.
Solely controller-focused titles work properly, which meant my common favorites of RTS and technique video games have been a no-go. So, for the primary time within the three years since I purchased it, I booted up Horizon Zero Daybreak and performed for a couple of hours.
Steam Hyperlink works nice on native Wi-Fi, however solely with a controller.
The outcomes have been unimaginable. The visuals have been as crisp as my desktop gaming rig might handle, and the enter lag was minimal. It’d battle with aggressive on-line shooters, however that’s not likely what I’m searching for whereas enjoyable on the couch after work.
By far the very best expertise was the Android-powered AYANEO Pocket Evo, principally due to the built-in controller. It’s mechanically registered as an Xbox controller when booting up Steam Hyperlink, so I didn’t need to fiddle with touch-screen controls. To be truthful, the touch-screen controls are nice and extremely customizable, however nothing compares to an actual controller.
The expertise was truly so good that I questioned if I wasted cash shopping for the ASUS ROG Ally. Wouldn’t it have been higher to purchase a less expensive handheld and stream from my PC? Properly, no, and right here’s why.
What nonetheless wants work
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
Whereas Steam Hyperlink works very properly in-game, different stuff could be fidgety. The mouse controls didn’t all the time work properly for me, and that was simply whereas looking menus. I’d hate to see how they fare in-game. Closing video games additionally didn’t all the time work properly, and generally it brought about my desktop PC to hold till I finished streaming on the Android app.
The UI might additionally use some work. Some menus have been lower off, and it listed video games I had in my library however not put in on my PC. Putting in video games isn’t a activity I need to do whereas streaming, so I really feel like these video games can safely be left off the listing.
There are extra streaming choices, however none are so simple as Steam Hyperlink.
Moreover, streaming efficiency isn’t good. If I moved to my bed room, which is the furthest room from my router, the standard tanked. Leaving the home made issues worse, making me really feel significantly better about investing in devoted gaming handhelds just like the ROG Ally and AYANEO Pocket Evo.
In the end although, Steam Hyperlink’s largest concern is that it isn’t the one resolution on the block. Moonlight presents higher streaming efficiency on native Wi-Fi and over the web. Cloud gaming platforms like NVIDIA’s GeForce Now provide entry to your Steam library with no desktop PC, too (albeit at a price until you need to undergo the horrible free tier). Each additionally increase past simply Steam titles to incorporate Sport Cross PC, Epic Sport Retailer video games, and extra.
However when you’ve got a PC, Steam Hyperlink is simply really easy. Straightforward is what I’m searching for going right into a turbulent 2025, so though it’s not the very best, I’ll nonetheless be utilizing it to chip away at my burgeoning backlog.