Olga Weis
Many popular games need to run on a powerful computer to deliver the type of performance a gamer expects. But that doesn’t mean that you need to own an expensive machine to play PC games. We are going to show you how to use remote desktop software for gaming so you can access a high-performing computer to play games from anywhere.
Remote desktop for gaming involves players connecting to a remotely located data center that is using premium hardware to run the gaming software. Connecting to the gaming platform through a remote desktop connection gives gamers access to the powerful GPUs necessary to play their favorite games. Player input is transferred over an Internet connection and gaming output is provided to gamers via streaming video.
Using a remote desktop connection for gaming eliminates the need for gamers to have powerful hardware to enjoy their games. Connecting with the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) lets you hand off the processor-intensive calculations and rendering to the remote machine. Your machine simply needs to be able to decode and view the streaming gameplay. Gaming with a remote desktop enables gamers to play and control any game by using the screen of their laptop or tablet.
You may run into a problem forwarding your game controller when setting up a remote desktop for gaming. This can easily be fixed and there are software solutions for setting up the game controller in an RDP session.
Not all remote desktop software provides the same features and level of performance. Gamers may experience excessive latency and lag that can degrade the game playing experience. Therefore, you should carefully investigate the remote desktop software options available to you and select the one that provides the speed and key features you need.
Selecting the right remote desktop software for gaming often comes down to personal preference. Not everyone will like the same solution for playing PC games remotely. We’ve put together a list of some of the best remote desktop software for gaming to help you choose the one that’s best for you. We’ve included the best free remote desktop for gaming solutions for those budget-conscious users.
AnyDesk is a reliable remote desktop solution that offers users low latency connectivity and supports the high screen resolution required by gamers. It provides a smooth remote gaming experience with features that include efficiently optimizing bandwidth for high-speed video streaming that virtually eliminates controller lag.
AnyDesk is a remote desktop software tool that lets gamers obtain excellent gaming performance no matter where they are located. It’s one of the best free remote desktops for gaming solutions when installed for personal use.
AnyDesk is also available as an app so you can play PC games on a mobile device. The app provides the same reliable performance and connectivity as the software tool.
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Valve expanded its remote gaming service with the announcement of Steam Link Anywhere prior to the 2019 Game Developers Conference. This new feature enables gamers to use any device with an Internet connection and the ability to run Steam to play PC games anywhere.
Steam Link Anywhere is accessed through the Steam Link app. The app makes your game library portable and lets you play games remotely as long as you can connect to the Internet. You can now stream games from one computer to another computer, an Android device, or an Android TV. Before the expansion, the app required users to be connected to the same home network.
Steam Link Anywhere only requires that the app is installed on your home and remote machines. You need a strong network connection and fast upload speeds for optimal performance.
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Moonlight is remote desktop software for gaming that uses your gaming machine as a host from which you can stream games over the network to a client. The client can be a phone, PC, tablet, or TV. A fast Internet connection lets you play games running on your host from any location.
Moonlight is very easy to use as illustrated in the following example. Install Moonlight on a client like your smartphone. When you open the app, you have access to the complete library of games that are installed on your host computer. Simply select the game and it starts running on the host and streaming to your client device so you can start gaming.
Moonlight uses Nvidia software to mirror the host’s desktop remotely and create an input/output loop. It streams the output of the host’s screen to the client device while also streaming player input from a keyboard or controller back to the host.
The level of performance offered by Moonlight is adequate for single-player games and turn-based games that are not negatively impacted by occasional lag or latency. Competitive gamers will probably want to look for an alternate solution that offers more consistent and lag-free performance.
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Parsec is a remote desktop for gaming software solution that employs a proprietary peer-to-peer networking protocol called Better User Datagrams (BUD). This protocol forms the foundation of Parsec’s core technologies that optimize for packet loss and congestion to deliver extremely low-latency video.
Parsec is a secure software gaming platform. It supports the security features of DTLS 1.2 with AES128 or AES256 encryption on every transmission over the Internet. Frame rates of 60FPS are possible on UHD displays which eliminates all latency and lag for an exceptional gaming experience.
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Rainway is a new game streaming service that takes advantage of the unlimited data and fast Internet speeds many users enjoy. It’s a free solution that lets you host a game on your home PC and play them anywhere. Gamers can play from a mobile device, another computer, a Chrome browser, and many other options.
Game play can be very inconsistent with Rainway. In some cases, you’ll get great graphics and no latency. Other sessions may exhibit technical difficulties that make it impossible to play your games. As it’s free, you have to expect some issues.
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This article provides information on the best remote gaming solutions that let you play your games from any location. We highlighted how your gaming experience can be impacted by latency, lags, and inconsistent performance. You should look for remote desktop gaming software that supports the operating systems of the devices you will use to stream games. Make sure the tool also allows you to play your favorite titles.
