Steam's new beta restores HDR streaming on Steam Deck OLED
Steam Deck OLED owners can use HDR in Remote Play again through Steam's latest beta. Valve is also expanding HDR streaming to Android 15 phones and adding HDR desktop capture on Linux and macOS.
Steam Link promotional screenshot supplied by Valve. Image: Valve
The changes are part of Valve's October 22 beta update, available through Steam's Beta and Preview channels. Android users also need the beta version of the Steam Link app.
Three HDR settings give players more control over the stream
The advanced client options now offer Automatic, On and Off settings. Automatic enables HDR when HDR content is active, while On keeps it enabled and allows increased brightness for SDR content. Off disables it.
Steam Link promotional screenshot supplied by Valve. Image: Valve
That gives players a choice between matching the source content and keeping the HDR output active. It does not mean an SDR game gains new HDR detail simply because the setting is switched on.
Valve previously supported HDR capture in games and on the Windows desktop. The beta extends desktop capture to macOS and Linux systems using PipeWire, widening the range of computers that can supply an HDR stream.
Steam Link promotional screenshot supplied by Valve. Image: Valve
Android support requires both a recent phone OS and the beta app
For Android phones, Valve specifies Android 15 or later and the Steam Link beta on Google Play. The announcement does not describe this as a general release to every Steam Link installation.
The update concerns Remote Play's video output. It is separate from Valve's recent USB streaming support for Quest headsets, which changes how those headsets connect to a gaming PC.
Players who prefer to stay on stable software can wait for a subsequent stable client release. Valve has not attached a stable rollout date to this beta announcement.
