Steam Integration - LeGeRyChEeSe/Sunshine-AIO GitHub Wiki

Steam Integration

Optimize Steam for streaming with Sunshine-AIO for the best PC gaming experience.

🎯 Overview

Steam provides excellent streaming integration with:

  • Big Picture Mode - Console-like interface optimized for controllers
  • Steam Input - Universal controller support for all games
  • Built-in optimization - Automatic graphics and performance settings
  • Wide game library - Thousands of games with verified compatibility

🚀 Basic Steam Setup

Steam Setup

Installation:

  1. Download from store.steampowered.com
  2. Install to default location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\
  3. Login and enable Steam Guard

Recommended Settings:

Steam → Settings → General:
✅ Run Steam when computer starts
✅ Enable hardware acceleration
✅ Keep games updated automatically

Adding Steam to Sunshine

Steam Big Picture (Recommended for streaming):

{
  "name": "Steam Big Picture",
  "cmd": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steam.exe",
  "args": "-bigpicture",
  "working-dir": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam"
}

Desktop Steam:

{
  "name": "Steam Desktop",
  "cmd": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steam.exe", 
  "working-dir": "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam"
}

Individual Games (using Steam App ID):

{
  "name": "Game Name",
  "cmd": "steam://launch/[STEAM_APP_ID]"
}

🎮 Big Picture Mode Optimization

Big Picture Optimization

Interface Settings:

Big Picture → Settings → Interface:
✅ Use Big Picture overlay with controller
❌ Show friend notifications (reduces distractions)
❌ Display web browser on startup

Library Organization:

Library Settings:
- Show only installed games: ✅
- Sort by: Recently played or Name
- Use Collections to organize by genre
- Hide non-gaming software

Controller Setup

Enable Controller Support:

Big Picture → Settings → Controller:
✅ Xbox Configuration Support
✅ PlayStation Configuration Support
✅ Switch Pro Configuration Support
✅ Generic Gamepad Configuration Support

Desktop Controls (for Steam Deck/similar):

  • Right pad: Mouse
  • Left pad: Scroll wheel
  • Shoulder buttons: Left/right click
  • Menu button: ESC key

🎯 Steam Input Benefits

Why Steam Input is great for streaming:

  • Universal controller compatibility
  • Per-game customizable layouts
  • Community-shared configurations
  • Mouse/keyboard emulation
  • Advanced features (gyro, touch pads)

Common Controller Layouts

FPS/Action Games:

  • Left Stick: WASD movement
  • Right Stick: Mouse look
  • Triggers: Fire/Aim
  • Face Buttons: Jump, Use, Reload, etc.

Racing Games:

  • Left Stick: Steering (analog)
  • Right Trigger: Accelerate
  • Left Trigger: Brake
  • Face Buttons: Handbrake, Horn, etc.

Strategy Games:

  • Trackpad: High-precision mouse
  • Shoulder Buttons: Left/Right click
  • Triggers: Mouse scroll
  • D-Pad: Hotkeys

Using Community Configurations

Games with excellent Steam Input support:

  • Cyberpunk 2077 - Controller + gyro aiming
  • The Witcher 3 - Comprehensive controller layouts
  • GTA V - Seamless driving/on-foot switching
  • Civilization VI - Strategy game controller optimization

Finding Community Configs:

  1. In-game: Press and hold Steam button
  2. Controller Options → Browse Configs
  3. Select "Community" tab
  4. Sort by popularity or rating
  5. Import and customize as needed

🖥️ Display and Performance

Performance Optimization

Game Launch Options (Properties → General):

-fullscreen     # Force fullscreen mode
-novid          # Skip intro videos
-high           # High CPU priority
-threads 4      # Use 4 CPU threads

Shader Pre-Caching (recommended):

Steam → Settings → Shader Pre-Caching:
✅ Enable Shader Pre-Caching
✅ Allow background Vulkan processing
✅ Enable for DirectX and OpenGL

Streaming Optimization

Reduce Background Processes:

  • Close Steam friends chat
  • Disable Steam notifications
  • Pause downloads during streaming
  • Close Steam web browser tabs

Windows Gaming Settings:

# Disable Game Bar if it causes issues
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" /v "GameBarEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

# Enable Game Mode for performance
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\GameBar" /v "AutoGameModeEnabled" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

# Set High Performance power plan
powercfg.exe -s 8c5e7fda-e8bf-4a96-9a85-a6e23a8c635c

🔧 Advanced Steam Features

Steam Remote Play (Alternative)

Steam's Built-in Streaming:

Pros:
+ Integrated with Steam library
+ Automatic optimization
+ Works with Steam Link devices
+ Built-in controller support

Cons:
- Limited to Steam games only
- Less configuration options
- Requires both devices on Steam

When to Use Each:

  • Sunshine-AIO: More flexibility, all applications, better quality control
  • Steam Remote Play: Quick setup, Steam-only gaming, Steam Link hardware

Steam Workshop Integration

Controller Configurations:

1. Create custom controller layout
2. Save as personal configuration
3. Share with community via Workshop
4. Download popular configurations

Game Modifications:

  • Streaming-optimized graphics mods
  • UI scaling mods for better remote visibility
  • Performance enhancement mods

Family Sharing for Multiple Users

Steam Family Sharing:

1. Steam → Settings → Family
2. Authorize shared computers
3. Enable Family Library Sharing
4. Stream games from different accounts
5. Manage access permissions

🎮 Game Categories for Streaming

Excellent for Streaming

Single-Player Story Games:

  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Red Dead Redemption 2
  • Assassin's Creed series
  • Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Racing Games:

  • Forza Horizon 5
  • F1 23
  • Dirt Rally 2.0
  • Need for Speed Heat

Strategy Games:

  • Civilization VI
  • Total War series
  • Age of Empires IV
  • Crusader Kings III

Good with Optimization

Action Games (need good network):

  • Call of Duty series
  • Battlefield series
  • Apex Legends
  • Counter-Strike 2

Fighting Games (low latency required):

  • Street Fighter 6
  • Tekken 8
  • Mortal Kombat 11
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ

Not Recommended for Streaming

Competitive FPS (latency critical):

  • Valorant
  • CS2 competitive matches
  • Rainbow Six Siege ranked

Rhythm Games (timing critical):

  • Beat Saber
  • Guitar Hero
  • Dance Dance Revolution

🛠️ Troubleshooting Steam Issues

Steam Won't Launch via Streaming

Common Solutions:

1. Check Steam path in Sunshine configuration
2. Verify Steam is not already running
3. Run Steam as administrator
4. Check for Steam updates
5. Verify Steam service is running

Steam Service Check:

net start Steam
# or
services.msc → Steam Client Service

Big Picture Mode Issues

Interface Problems:

Solutions:
1. Reset Big Picture Mode: Steam → Settings → Interface → Reset
2. Clear Steam cache: Delete Steam\appcache folder
3. Verify controller configuration
4. Check display scaling settings

Controller Not Working:

1. Steam → Settings → Controller → Test Configuration
2. Disable conflicting software (DS4Windows, etc.)
3. Update controller drivers
4. Re-pair wireless controllers

Game Launch Problems

Games Won't Start:

  1. Verify integrity - Right-click game → Properties → Verify integrity
  2. Check compatibility - Ensure game supports controllers if needed
  3. Disable overlay - Temporarily disable Steam overlay
  4. Admin privileges - Run Steam as administrator

Performance Issues:

  1. Graphics settings - Lower in-game quality settings
  2. Disable features - Turn off Steam overlay, broadcasting
  3. Close extras - Close friends list, chat windows
  4. Fullscreen mode - Use exclusive fullscreen when possible

📊 Performance Monitoring

Steam Performance Tools

FPS Counter:

Steam → Settings → In-Game:
✅ Enable FPS counter (top-left recommended)
✅ High contrast color for visibility

Performance Overlay:

  • Access: Shift + Tab → Performance (in-game)
  • Shows: FPS, frame time, GPU/CPU usage
  • Use for: Identifying performance bottlenecks during streaming

Third-Party Tools

MSI Afterburner + RivaTuner:

  • GPU monitoring and overclocking
  • Custom overlay with detailed stats
  • Frame rate limiting for consistent performance

Steam Hardware Survey:

  • Benchmark your system against other users
  • Optimize settings based on similar hardware
  • Identify upgrade needs for better streaming

🎯 Best Practices

Pre-Streaming Checklist

Optimize Steam for streaming: ✅ Close Steam friends chat ✅ Disable notifications (Do Not Disturb mode) ✅ Pause/clear download queue ✅ Ensure games are updated ✅ Test controller configuration ✅ Close unnecessary Steam windows

Optimization Settings

Download Settings:

Steam → Settings → Downloads:
- Limit bandwidth during gameplay
- Choose closest download region
- Only update when not gaming

Reduce Resource Usage:

  • Disable Steam broadcasting
  • Close web browser tabs in Steam
  • Minimize or close friends list
  • Disable automatic screenshot uploads
  • Limit cloud sync during streaming sessions

For specific game configurations and advanced troubleshooting, see the Troubleshooting Guide or FAQ sections.