Key information
Valve has introduced Pyrowave to the Steam beta client's Remote Play feature. The new video codec is developed specifically for in-home game streaming, aiming to provide lower latency and cleaner image quality.
Pyrowave processes each frame independently rather than relying on motion prediction. It utilizes GPU encoding and decoding, full YUV 4:4:4 color, and HDR when supported by both the host and client. Users can adjust bandwidth settings from 100 Mbps up to 500 Mbps, with Valve's guidance suggesting that a gigabit network is required. The codec demands between five and ten times as much bandwidth as existing streaming codecs.
The feature is currently optional and accessible via Steam's beta participation settings and advanced Remote Play menus. According to Tom's Hardware, Linux users must use the experimental SteamRT3 client to gain access, and the feature is currently targeted at desktop enthusiasts with fast, wired network setups rather than typical Wi-Fi streaming.
