Steam Machine · Guides
PS5 Remote Play on Steam Machine: Asobi vs chiaki-ng
Summary
chiaki-ng is the established open-source route for streaming a PS4 or PS5 you own. Asobi adds PS Plus cloud streaming in a public playtest, but its long-term support is not established.
Sony's official Remote Play page lists Windows and macOS clients, not Linux. SteamOS therefore has no official Sony client. Two community options fill the gap, and they are not the same tool.
The short answer: install chiaki-ng. Try Asobi if you want PS Plus cloud streaming specifically, and do not build your setup around it.
They solve overlapping but different problems
chiaki-ng streams from a PlayStation you own. It is a reverse-engineered client for Sony's own Remote Play protocol, running against your console over your network or over the internet.
Asobi does that too, and adds something chiaki-ng cannot: PS Plus Premium cloud streaming, where games run on Sony's servers and no console is involved at all.
For your own console, compare the clients' setup and maturity. For PS Plus cloud streaming, Asobi is the option covered here, and its playtest status matters.
chiaki-ng
Free, open source, and available as a Linux Flatpak. The chiaki-ng project describes it as a PlayStation Remote Play client rather than an official Sony application.
The v1.10.0 release notes document the current release's streaming, renderer, audio, haptics, and PSN-connection work. Version numbers and release status can change, so check the project's release page before installing.
The project documents these capabilities:
- PS4 and PS5 Remote Play
- Local network and, since a recent addition, remote connection over the internet through PSN
- HDR streaming via the HEVC HDR codec, added in a 2026 update
- Adjustable resolution and bitrate rather than a fixed cap
- Full controller mapping, configurable per binding
Install it through Discover in Desktop Mode, then pair it with the 8-digit PIN from your console. Add a non-Steam shortcut for Gaming Mode and test the controller layout before settling in to play.
What you need: Remote Play enabled on the console, a PSN account that can pair with it, and a stable high-speed network. Wired ethernet to the console is ideal; wireless quality and internet routing are the variables most likely to affect the result.
Chiaki-ng's limitation is setup: it is more manual than a commercial app, especially for internet Remote Play outside the home.
Asobi
Asobi: Remote Play is a third-party app from Inside Internet that entered a Steam public playtest in August 2026. The Steam listing and the developer's cloud-streaming guide are the current references for what the test supports.
It advertises PS4 and PS5 Remote Play from your own console, locally or over the internet. Its setup and reliability are still playtest questions, so the lower-friction claim should not be treated as a measured result.
Asobi also advertises PS Plus Premium cloud streaming without a console. Asobi's setup notes say that Premium and regional game availability are required. This is an unofficial path, not a Sony-supported SteamOS feature.
The developer has discussed wider platform support, but the Steam Machine build remains a playtest and its final feature set is not announced.
The PSStream precedent
A ResetEra thread about PSStream records a January 2026 launch and a later takedown announcement. Participants speculated about legal pressure, but the thread does not establish the reason as fact. Treat it as a warning about the durability of unofficial clients, not proof of what will happen to Asobi.
Which to use
Install chiaki-ng if you own a PS4 or PS5 and want to stream from it. It is open source, documented for Linux, and focused on the console-to-client Remote Play problem.
Try Asobi if you want PS Plus Premium cloud streaming without a console. You can also compare its console-pairing flow with chiaki-ng, but easier setup is an advertised aim, not a measured advantage here. Keep a working alternative while it remains a playtest.
Use both if you want to try Asobi's cloud library while keeping console Remote Play available through chiaki-ng. That fallback still requires a console you own.
Setup notes for Steam Machine
A stationary Steam Machine can use wired Ethernet, but its network layout is not guaranteed. If possible, wire both the Machine and the PlayStation. Each wired leg removes one wireless variable, while the weaker connection still limits Remote Play quality.
Both apps can have Gaming Mode shortcuts. Test sign-in, pairing, and controller navigation there; maintenance or troubleshooting may still require Desktop Mode.
If you are new to Desktop Mode or hit a permissions error during install, the Desktop Mode guide covers the basics. Neither app should need sudo, and both are user-space installs when you use their Flatpak or Steam distribution.