Valve Adds New Pyrowave Codec to Steam Remote Play for Local Streaming

September 23, 2026 - 17:19

Valve has introduced a new codec option for Steam Remote Play, the feature that lets users stream games from one PC to another device over a local network. The codec, called Pyrowave, was created by a single developer and is now available as part of the streaming pipeline. Its main purpose is to cut down latency during gameplay, though it achieves this by using significantly more bandwidth than existing options.

Pyrowave is designed for situations where the host and client are on the same fast local network, such as a home router with wired or strong Wi-Fi connections. In those conditions, the higher bandwidth demand is less of a problem, and the lower latency can make a noticeable difference for fast-paced games that depend on quick response times. Players who stream over slower connections or the open internet may find the codec less practical because it can quickly saturate limited throughput.

The addition gives Steam Remote Play users another choice when tuning their setup. Instead of a single default codec, they can now weigh bandwidth against responsiveness depending on their hardware and network. For local play, Pyrowave offers a path to smoother input handling, while older codecs remain better suited to constrained connections. The update reflects ongoing work to improve game streaming without requiring dedicated hardware.