For a few days, I believed the PlayStation Portal was the answer to my handheld cravings. The ergonomics are a love letter to the DualSense controller, and the promise of streaming a PS5 library from the couch is an enticing one. However, the experience was marred by a lackluster LCD screen that simply couldn’t justify the price tag of a first-party accessory.
Returning the Portal turned out to be a strategic win. As someone who spent years in software engineering before moving into tech reporting, I have always appreciated the flexibility of open-source ecosystems. It didn’t grab long for me to discover that I could turn my Steam Deck into a portable PS5 using a single, free piece of software, effectively rendering Sony’s dedicated remote device redundant for those who already own Valve’s handheld.
The catalyst for this transformation is Chiaki-ng, a free, open-source remote play client. While Sony provides official remote play apps for mobile devices, Chiaki-ng is a community-driven fork designed to stream PS5 content to a wider array of Windows and Linux devices. On the Steam Deck, it provides a streamlined bridge to the console, offering lower input lag and more robust support for HDR content than its predecessors.
The OLED Advantage: Why the Steam Deck Beats the Portal
The most immediate difference when switching from the PlayStation Portal to the Steam Deck OLED is the visual fidelity. While the Portal boasts a larger 8-inch 1080p display, it relies on LCD technology. The Steam Deck OLED, despite its slightly smaller 7.4-inch 720p panel, delivers a vastly superior image thanks to the inherent properties of OLED pixels.
In my testing, the deep blacks and vivid color saturation of the Steam Deck OLED make titles like Ghost of Tsushima and God of War Ragnarök pop in a way the Portal cannot match. The contrast ratio provided by OLED technology effectively masks the lower resolution, creating a more immersive experience that feels premium rather than compromised.
| Feature | Steam Deck OLED | PlayStation Portal |
|---|---|---|
| Display Tech | OLED | LCD |
| Resolution | 1280 x 800 | 1920 x 1080 |
| OS Flexibility | High (SteamOS/Linux) | Low (Proprietary) |
| Primary Use | Multi-purpose Gaming PC | Dedicated Remote Play |
Performance-wise, the two devices are broadly comparable, provided you have a stable network. On a strong Wi-Fi connection, input lag is minimal. While some video artifacting is visible if you scrutinize the screen, it is rarely a deal-breaker during active gameplay. For those who want to play Astro Bot or Gran Turismo 7 while someone else occupies the main television, the Deck becomes an unlikely but highly effective PS5 surrogate.
How to Install Chiaki-ng on Steam Deck
Setting up Chiaki-ng requires a brief foray into the Steam Deck’s desktop environment. While the process is straightforward, it is slightly more involved than installing a standard Steam game. To avoid the frustration of navigating a desktop interface with trackpads, I recommend using a docking station with a keyboard and mouse for the initial setup.
Before beginning, ensure that Remote Play is enabled in your PS5 settings. Once the console is configured, follow these steps:
- Press the Steam button, navigate to Power, and select Switch to Desktop.
- Launch the Discover Store (the blue shopping bag icon in the taskbar).
- Search for Chiaki-ng and install the software.
- Open the app and enter your PlayStation ID to begin the pairing process.
- On your PS5, go to Settings > System > Remote Play > Link Device. Enter the registration code displayed on the TV into the Chiaki-ng app on your Deck.
- Within the Chiaki-ng settings, select Create Steam Shortcut. This allows the app to be launched directly from the handheld’s primary interface.
- Return to Gaming Mode and locate Chiaki-ng under the Non-Steam collection tab in your library.
Technical Constraints and Performance Tips
To maximize the stability of the stream, both the PS5 and the Steam Deck must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. For the most responsive experience, a 5GHz band or a wired Ethernet connection for the PS5 is highly recommended. Due to the fact that the Steam Deck is essentially a Linux-based handheld, the efficiency of the stream depends heavily on how the network handles UDP traffic.
During my weeks of streaming the PS4 remake of Shadow of the Colossus and other first-party hits, the experience was nearly seamless. The only significant hurdle is the initial “fiddliness” of the installation. However, once the Steam shortcut is created, the barrier to entry disappears, allowing you to jump into a PS5 session with a few button presses.
For owners of both devices, this setup eliminates the need for additional hardware. Rather than investing in a single-purpose device like the Portal, the Steam Deck offers a versatile platform that handles native PC games, emulators, and now, a high-quality stream of the PlayStation 5.
As Valve continues to update SteamOS and the community refines open-source clients like Chiaki-ng, we can expect further optimizations in HDR handling and latency reduction. The next major checkpoint for handheld enthusiasts will be the continued evolution of these third-party streaming protocols, which often outpace official first-party software in terms of feature sets and hardware compatibility.
Have you tried streaming your console library to a handheld? Share your setup and any latency tips in the comments below.
