The Best PC Gaming Streaming Software: Your Ultimate Guide.
The world of PC gaming streaming software is vast and varied, with options ranging from free quick-to-set-up applications to fully-fledged professional production suites. But with all the options available, which one do you choose? In this guide, we’ll give you the lowdown on the best PC gaming streaming software and show you how to get started.
Whether you’re a part-time streamer looking to share highlights of your games with friends, or you’re a serious broadcaster wanting to take it to the next level, this guide will help you pick the streaming software solution that’s right for your needs.
What is PC gaming streaming software?
Streaming video games from your PC to the internet is an increasingly popular pastime across the world, with platforms like Twitch leading the charge. But how exactly does this process work?
The process of streaming video games from your PC to the online world is powered by streaming software. This is a specialised program that captures video and audio from your PC, encodes it for streaming, and then sends it over the internet to a platform such as Twitch, YouTube or Facebook Live. The software also acts as a video editing suite, letting you add camera angles, apply visual effects, edit audio and do other postproduction work.
Which PC gaming streaming software is best?
There is a lot of software available to streamers, so it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose. We’ll go through the options and explain the features of each one so you can make the right decision for your setup and budget.
Free PC gaming streaming software
1. Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)
Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is the most popular and one of the best-known streaming software, and with good reason. It’s a free, open source software that works on Windows, MacOS and Linux, and is incredibly versatile. You can create scenes for your stream, add webcam overlays and multiple audio sources, adjust settings for streaming performance and integrate your broadcast with services like Twitch, YouTube and Facebook.
2. Xbox Game Bar
If you own an Xbox One, you can use its built-in app, the Xbox Game Bar, to stream directly from your console. It has some basic built-in streaming features, such as the ability to capture your gameplay and broadcast it to either Twitch or YouTube. It’s easy to set up, but the feature set is fairly basic compared to the more advanced streaming software on this list.
3. GeForce Experience
GeForce Experience is a free software application that’s designed and maintained by Nvidia. It’s designed to make PC gaming easier, with features like screen capture, which can be used to stream your gameplay. It has basic streaming features, but they’re limited compared to some of the more advanced software we’ll look at next.
Premium PC gaming streaming software
1. Streamlabs OBS
Streamlabs OBS is the premium version of the popular open source software, OBS. It has all the features of the free version, plus additional tools for a more professional streaming experience. These include support for popular stream tools like Discord, Twitch, YouTube and Facebook, the ability to add animated overlays, automatic scene switching and more.
2. XSplit
XSplit is an all-in-one streaming solution, which is great for broadcasters who want complete control of their video production process. It’s packed with features, such as the ability to set up multiple scenes, add in-game overlays and skins, use custom audio effects, and even livestream directly from your webcam and microphone.
3. Nvidia Shadowplay
Shadowplay is another great option for PC gamers. It’s powered by Nvidia technology, so it will work best if you own one of the company’s GPUs. It offers features like HDR and 4K streaming, the ability to record audio and video separately, and a range of different quality settings.
How to get started streaming PC games
Now that you know the best PC gaming streaming software, you’re probably wondering how to get started. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get you up and streaming in no time.
Step 1: Download and install the software.
Step 2: Set up the video and audio sources, such as webcams, microphone and game capture sources.
Step 3: Configure the streaming service settings for your platform of choice.
Step 4: Adjust bitrate, resolution and other settings to achieve the desired quality.
Step 5: Test the stream on a private channel and make adjustments as needed.
Step 6: Launch the stream and start gaming.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you find the best PC gaming streaming software for your needs. Whether you’re a casual streamer or a serious broadcaster, there’s a software solution out there to help you take your broadcasts to the next level. So don’t wait — get streaming!
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