PS5 on Steam Deck: The Ultimate Guide for Chiaki-ng

Imagine this: You're comfortably lying in bed, in the garden, or – let's be honest – enthroned on the toilet, and you're casually playing God of War Ragnarök or one of your favorite PS5 titles. Sounds like a dream? Nope, it's reality! Your Steam Deck can do more than just play your Steam library. With a small but mighty tool called Chiaki-ng, you can transform your handheld into the perfect mobile PlayStation 5. 🎮

Forget Sony's official Remote Play app. We'll show you how to establish a stable, fast, and high-quality connection to your PS5 with the open-source alternative Chiaki-ng.

What is Chiaki-ng and what makes it special?

Chiaki-ng is an unofficial, open-source client for PlayStation Remote Play. The "ng" stands for "Next Generation" and is a further development of the original Chiaki. The big advantage: the community has done a great job here and integrated many features that make the official Sony counterpart look old.

The most important advantages at a glance:

• Better Performance: Many users report lower input lag and a more stable stream.
• HDR Support: Enjoy your PS5 games on the Deck in full HDR glory (if your display supports it).
• Higher Customization: You can fine-tune bitrate, resolution, and audio settings to get the most out of your network connection.
• Open Source & Free: Anyone can view the code, and the software costs you nothing.
  
  

Preparation: What you need for your streaming pleasure

Before we start, make sure you have everything you need ready. The list of necessary items is short, I promise!

1. PS5 & Steam Deck on the same network: For optimal results, you should connect your PS5 via LAN cable to your router. Wi-Fi also works, but cable is king!
2. Activate Remote Play on the PS5: On your PS5, navigate to Settings > System > Remote Play and enable the Enable Remote Play switch.
3. Your PSN Account ID (Base64): Chiaki-ng requires a special, non-public ID for your account. Don't worry, you can easily find it. Go to a site like psn-account-id.command-line.online, enter your normal PSN name, and copy the displayed "Account ID (Base64)". Save it temporarily in a text file on your Steam Deck's desktop.
   
   

Step-by-step: Installing Chiaki-ng on the Steam Deck

Everything prepared? Perfect! Then let's bring the magic to your Deck. Switch to Desktop Mode for this.

1. Open Discover Store: Click the "Discover" icon (looks like a small shopping bag) in your taskbar.
2. Find and install Chiaki-ng: Type "Chiaki-ng" into the search bar at the top and press Enter. Click "Install". That's almost it!
3. Start Chiaki-ng and register PS5: Open Chiaki-ng from the Start menu. Your PS5 should automatically appear in the main window, as long as it's turned on or in rest mode.
   • Double-click the PS5 icon.
   • A new window will ask for your "PSN Account ID (Base64)". Paste the ID you saved earlier here.
   • Now Chiaki-ng will ask for a PIN. Look at your TV; your PS5 will now display an 8-digit code. Enter this into Chiaki-ng and click "Register".

Boom! Your Steam Deck is now paired with your PS5. A double-click on the PS5 icon in Chiaki-ng will now start the stream.

Perfect Integration: Adding Chiaki-ng to your Steam Library

Constantly switching to Desktop Mode is annoying. So, let's add Chiaki-ng as a "non-Steam game" so you can conveniently launch it from Gaming Mode.

1. Open Steam in Desktop Mode.
2. Click + ADD A GAME in the bottom left and select Add a Non-Steam Game....
3. Search for "Chiaki-ng" in the list, check the box, and click "Add Selected Programs".

Now you'll find Chiaki-ng in your library! To make it even nicer, you can add custom cover and header images in Gaming Mode.

Tips & Tricks for the best streaming experience

It's working now, but we want it to work perfectly. With these settings, you'll get the most out of it:

• Configuration in Chiaki-ng: Before you start the stream, click on your PS5 in Chiaki-ng once, then on the gear icon ("Configure") at the top. Here you can make some optimizations:
  • Resolution: 1080p is ideal for most PS5 games.
  • Codec: Choose H.265 for better image quality at the same bandwidth.
  • Bitrate: Start with 15,000 - 20,000 kbps. If the image stutters, gradually decrease it. With a top connection, you can go higher.
• Controller Layout: Remember that the Steam Deck does not have the PlayStation touchpad. Some games use this. In Steam's controller settings, you can configure the rear left or right trackpad as a touchpad click.
  
• Gaming Comfort: For the best remote play experience, a dedicated controller beats the built-in inputs - and with a docking station, you stream directly to the TV or monitor.

Conclusion: Your PS5 Gaming, Now Limitless

Well, did I promise too much? With Chiaki-ng, your Steam Deck becomes the ultimate all-in-one machine. Whether it's indie gems from your Steam library or AAA blockbusters from your PS5 – you have the free choice of where and how you play. The setup process is quick and the result is simply brilliant.