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

Imagine: You're comfortably in bed, in the garden, or—let's be honest—enthroned on the toilet, relaxing and 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 powerful 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 using 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The community has done a great job here, incorporating many features that make the official Sony counterpart look outdated.

The most important advantages at a glance:

• Better performance: Many users report less input lag and a more stable stream.
• HDR support: Enjoy your PS5 games in full HDR glory even on the deck (if your display supports it).
• Greater customizability: 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 doesn't cost you a cent.
  
  

Preparation: What you need for your streaming happiness

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

1. PS5 & Steam Deck on the same network: For optimal results, you should connect your PS5 to your router using a LAN cable . Wi-Fi is also possible, but cable is king!
2. Enable Remote Play on PS5: On your PS5, go to Einstellungen > System > Remote Play and turn on the switch for Remote Play aktivieren .
3. Your PSN Account ID (Base64): Chiaki-ng requires a special, private ID for your account. Don't worry, it's easy to find. 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 to a text file on your Steam Deck's desktop.
   
   

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

All set? Perfect! Now let's bring the magic to your deck. To do this, switch to desktop mode .

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. Launch Chiaki-ng and register your 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)." Enter the ID you saved earlier.
   • Chiaki-ng will now ask for a PIN. Look at your TV; your PS5 will now display an 8-digit code. Enter this code into Chiaki-ng and click "Register."

Boom! Your Steam Deck is now paired with your PS5. Double-clicking the PS5 icon in Chiaki-ng will now start the stream.

Perfect integration: Add 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 easily launch it from gaming mode.

1. Open Steam in desktop mode.
2. Click + SPIEL HINZUFÜGEN in the bottom left corner and select Ein Steam-fremdes Spiel hinzufügen... .
3. Find "Chiaki-ng" in the list, check the box, and click "Add Selected Programs."

You can now find Chiaki-ng in your library! To make things even more beautiful, you can add your own cover and header images in Gaming Mode.

Tips & Tricks for the Best Streaming Experience

It's working now, but we want it to run perfectly . Get the most out of it with these settings:

• Configuration in Chiaki-ng: Before you start the stream, click on your PS5 in Chiaki-ng and then click the gear icon ("Configure") at the top. Here you can make a few tweaks:
  • Resolution: 1080p is ideal for most PS5 games.
  • Codec: Choose H.265 for better image quality with the same bandwidth.
  • Bitrate: Start with 15,000–20,000 kbps. If the image stutters, gradually lower it. If you have a top-notch connection, you can also go higher.
• Controller layout: Keep in mind that the Steam Deck doesn't have the PlayStation touchpad. Some games use it. In Steam's controller settings, you can configure the rear left or right trackpad as a touchpad click.
  
  

Conclusion: Your PS5 gaming, now limitless

Was that too much of a promise? 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 freedom to choose where and how you play. The setup process is quick, and the results are simply brilliant.