The same streaming features that Steam Link offers were already possible through the full Steam app for macOS, GeForce Now has a Mac client, and Mac users have long enjoyed the ability to stream PlayStation games with a barebones app. Game streaming has had a somewhat tumultuous history on Apple's mobile platforms, but it's been a little rosier on the macOS side. Build, battle, explore, and more Discover more than 100 exclusive single-player and multiplayer games with no ads or in-app purchases when you join Apple Arcade. (The full version of Steam is offered as a web download, not an App Store app.) Browse, purchase, and download apps for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, or Apple Watch in the App Store. Valve has also previously offered a Steam Link app for iOS and iPadOS, but this is the first time the company has released software through Apple's macOS App Store. In contrast, the Steam Link app has a minimalist interface that appears to be designed with game controller peripherals in mind. Valve already offered a full Steam app for macOS, but it takes up 1GB of space and has a reputation for being clunky.

Further Reading Apple allows streaming games on iOS, but there’s a catch Steam Link allows users to stream games from a gaming PC to a supported device on the same local network and to play those games with a MFI or Steam controller.