Use Steam Remote Play Together to play a supported local co-op or split-screen game with friends remotely; use a game’s native online multiplayer when you want its own matchmaking, competitive modes, or persistent servers. Remote Play Together streams the game from one host’s computer, while native online play uses the networking built into the game.
What is the difference?
Remote Play Together is a way to stream a local multiplayer game to remote players. The host runs the game, Steam sends its video and audio to guests, and their inputs go back to the host’s computer. It can let friends play a supported local game remotely even if that game has no built-in online mode. Steam’s Remote Play overview and Steamworks Remote Play documentation describe this setup.
Native online multiplayer is a mode implemented by the game itself. Its networking may use peer-to-peer connections, game servers, or a combination. Steamworks distinguishes matchmaking and lobbies—which help players find or gather with one another—from the networking that actually carries gameplay. Steamworks multiplayer guidance notes that dedicated servers are recommended for highly competitive games and persistent servers, while smaller groups may suit matchmaking, lobbies, and peer-to-peer networking. These are developer guidelines, not a guarantee of how any particular game is built.
Compare the options
| Decision point | Remote Play Together | Native online multiplayer |
|---|---|---|
| What the game needs | A supported local multiplayer, local co-op, or shared/split-screen mode, with Remote Play Together enabled for that title. | An online mode implemented and offered by the game. |
| Who runs the game | One host owns, installs, and runs it; guests join the streamed session. | The game uses its own online architecture, such as peer-to-peer networking or servers. |
| Best suited to | Playing a local multiplayer game together when players are in different places, including a game without its own online mode. | Using the game’s online features, matchmaking, competitive design, or persistent-world setup. |
| Guest input | Players can use their own controllers. Keyboard and mouse control can also be shared. | Depends on the game’s controls and online implementation. |
| What affects play | The host’s hardware runs the game, and the session depends on streaming and the network connection between host and guests. | Depends on the game’s networking and its server or peer-to-peer path. |
| How to start | Launch a compatible game and invite friends through Steam; Steam also describes joining through Steam or Steam Link paths. | Use the game’s online setup, matchmaking, lobby, or server options. |
How Remote Play Together works
- The host launches a game that supports Remote Play Together.
- The host invites friends through Steam’s friends list or overlay.
- Steam streams the game’s video and audio to remote participants and sends their input back to the host’s computer.
- Players use their own controllers or, if appropriate for the game, share keyboard and mouse control.
Steam says Remote Play Together supports up to four players, or more with fast connections. Treat that as Steam’s general feature description, not a guaranteed player count for every game or connection. Steam describes streaming as using a fast internet connection but does not give one universal bandwidth or latency threshold in its overview. Steam Remote Play overview
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Not every local multiplayer game necessarily supports the feature. Steamworks says it is automatically enabled for games listed with Local Multiplayer, Local Co-op, or Shared/Split Screen capability, but developers can enable or disable it to fit the game. Check the individual Steam listing and the game’s support details before planning a session. Steamworks Remote Play documentation
When should you choose Remote Play Together?
- The game’s local co-op, local multiplayer, or split-screen mode is what you want, but your group is not in the same room.
- One person can own and run the game on a host computer. Steam says only the host needs to own and install the game for this play path; guests connect through Remote Play streaming. Steamworks Remote Play documentation
- Your group is comfortable playing through a stream and has suitable input devices. Steam supports each player using their own controller and allows keyboard and mouse control to be shared. Steam Remote Play overview
When should you choose native online multiplayer?
- The game offers an online mode that fits the way your group wants to play.
- You need features such as the game’s matchmaking, competitive rules, server options, or persistent-world behavior.
- The game’s own online mode better fits the number of players, platforms, or network conditions involved.
If both options appear available, compare support for the specific title, its player count and mode design, its input options, and the network setup. Steam’s general documentation cannot establish which method will perform better for a particular game, route, or household network.
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What to check before starting
- Verify the game supports it. Look for Remote Play Together or a relevant local multiplayer capability on the game’s Steam page, then check the game’s support details; the developer may disable the feature.
- Start the game on the host computer. The host runs the game, while remote devices receive a stream.
- Confirm how guests will control it. A controller can be a practical option for a guest; keyboard and mouse sharing is available, but how well it works depends on the game’s controls.
- Use the game’s own online setup for native multiplayer. A lobby can help players gather, but it does not itself provide gameplay networking; the game also needs peer-to-peer, server-based, or another networking implementation. Steamworks multiplayer guidance
For Steam networking, developer documentation says newer networking APIs may relay packets through Valve’s network or establish direct connections when appropriate. Steam Datagram Relay is described as protecting players’ IP addresses and often improving ping or connection quality, but those descriptions do not guarantee a result for every game or network route. Steamworks Steam Datagram Relay documentation
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