The Nvidia Shield TV is our Editor's Choice as a Plex client device and a legal Kodi box. It's the best 4K streaming box available, and sports smart home use with its SmartThings USB hub and Google Assistant integration. But a major component of the Shield TV is its ability to play games. While the Shield TV is capable of playing ROMs using emulators, it packs the power to bring PC games to the living room. Learn how to stream games to Nvidia Shield TV using Nvidia GameStream.
We'll look at how to play PC games on Nvidia Shield TV units. But before that, there's a small list of prerequisites. Nvidia GameStream is the way the Shield handles network streaming. It's a fantastic bit of software with the ability to cast games in 4K, and features Steam support baked in. However, you'll need a few items first. [Read: 5 Best IR remote controls for Kodi boxes - Fire TV, Android TV, Shield TV]
Note that performance varies based on several factors. The specific GPU, network quality, and connection type all dictate the PC game streaming experience. Ideally, run both the host machine and Shield TV off of an Ethernet connection either directly or using a powerline adapter. But Wi-Fi will work depending on the strength of said router. [Read: 20 Best streaming apps for Nvidia Shield TV 2017: Movies, music, and more]
Next, with GeForce Experience installed, launch the software. Here, you'll need to create an account. After you've launched the software and made an account, log in.
3. Enable GameStream
After installing GameStream and creating an account, it's time to enable GameStream. Click on the cog wheel in the top right hand corner of the screen.
Navigate To Geforce Experience Settings
Once on the settings page, click the Shield tab. Then, toggle GameStream to on.
Toggle Gamestream To On
4. Open Nvidia Games app on Shield TV
With that step completed, we're almost ready to use GameStream with Shield TV devices. On your Shield TV, open the Shield Games app and select My Library. Then, click the Set up GameStream option. You'll be prompted for your login. After entering that, you should be able to stream games over your network from a compatible PC to a Shield TV.
GameStream with Shield TV notes
While the process is pretty straightforward, there are a few items to note. As I mentioned, I'd strongly suggest running either your Shield TV, PC, or both off of a hardwired connection. This ensures that your network isn't bogged down with the traffic of heavy network streaming.
Notably, this method for how to play PC games on Nvidia Shield TV set top boxes works with both desktop and laptop hosts. But for those with switchable graphics, you might encounter an issue. On my HP Omen laptop, outfitted with an i7 and GTX 965m, some games launched with a black screen. I had to manually specify which graphics to use, in this case discrete, not integrated.
To accomplish this, open your Nvidia control panel.
Open The Nvidia Control Panel
With that open, select High-performance Nvidia processor from the drop down. Then, click Apply.
Select Your Discrete Gpu
How to play PC games on Nvidia shield TV: Final thoughts
With its native Android gaming, emulator support, robust streaming, and PC game streaming capabilities, the Nvidia Shield TV is one of the most versatile devices available. Benefiting its gaming aspects, there are loads of third-party gamepads which support the Shield TV.
I am a staff writer at SmartHomeBeginner, and a freelance writer with a focus on tech media. I run Cup Of Moe and have been featured in Electromaker, MakeUseOf, The Penny Hoarder, TechBeacon, Cliqist, Bubbleblabber, DZone, and EpicStream. As an HTPC enthusiast, I'm quite fond of my Plex server and enjoy playing with my Raspberry Pi. When I'm not hammering away at my keyboard, I can be found drinking far too much coffee, running, and listening to vinyl.
