How to stream games from a PS4

Device links

• Twitch
• Discord
• capture card
• Device missing?

You don’t need fancy hardware to stream PlayStation 4 games to loyal viewers. Sony’s PS4 allows you to stream to a PC and you can do it even without a capture card. While capture cards allow for better quality, they can be expensive. Remote Play is also an option, but it also has its problems.

If you are an aspiring streamer or a Twitch veteran, you should be familiar with some methods to stream PS4 games. You can always switch between them when your preferred method fails and ensure your viewers always have something to watch.

How to stream PS4 games to Twitch

The main platform that gamers stream to is Twitch, and it’s no surprise that many streamers have developed many ways to do so. However, you don’t need an elaborate setup to stream to this popular platform. There is a way to stream to Twitch without additional capture cards or HDMI cables. Before you begin, you will need the following:

• PS4
• personal computer
• DUALSHOCK 4 Controller
• PS4 remote use
• OBS or similar video capture software

Once you have the right resources, it’s time to set everything up. Don’t worry; The process does not take long. This is what you should do.

1. Download and install PS4 remote use and OBS Study on your Windows PC. Don’t forget to install them in this step.
   
2. Once the above two apps are installed, connect your DUALSHOCK 4 controller to your PC using a USB A-to-C cable.
   
3. Launch “Remote playback” on your PC and log in to your PSN account.
   
4. You agree to Sony’s data collection policies.
   
5. Choose “PS4” of the options on the screen.
   
6. You must wait for the PS4 to sync with your PC over the Internet. Make sure you open your PS4 profile or the PC will not connect to the console.
   
7. When both devices have synced, you’ll see your PS4’s home screen in the Remote Play app.
   
8. Launch “OBS Study” on your PC.
   
9. In it “Sources” box at the bottom, click the “+” icon to add your source.
   
10. Select “Window Capture” from the menu.
    
11. Name the source to capture with something like “PS4 remote play”.
    
12. Select the correct window to stream.
    
13. If you don’t like the size or it doesn’t fit correctly on the OBS canvas, right click on the capture screen, choose “Transform,” then select “Fit to screen.”
    
14. The PS4 screen now takes up the entire canvas so you can stream your games to Twitch.
    

It’s pretty easy to use Remote Play and OBS Studio to stream your content. It is not the best option out there, but it is still effective. There are several settings that you can modify to get the best performance and results.

Plus, you’ll get a better experience playing and streaming games with a good Internet connection or two Ethernet cables.

How to Stream PS4 Games with an Elgato Capture Card

If you have an Elgato capture card, you can connect it to your PC for higher quality streaming. Elgato capture cards are the industry standard and many successful streamers use them to stream their games or capture gameplay for videos.

The PS4 has an HDMI output port, making it possible for anyone with a capture card to stream their gameplay.

To stream with an Elgato capture card, you will need:

• elgato capture card
• personal computer
• HDMI Cables
• PS4
• OBS or similar software

Note: Before you begin, you will need to download and install Elgato HD Game Capture.

Once you have everything in hand, follow the steps below to start streaming your PS4 gameplay.

1. Turn on your PS4 and go to “Settings > System” and turn off “Enable HDCP.”
2. Connect your PS4 to the HDMI In capture card port.
3. Connect the Elgato capture card to the TV or monitor via the HDMI output port.
4. Use a USB cable to connect the Elgato capture card to your PC.
5. Launch “OBS Study” on your PC.
6. Select the “fountain” for the PS4 game.
7. Once it appears in the OBS encoder, you can start streaming the games to Twitch or any other streaming platform you want.

The steps above should also work with other capture cards., although they may not require you to download and install any accompanying software. It depends on the card.

As long as a capture card connects the PS4 display and your PC, it is possible to stream PS4 games. High-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) may prevent you from recording protected content, such as Netflix and Hulu movies and shows. Consequently, you may not be able to stream some sections because HDCP is enabled with this method.

Additionally, the Elgato capture card works best if your PC exceeds its minimum specifications, so a powerful gaming PC should be your first choice for streaming. A gaming laptop is another option; allows you to take your settings wherever you go.

Your gaming PC or laptop should have the best hardware possible. Weaker and slower hardware can affect performance and cause stuttering and lags.

How to Stream PS4 Games to PC Using Discord

If you are a frequent user of Discord, especially for playing video games, you may have encountered users who stream playing games in a voice chat channel. Discord introduced the feature to create a more enhanced interactive environment.

Streaming anything to Discord is easy as long as you have the necessary equipment. There are a few different ways to stream on Discord. Let’s take a look at one of them.

How to use Twitch to stream your PS4 gameplay on Discord

The first method to stream your gameplay on Discord is the most complicated, but you can also use it to stream to Twitch immediately. As long as Discord is on the PS4, you can’t use that version to stream directly. The following solution works well for streaming because those who join the voice chat can also talk to you while you play.

This is what you will need:

• PS4
• personal computer
• discord account
• contraction account

See how to get started with this method:

1. Go to PS4 Settings and select “Share and broadcast.”
   
2. Select “Link with Other Services”.
   
3. Choose “Twitch” from the list to pair your Twitch account with your PS4.
   
4. Start the game you want to play.
   
5. press the “Share” on your PS4 controller on the left side.
   
6. When a menu appears, scroll down and select “Transmission game.”
   
7. Choose “Twitch” as a streaming platform.
   
8. At this stage, you can modify some settings before starting the broadcast and then select “Start broadcasting” to start the transmission.
   
9. Go to your PC and log in to Twitch.
   
10. Select “Channel” from your Twitch menu.
    
11. Go to the live stream on your PS4.
    
12. Go to Discord and go to the server you want to stream to in Discord.
    
13. Select your voice broadcast channel.
    
14. Once you connect to the voice channel, select “Screen.”
    
15. In the pop-up window, choose your Twitch stream as the one you want to stream.
    
16. Check the settings and choose “Go to live” to start streaming to Discord.
    

This method works well if you want to stream your Twitch stream live in addition to Discord. However, if you’re just going to stream to Discord via recorded gameplay, there’s another way to stream without a capture card.

How to Use PlayStation 4 Remote Play to Stream Your PS4 Gameplay on Discord

The following method takes advantage of PS4 Remote Play. As such, many of the steps also apply to streaming on Discord. The main advantage of this method is that you don’t need to have a Twitch account to stream on Discord.

For this method, you will need PS4 Remote Play. If you don’t already have PS4 Remote Play, you may want to download and install it before setting up your PS4. The process is more agile and saves some time. Here’s how to do it.

1. Download and install PS4 remote use on your Windows PC.
   
2. Use a USB cable to connect a DUALSHOCK 4 controller to your PC.
   
3. Sign in to your PSN account in the Remote Play app.
   
4. Agree to Sony’s policies on data collection and more.
5. Turn on your “PS4” and log in to your profile if you haven’t already, then wait for it to sync with Remote Play.
   
6. When both the PS4 and PC sync, Remote Play displays your PS4’s home screen.
   
7. Launch Discord on your PC.
   
8. Select a server to use for your stream.
   
9. Join a voice chat channel.
   
10. Select “Screen” to share your screen.
    
11. Select “PS Remote Play” be the shared window. Before you go live, make sure you stream with the exact resolution like PS4 Remote Play.
    

Now anyone who joins the Discord voice channel can see your game.

The above method is easier on the internet since you’re only streaming on one platform, and it’s also a great option if you don’t have a good internet connection but still want to stream.

How to use a capture card to stream PS games on Discord

Using a capture card to stream to friends on Discord can help reduce the load on the internet even further. With the help of OBS Studio and a capture card, you can stream your games to Discord instead of Twitch. The video quality is much higher and your friends will appreciate it. You won’t be delayed as much since your Internet bandwidth is only used for streaming.

Here’s how to stream video on Discord using a capture card:

1. Turn on your PS4 and log in.
   
2. Go to the “Settings > System” and turn off “Enable HDCP.”
3. Download and install Elgato HD Game Capture if you use an Elgato capture card.
4. Connect the PS4 to the capture card via the HDMI input port with an HDMI cable.
5. Connect the monitor or TV to your capture card with another HDMI cable that enters the HDMI output port.
6. Using a USB cable, connect the capture card to your PC.
7. Launch OBS Studio on your PC, set the “fountain” to the PS4 game and make sure the source appears in the OBS encoder.
8. Launch “Discord”go to the server, join a voice channel and select “Screen” to open a window.
9. Select “OBS Study” as a sharing window. Make sure the settings are correct before publishing.

Now anyone who joins the voice channel will be able to watch you play.

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In closing, the PS4 makes streaming games on Twitch, YouTube, or even Discord relatively simple. You don’t even need a capture card, thanks to PS4 Remote Play. Today, you can share your game live with anyone in the world with the right settings.

PS4 Game Streaming FAQ

Can I stream a PS4 to a PC with an HDMI cable??

Unfortunately, there is no way to stream from a PS4 to a PC using an HDMI cable. Many modern laptops have an HDMI port, but this port is an HDMI output port. It doesn’t accept HDMI inputs at all.

This scenario means that even if you connect your PS4 to your laptop with an HDMI cable, you won’t be able to stream your games. If you want to stream to your PC, you’d better use PS4 Remote Play or a capture card.