Streaming Console and PC Games: Capture Cards, Game Capture and Settings
Gaming is the most common live stream. How you get the game into your broadcast depends on what you play on. A PC can capture itself; a console needs a way to send its picture to the computer. This guide explains the options and the settings that cause most problems.
Streaming PC games
On a PC, your streaming software can capture the game directly. In OBS, you have three main options:
| Source | What it captures | Pros and cons |
|---|---|---|
| Game capture | One specific game window | Most efficient; ignores other windows, so private ones do not leak. Some games or anti-cheat systems block it. |
| Window capture | One application window | Works with many programs; can show black for some games |
| Display capture | Your whole monitor | Works with almost anything, but shows everything, including notifications |
Start with game capture. Switch to display capture only if game capture shows a black screen, and then be careful to close private windows. See OBS scenes, sources and audio.
Streaming console games
Most modern consoles can stream directly to some platforms from a built-in feature. This is easy but limited: you usually get few overlay options and only a few destinations. For full control, use a capture card.
Capture card types
- External USB capture card: a small box between the console and the TV. It works with laptops and desktops and is the most common choice.
- Internal PCI Express card: installs in a desktop and has the lowest latency and most stability, but is not portable.
- Cheap HDMI-to-USB adapters: work for basic capture, but often have more delay, compress heavily or limit frame rate. Check the real specs, not the box label.
Look at the resolution and frame rate the card can capture, whether it supports the console's output (including high refresh rates and HDR), and whether it has pass-through so you can play on a monitor without delay.
Use pass-through for playing
Capture cards add a little delay to the picture that arrives on your computer. Never play looking at that preview if the delay bothers you. Connect the console to a monitor or TV through the card's HDMI pass-through output, or through a splitter, and use the computer only for the stream.
Common console settings to change
- HDCP / copy protection: consoles often enable it on the output, which blocks capture. Turn it off in the console's video settings. Some content, such as streaming apps, will still be blocked, and that is intended.
- HDR: capturing HDR can result in washed-out colours on a standard stream. If you are unsure, turn HDR off or use a capture setup that handles tone mapping.
- Resolution and frame rate: choose what your capture card supports. Match your stream output to your network. See stream quality and bandwidth.
- Party chat and game audio: many consoles send voice chat through a headset, not HDMI. A chat-link cable or a mixer may be needed to bring friends' voices into the stream.
Audio routing
Treat game audio, voice chat, music and your own microphone as separate sources so you can balance them. Use headphones to avoid feedback. Detailed steps are in microphone and audio quality.
Performance tips for a PC that both plays and streams
- Use your graphics card's hardware encoder, such as NVENC, AMF or QuickSync, rather than the processor, so the game keeps its frame rate.
- Lower the game's graphics settings a little if frame rate drops while streaming.
- Close background programs.
- If a single computer is not enough, a second computer as a dedicated streaming PC is an option for serious setups.
OBS shows dropped and skipped frames in its status bar. If you see problems, check troubleshooting live stream problems.
Game licences and platform rules
Most publishers allow streaming of their games, but terms differ. Some restrict particular content, such as music in a soundtrack, or require approval for certain uses. Check the publisher's streaming policy for the game, and see music and copyright on live streams.
Test before the real stream
- Record a few minutes of gameplay and play it back.
- Check picture sync, audio sync and colours.
- Test your party chat and microphone together.
- Only then go live. A first-time walkthrough is in your first live stream checklist.