How to Play PS5 Games on Steam Deck with chiaki-ng

Short answer: yes, you can. Install the free chiaki-ng app from the Discover store, link it to your PS5 once, and your Steam Deck can stream PS5 and PS4 games over your home network. It isn’t made by Sony, but it uses the same Remote Play feature as Sony’s own app.

How this post was made: researched and written with Claude, an AI assistant, checked against the sources linked in this post, and overseen by Nersing Pradhan. How we make NP Handhelds

What chiaki-ng is

chiaki-ng is a free, open-source Remote Play app for PlayStation consoles. It carries on the work of the original Chiaki project and is built with the Steam Deck in mind. Your PS5 runs the game, and the Deck shows the video and sends your controls back.

What you need

• A PS5 or PS4, ideally connected to your router with an Ethernet cable.
• Your PlayStation Network account.
• Your Steam Deck on the same home network, on 5 GHz Wi-Fi if possible.

Step 1: Turn on Remote Play on the PS5

1. On the PS5, go to Settings, then System, then Remote Play, and turn on Enable Remote Play.
2. To start games while the PS5 is in rest mode, go to Settings, System, Power Saving, then Features Available in Rest Mode. Turn on Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning On PS5 from Network.

Step 2: Install chiaki-ng on the Deck

1. Switch to Desktop Mode.
2. Open Discover, search for chiaki-ng and click Install.
3. Open chiaki-ng from the application menu.

Step 3: Register your PS5

Registering links the Deck to your console. You only do it once.

1. Make sure the PS5 is on. chiaki-ng should find it on your network.
2. chiaki-ng needs your PSN account ID, which is a code rather than your username. The app can look it up for you when you sign in to PlayStation Network through it.
3. On the PS5, go to Settings, System, Remote Play, then Link Device. The console shows an eight-digit PIN.
4. Enter the PIN in chiaki-ng and confirm.

Step 4: Add it to Steam and play

1. Right-click chiaki-ng in the application menu and choose Add to Steam.
2. Double-click Return to Gaming Mode, open chiaki-ng from your library under Non-Steam, and select your PS5.
3. If the controls feel wrong, press the Steam button, open Controller Settings and choose a gamepad layout.

In chiaki-ng’s settings, 720p is a good match for the Deck’s 1280 x 800 screen and uses less bandwidth than 1080p. Pick 60 frames per second if your network handles it.

Tips for a smooth stream

• Wire the PS5. It makes more difference than anything else.
• Stay close to the router with the Deck, on the 5 GHz band.
• Some content won’t stream. Sony blocks some video apps and protected content over Remote Play, so you may see a black screen with those.

Want to stream from a PC instead? See our guide to streaming PC games to the Steam Deck.

Frequently asked questions

Is chiaki-ng safe to use?

It’s open source and widely used by Steam Deck owners. Account lookups go through Sony’s own sign-in page.

Does chiaki-ng work with a PS4?

Yes. The setup is the same, and the Remote Play menus on the PS4 are in similar places.

Can I play outside my home?

Remote Play works best on your home network. Playing over the internet is possible, but it needs extra setup and a fast upload connection at home.

Does the PS5 need to be switched on?

It can be in rest mode, as long as you turned on the rest mode options in step 1. chiaki-ng wakes it up when you connect.

More Steam Deck guides are on the NP Handhelds YouTube channel.