My spouse is confined to bed a lot of the time and recently set up WoW to stream from their computer to our Steam Deck and, via an addon, make it playable there. There’s no outside input or anything, but the TOS is a little ambiguous as to whether streaming input from one device to another is allowed. Is this alright under the TOS?
At this moment there’s no definite answer to whether if it’s allowed or not - so it’s in an unsupported state.
Atleast I’ve not seen someone specifically banned for using SteamOS/SteamDeck yet.
As for the streaming itself, you’ll need to use an authorised source like GForce Now to play WoW with.
If you’re talking about something like remote windows, no, it is not allowed.
I think because they have found a way to play it on the SteamDeck and not remotely. What the OP is asking is something similar to using remote screens or something similar on those lines.
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The TOS doesn’t ban streaming from one of your own computers to another of your own computers. I’ve never read of anyone complaining of being banned for using remote desktop or playing on steam deck. That said, it is not explicitly allowed or approved either - it isn’t impossible that there is some risk in doing so.
Just so you’re made aware, it is indeed against the EULA.
Cloud Computing: Subject to 1.B.vi hereof, use the Platform, including a Game, in connection with any unauthorized third-party “cloud computing” services, “cloud gaming” services, or any software or service designed to enable the unauthorized streaming or transmission of Game content from a third-party server to any device. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 1.C.v does not prohibit the use of any service that has been authorized by Blizzard.
Now, if it something that has been authorized by Blizzard, would most likely be companies such as NVidia’s GeForce Now.
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What you quoted there does not ban streaming to yourself. It bans streaming from third-party services. Aka “cloud computing”.
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Mightymeat, you do know you have to use third party software in order to stream a game from a computer to another device to play that game on another device.
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It does not ban using third party software to stream the game from one computer to another.
I am not going to argue what the EULA says, Mightymeat. If you think that needs to change, then may I suggest submitting a suggestion via the In-Game Suggestion Tool?
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I don’t think it needs to change at all - the words as they currently are do not ban remote desktop or steam deck.
You need to spend more time here in Customer Support. Then you’ll find out that your statement is actually entirely incorrect. How ever, I’m not going to argue with you, I’ll let you find out the hard way.
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I don’t use steam deck or remote desktop. I don’t care whether it is banned or not, I am just discussing what the EULA says.
I am aware of what blues here have said in the past, which is why I included a disclaimer that it is to be done at your own risk. But whatever the recommendation may be, it doesn’t change that the cloud computing passage of the EULA is written very clearly and specifically to not apply to remote desktop.
You don’t need to stream anything. The Steam deck can run the game natively. It’s just a mini-PC after all.
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Yes and a little no. You don’t need to do any streaming, but the Steamdeck can’t run WoW natively. Steamdeck uses Linux as an OS and Battlenet is not supported on Linux natively.
You can use something like Proton to get it up and running through.
I haven’t personally used this guide (I don’t own a Steamdeck) but the below should help get someone started.
The Steam deck runs everything through Proton though.
You do need to upgrade it to Proton GE though. It’s a little more involved than just plug and play like it is on a desktop PC running Windows natively.
The problem you will likely see isn’t that the she is using it for streaming, which has no restrictions, but that it allows and is being used for remote management, which would be very problematic.
Any software that allows remote management would be highly risky. A better solution might be to either move the PC into her room, use a laptop, or something like a mini PC, if space is a consideration.
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There was once an often linked thread from here on CS where the Steam Deck arguement was hashed and rehashed to death.
This article was last updated 3 months ago, but I shall start digging to try and find the post in question. I think (hope) that poor thread has since been locked, but it had pretty much the standing thoughts on things, give or take.
Your PC becomes the 3rd party server and therefore, it’s against the ToS. The main reason why is because you’re relaying inputs from the device to the PC hosting the game client. Warden can’t see what’s going on on the connected device, therefore it can be used by bad actors to break the ToS.
I wouldn’t test this, nor push it. Only use platforms they approve of. Even if they don’t outright ban you immediately, they might decide to a week, month, year, etc down the road.
Even playing it on SteamOS is a slippery slope and isn’t technically allowed either, since you’re using an interpreter to translate the DX commands to VK(can inject GPU related hacks like wallhacks, modelswaps, etc) and also because Warden can’t operate correctly without you running it in some partial stripped down Windows sandbox(I think steamOS automatically handles this stuff, but I haven’t personally messed with steamOS), which can be exploited for nefarious purposes.
That only applies to Blizzard games on Steam, which WoW is not a part of.
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Yup. I know, but that was the only “official” article in reference to Steam Deck.
For the OP, mind you - this is a bit aged. But the majority of similar threads link into this one or other ones that ran adjacent to it. Yes. It is focused more on SteamLink than the Steam Deck, but especially with the third-party/remote screens and such, it is still a good standing resource until the policy has been updated and/or changed.
And some others that are good to read through, should you have the time and inclination:
The best advice that can be given is that if you’ve got to figure out some convoluted way of doing something? Often times the best answer is the safest answer. If you have to ask, the answer is likely “no.”
You’d have to ask yourself how much are you willing to risk an account.
Something your spouse may want to do is reach out to the Accessibility team if they haven’t already. While there is never a guaranteed reply, we have seen several people come back to say that they had received a response from them. They may be able to help with some suggestions or whatnot that would keep your spouse on the legal side of things.
Good luck to you and your spouse!
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