Here I would be giving you details on How to Livestream Games from Nintendo Switch. While it seems, there are tons of things to love about the Nintendo Switch, it does not seem to be the most powerful or capable gaming system available on the market at the moment.
Unlike the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5, the switch was not built with a streaming feature, but it is due for a good reason: the hardware could not handle powering the game while simultaneously capturing and broadcasting video.
How to Livestream Games from Nintendo Switch
If that seems to be the case, why would you want to stream gameplay straight from a switch? Because it is a Nintendo console, and it happens to be the only way for you to play a lot of popular IPs and hit games that spans from “animal crossing” and “The Legend of Zelda” to “Splatoon” and, of course, “Super Smash Bros Ultimate.”
Although this would require more effort compared to the Xbox’s dedicated streaming menu, it is possible for you to Livestream your switch gameplay sessions. If you already do not have the required hardware, you might be looking at spending a couple of hundred dollars to get started, but some budget options are available. As well, live streaming gameplay from a switch is not possible with the switch lite variant, which happens to lack support for dock and does not come with A/V output capabilities.
Nintendo Switch Livestream Prerequisites
Seeing as the switch won’t be able to handle the demands that come with streaming on its own, you would require a computer that can get that settled for you. You can use a windows PC, Mac, or Linux machine, as long as it is hardware sufficiently capable of broadcasting your gameplay.
The computer is to be paired using an accessory called a capture card, which is exactly what the name suggests: a peripheral that captures the video output from the switch and funnels it directly to your PC, where it can be shared in real-time alongside others making user of software linked directly to a platform like Twitch or YouTube.
There are different types of the capture card. Some models are built to slot alongside another component that is within a desktop, while others are to be connected externally, such as with laptops. The price depends mainly on both the brand and features that are offered by the card. Only some of the models support 4K videos, for example.
The models that you would need depend on the setup you are making use of and the streaming plans. For example, would you like to stream it yourself as you play, which includes commentary coming from your microphone, or would you like to stream raw gameplay footage? There is no shortage of affordable options on Amazon that can meet either need.
On the Software side, you would require an app that takes your various inputs – Microphone audio, game, and both gameplay and webcam video feeds for example – and it combines them together into the video that the viewers get to see.
Setting Up Nintendo Switch Livestream
There are three major elements available for you to get your switch live stream up and running: setting up your computer, connecting the switch, and configuring the software. Well, it depends on how you plan to carry out the setup. If you would like to be visible during the broadcast, your setup might need to include an external webcam.
You would need to connect the capture card, which typically involves you connecting it to the PC making use of a USB cable, and possibly also plugging in a dedicated power cable. The process varies in some situations, for example, some capture cards would require you to install a driver, while others are just plug-and-play. And you would also need to understand the streaming software you would be making use of and how to get your stream configured manually.
FAQ
Can I Stream Games from Switch?
The switch does not support internal streaming like other current-gen consoles, so you would need to rely on an external capture device. A popular choice is the Elgato HD60, which lists for about $179.95.
Can you Live Stream with a Nintendo Switch?
Click on “set up Livestream”. There you would also see the stream key. Insert the stream key in the appropriate place in your broadcaster software, just as described in “Setting up OBS”. Now what you only need is to start the stream in your broadcaster software and you are live on Facebook with a Nintendo Switch stream.
Can you Stream Switch games Without a Capture Card?
Can you Stream Nintendo Switch without a Capture card? Yes, the easiest way for you to stream your Nintendo switch to Twitch without having to use a capture card is by making use of an Xbox One. While this seems a relatively expensive up-front purchase many gamers already own the highly popular console.
