Current Events > What equipment do I need to stream games?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I know I have to buy a capture card to stream my games, but I was wondering what other hardware do I need? I plan to get Elgato HD60 X or Elgato 4K X.

I will have to buy a camera and microphone, if I want to talk to the people on the chat.

If you're using a capture device I strongly recommend getting some splitters. I don't think you really need them in the case of HDMI if your device has passthrough, otherwise the lag can be pretty bad capturing old analog video signals.

At the moment I don't have a capture card, I am planning what to get. Soon will be the right time to get it.

I will be streaming PC and Nintendo Switch 2 games.

So the microphone needs to be decent, while the camera is optional.

You only need a capture card if you're streaming console games (and yeah, get an HDMI splitter so you can send the signal to both the capture card and your TV without lag or a drop in video quality).

Download OBS, which is free streaming software. It will also allow you to capture PC games.

For a mic, the Blue Yeti is good for a start. There are better ones out there, but they can get expensive real quick, so it's not recommended unless you're planning to do this as more than just a hobby.

Camera is optional unless you want to show your face as part of the experience. There is also the VTuber route if you want to be on screen while retaining your anonymity, but that's a whole other can of worms beyond the scope of this topic.

It is strongly suggested to get a second monitor if you're playing PC games. One screen for the game, one for your streaming programs, chat, etc.

Oh, I should also add that you will NOT be streaming in 4K. No one does. Twitch doesn't support it, and on Youtube it comes at the cost of increased delay for the chat. It's possible that will change within the next few years, but I wouldn't count on it. So you don't need a 4K capture card unless you're planning to make pre-recorded 4K videos. Though you WILL need a 4K splitter if you're outputting to your TV at 4K.

OBS is free and while a little intimidating to start out, is great for capturing PC games. I'd recommend watching some tutorial videos on OBS just to learn what each and every thing does.

And then just get a good capture card for any console gaming. I bought a $50 Monster brand 1080p capture card about two years ago and it has recorded my Nintendo Switch footage on OBS with no issues.

I have written everything down on my note, to remember what to get. I don't have two monitors, but I have 1 monitor and 1 TV, I can connect my TV to my PC, when I stream my PC games.

Thanks everyone for helping, I am waiting for Cyber Monday to buy the things.