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Moonlight
Moonlight is a free, open-source, cross-platform gaming streaming software that allows you to stream games from your PC to mobile devices, tablets, or other devices for gaming on the go. It supports 4K HDR and ultra-low latency gaming experiences.
Moonlight - PC Gaming Streaming Client for macOS
Overview
Moonlight is an open-source PC client application specifically designed for macOS (also supporting Windows, Linux, and Steam Link), enabling seamless streaming of high-performance PC games and desktop experiences to your Mac device. By leveraging NVIDIA’s GameStream technology or the open-source alternative Sunshine, Moonlight allows Mac users to enjoy PC gaming with minimal latency.
Key Features
🎮 Superior Gaming Streaming Experience
- Hardware-Accelerated Video Decoding: Efficient video decoding on macOS for smooth gaming performance
- Multi-Codec Support: Supports H.264, HEVC, and AV1 video codecs
- YUV 4:4:4 Color Accuracy: Provides more accurate color reproduction (available only with Sunshine host)
- HDR Streaming Support: Full visual experience with high dynamic range gaming content
🎵 Immersive Audio Support
- 7.1 Surround Sound: Full surround sound configuration for cinematic audio experience
- High-Quality Audio Streaming: Low-latency audio transmission ensuring perfect audio-video synchronization
🕹️ Comprehensive Input Control
- Support for Up to 16 Game Controllers: Connect and use up to 16 controllers simultaneously
- Force Feedback & Motion Controls: Full haptic feedback and gyroscope support
- 10+ Multi-Touch Points: Comprehensive touch support for touchscreen devices
- Dual Mouse Mode: Supports pointer capture (optimized for gaming) and direct mouse control (for remote desktop)
⌨️ Intelligent Keyboard Support
- System-Level Shortcut Pass-Through: Full transmission of system shortcuts like Alt+Tab to the host
- Full Keyboard Functionality: All special keys and key combinations work seamlessly
Key Advantages
🚀 Ultra-Low Latency Performance
Optimized for NVIDIA’s proprietary GameStream protocol, Moonlight delivers industry-leading streaming latency across all platforms, ensuring smooth gameplay even for fast-paced competitive titles.
🔓 Fully Open Source & Transparent
Licensed under GPL-3.0, Moonlight’s source code is fully transparent. Community-driven development ensures continuous improvement and security.
🌐 Cross-Platform Compatibility
- Multi-Device Support: Works on macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS
- Multi-Server Options: Compatible with official NVIDIA GameStream and open-source alternative Sunshine
- Multi-Hardware Platform: Supports Raspberry Pi, NVIDIA Jetson, and even Nintendo Switch
🛠 Developer & Customization Friendly
- Active development community and Discord server
- Multilingual translation support via Weblate platform
- Regular updates and ongoing maintenance
System Requirements
macOS Build Requirements
- Qt SDK 6.7 or higher (older versions may work but are not officially supported)
- Compatible macOS version
Download & Installation
Moonlight offers pre-compiled installation packages for macOS users, available directly from the official website:
- macOS Installer: Standard installation package
- Nightly Builds: Development versions with latest features and fixes
Use Cases
- Play high-performance PC games on Mac without purchasing expensive gaming consoles
- Remote desktop control with smooth access to Windows applications
- Home entertainment by streaming PC media content to mobile devices
- Development and testing by evaluating application performance across different devices
Community & Support
- Discord Community: Active platform for developers and users to exchange ideas
- Multilingual Support: Contribute translations via Weblate
Special Thanks
The Moonlight project extends special thanks to Cloudsmith for providing free hosting services for its Debian and L4T package repositories.
Note: Using NVIDIA GameStream requires a compatible NVIDIA GPU and GeForce Experience software. Using the open-source Sunshine server enables support for a wider range of hardware configurations. For the latest system requirements and compatibility details, please refer to the official website.
All software data on this site is synchronized from the Awesome mac project. Copyright belongs to original authors.
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