What Is Chiaki-ng? The Open-Source PS5/PS4 Remote Play Client Explained
Chiaki-ng is a free, open-source PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 Remote Play client developed by the community project streetpea/chiaki-ng. It streams your PS4 or PS5 games over your local network or the internet to Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck, and Nintendo Switch devices, with low-latency video, HDR support, and advanced controller features.
Chiaki-ng and the Original Chiaki: What’s the Relationship?
Chiaki-ng is a fork of Chiaki, the original open-source Remote Play client by thestr4ng3r. The original project did its job well — it is now officially in maintenance mode: considered feature-complete (v2.2.0), with no major updates planned. Chiaki-ng picked up where it left off and became the actively developed branch, shipping regular releases with new features the original will never get.
Core Features of Chiaki-ng (v1.10.0)
- Low-latency streaming — adaptive queue depth management and congestion control keep input lag down on local networks.
- HDR streaming — hardware-accelerated HDR with custom libplacebo scalers and spatial upscaler presets (added v1.5.0, refined since).
- DualSense done right — true haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, gyro motion controls, and adjustable intensity matching your console’s settings.
- Steam Deck native — official Flatpak build (
io.github.streetpea.Chiaki4deck) with a game-mode launcher script. - Third-party controller remapping — a greatly expanded mapping database (v1.9.x) covering Xbox, Switch Pro, and many other gamepads, plus positional layout for Nintendo-style controllers.
- Pinless local registration — since v1.9.4, consoles discovered on your home network register without the 8-digit PIN.
Who Is Chiaki-ng For?
- Steam Deck / Linux users — Sony’s official client doesn’t exist for your platform. This is the main reason chiaki-ng exists.
- Players with third-party controllers — the official app restricts you; chiaki-ng remaps almost anything.
- Tinkerers — bitrate sliders, renderer choices (Vulkan/OpenGL), upscalers, and NAT controls the official app hides.
Who Should Skip It?
- Phone-only players — chiaki-ng publishes no official Android/iOS app. Use Sony’s official mobile app instead (see our honest Android status page).
- “Just works” casual users on Windows/Mac — Sony’s official client is simpler to set up. Compare both in Chiaki-ng vs the official app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chiaki-ng?
Chiaki-ng is a free, open-source PlayStation 4 and PS5 Remote Play client developed by the community project streetpea/chiaki-ng. It streams your console’s games to Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck, and Nintendo Switch over your local network or the internet, with low-latency video, HDR, and advanced controller support.
Is chiaki-ng official?
No. Chiaki-ng is an independent, community-developed open-source project (GNU AGPLv3). It is not made by, endorsed by, or affiliated with Sony Interactive Entertainment. This website is likewise an independent resource site, not the project’s official home — the code lives on GitHub under streetpea/chiaki-ng.
Is chiaki-ng free?
Yes, completely free — no purchase, no subscription, no feature paywalls. It is licensed under the GNU AGPLv3, so the source code is public and anyone can audit, modify, or redistribute it under the same license.
What is the difference between Chiaki and chiaki-ng?
Chiaki is the original open-source Remote Play client by thestr4ng3r, now in maintenance-only mode (v2.2.0, no major updates planned). Chiaki-ng is its actively developed fork: HDR streaming, new Vulkan/OpenGL renderers, native Steam Deck support, expanded controller mapping, and GUI PSN login — features the original will never receive.
Which devices can run chiaki-ng?
Official builds exist for Windows (x64/ARM64), macOS (Intel/Apple Silicon), Linux (Flatpak and AppImage, x86_64/ARM64), and Nintendo Switch (via the Akira releases). There are no official Android or iOS builds — phone users should use Sony’s official mobile app.
Chiaki-ng.com is an independent, unofficial resource site. Chiaki-ng is free and open-source software (GNU AGPLv3) built by its community contributors. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Sony Interactive Entertainment.