HDR Remote Play on Steam Deck with Chiaki-ng
Chiaki-ng can stream HDR from your PS5 to Steam Deck — but only when the whole chain cooperates: your PS5 outputs HDR, chiaki-ng runs under gamescope (Steam Deck game mode) on v1.5.0 or newer, and your display handles HDR. On a Deck OLED this chain is complete; on the LCD model it ends in SDR. If any link is missing, chiaki-ng falls back to SDR automatically.
The HDR Chain: All Four Links Must Hold
| Link | What to check | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1. PS5 output | PS5 Settings → Screen and Video → HDR → On (or “On When Supported”); the game itself must support HDR | You control this |
| 2. Chiaki-ng version | HDR streaming was added in v1.5.0 for Linux gamescope; use the latest stable (v1.10.0) | Verified in release notes |
| 3. Gamescope (game mode) | HDR works only under gamescope — i.e. Steam Deck game mode. Desktop mode is SDR, no exceptions. | Verified in release notes |
| 4. Display | Deck OLED panel supports HDR; Deck LCD is SDR; an external monitor must be HDR-capable | Hardware fact |
Settings to Check in Chiaki-ng
- Use the Vulkan / libplacebo renderer (Settings → Video → Render) — that’s the pipeline HDR was built on. The OpenGL backend added in v1.10.0 is great for compatibility, but for HDR stick with Vulkan.
- Launch from game mode (see our game mode setup guide) — HDR detection happens under gamescope.
- Keep your bitrate headroom: HDR carries more data per frame. If you see stuttering after enabling HDR, lower the bitrate slider in 1 Mbps steps (Settings → Video) until motion is smooth.
Deck LCD vs Deck OLED
| Steam Deck OLED | Steam Deck LCD | |
|---|---|---|
| HDR chain | Complete in game mode — PS5 → chiaki-ng → gamescope → OLED panel | Breaks at the display — panel is SDR |
| What you’ll see | True HDR highlights in supported games | Clean SDR stream (chiaki-ng falls back automatically) |
| Worth chasing? | Yes — this is the best-looking way to remote-play on a handheld | No — don’t fight it; optimize SDR quality instead |
SDR Fallback & Troubleshooting
- Washed-out / gray colors: classic HDR↔SDR mismatch. Check that the PS5’s HDR output setting matches what the game and display expect; a mismatch anywhere in the chain washes the image out.
- Stuttering only with HDR on: HDR raises the bitrate the stream needs. Drop the bitrate slider or switch to 5GHz / wired — see our lag & latency guide.
- No HDR despite OLED + game mode: confirm you’re on v1.5.0+, using the Vulkan renderer, and actually launched from game mode (not desktop mode).
- Nuclear option: set the PS5’s HDR to Off and enjoy a rock-solid SDR stream. A stable SDR picture beats a stuttering HDR one every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HDR work in Steam Deck desktop mode?
No. Chiaki-ng’s HDR support is gamescope-only, which means Steam Deck game mode. The desktop session (KDE Plasma) is SDR, so HDR has nowhere to go there.
Why do colors look washed out when I enable HDR?
That’s an HDR/SDR mismatch somewhere in the chain — usually the PS5 output setting disagreeing with the game or display. Walk the four links in the table above one by one.
Does HDR increase input lag?
Not directly, but HDR frames carry more data, so on a weak connection you’ll see stuttering that feels like lag. Either give the stream more bitrate headroom or drop back to SDR on congested Wi-Fi.
Which chiaki-ng version do I need for HDR on Deck?
v1.5.0 or newer — that’s when HDR arrived for Linux gamescope. In practice, just run the latest stable release (v1.10.0 at the time of writing) from our install guide.