SkyNX - PC Games on your Nintendo Switch via Remote Play
SkyNX is a homebrew by DevL0rd that allows you to play PC games on your Nintendo Switch via remote play. This means you will be streaming game footage from your PC to your Switch, and using the Switch to control the game. Your Switch will automatically be configured as a controller for your PC to work with any game that supports controllers. SkyNX also features a setting to disable the video stream and simply use the Nintendo Switch as a controller for PC. The touch screen can also be used to control your mouse.
SkyNX is reminiscent to Moonlight, a well-known homebrew application for streaming from PCs with Nvidia GPUs to various mobile devices. SkyNX boasts great performance with low latency, making it a perfect addition to the Switch’s homebrew library and really shows off its capabilities as a gaming console. SkyNX works especially well with emulators such as Dolphin and Cemu, making it perfect for slower-paced titles that run at lower native resolutions.
Required Downloads:
Nintendo Switch with Custom Firmware
- The SkyNX homebrew application requires a hacked switch with CFW such as Atmosphere
- You cannot run homebrew applications with unhacked or stock Switch consoles
- This guide assumes you have all the basic requirements to enter RCM and boot into CFW
Goldleaf
- The Goldleaf homebrew application is required to install the SkyNX NSP forwarder
- Follow this guide on installing Goldleaf if you haven’t done so already
Wi-Fi Connection
Install SkyNX
- Extract the contents of
SkyNX.zipto the root of your SD card
- Insert your SD card into your Switch and push your preferred payload to enter CFW
- Ensure your Switch is connected to your Wi-Fi network
- From the Home screen, launch the Album to access the Homebrew Menu
- Install
SkyNX_Forwarder.nspwith Goldleaf
- Return to the Switch Home menu and launch SkyNX
Play PC Games on Switch
- Extract the contents of
SkyNXStreamer.zipto a folder on your PC
- Launch
SkyNXStreamer.exeIf a Window’s Defender prompt appears, click [More info] -> [Run Anyway] to proceed
- Install the required drivers
- Restart your PC when prompted
- Launch
SkyNXStreamer.exeafter restarting your PCRun SkyNXStreamer as administrator if your required game is also launched with administrator privileges - Allow network access if prompted
- Enter the IP address displayed in SkyNX on your Switch
- Click [Start Streamer] to begin streaming from your PC to your Switch
- Launch your game on the PC to begin, the Switch will automatically be configured as a controller
- Set the game’s resolution to 1280 x 720 to match the Nintendo Switch screen resolution
You can adjust quality settings to increase the picture quality. The default 5Mbs results in great performance with low latency. However, increasing bitrate to the maximum of 20Mbs produces a brilliant image with very little impact to latency or stutter. Greater distances from your network access point could affect performances at higher bitrates.
Unlike Moonlight, SkyNX does not specifically require an Nvidia GPU to encode from. The encoder can be selected to suit the specifications of your PC:
- CPU Encoding: Use your CPU to stream, recommending for CPU’s with more than 4 cores / 4 threads.
- Nvidia Encoding: Use the Nvidia GPU’s on-board NVENC chip to stream, recommending if using a newer GTX / RTX card
- AMD Encoding: Use an AMD GPU to stream, also AMD laptops
- Intel Encoding: Use the integrated GPU (iGPU) of the Intel CPU to stream, for laptops without a discrete GPU
- Press the [LS] + [RS] buttons together to toggle mouse control, choose between analog stick or gyroscope control
- Video can be disabled allowing you to use your Nintendo Switch as a controller for PC
- [A] / [B] or [X] / [Y] buttons can be swapped to suit the game you are playing
- The framerate can be limited to 30FPS for games that run at 30 frames per second
SkyNX can be set to change your Windows resolution to 1280 x 720 when streaming begins. This is recommended to match your stream’s resolution to the Nintendo Switch screen resolution.
The Switch (stream) FPS and encoding (source) FPS can be monitored on the Stat’s tab
Enabling Controller Support
- Initiate a connection and start the SkyNX Streamer and SkyNX on the Nintendo Switch to enable the Switch PC controllerThe Switch will appear as an Xbox 360 Controller for Windows
- Launch SteamRun Steam and SkyNXStreamer as administrator if your required game is also launched with administrator privileges
- In the top-left corner of the window, select [Steam] -> [Settings] -> [Controller]
- Select [General Controller Settings] -> Check [Xbox Configuration Support]
- Select [Library] -> [Add Game] at the bottom left
- Select the executable
.exefile for your game
- Select your game and click [Controller Configuration] below the [Play] button
- The controller should appear as an Xbox 360 Controller, select [Switch Controller] if another controller appears
Here, you can map the controller buttons to near endless possibility of keyboard or mouse functions. Additional options such as Toggle and Rapid Fire can be found under [Show Activators]
You can map your analog stick to the relative mouse movement, with additional settings such as sensitivity available. This makes it very easy to setup your controller for mouse-based games like first-person shooters.
You can also map your analog stick to 8-way directions using WASD or Arrow keys.
Launch your game and your custom controller configuration will be active while the game is running.
If your controller works in the Steam Settings but not in game:
- In Steam, launch Big Picture Mode from the top right icon
- Select [Library] then select your game
- Select [Manage Shortcut] -> [Controller Options]
- Ensure [Allow Desktop Configuration in Launcher] is unchecked
