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papi-ux/polaris

Self-hosted Linux game streaming host that lets you stream your library to Moonlight or Nova clients while your desktop stays untouched.

Open-source alternative to:Steam LinkNVIDIA GameStream

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Last commit
2 days ago

What is it?

Polaris turns a Linux gaming PC or Steam Deck into a self-hosted game-streaming host. You connect from a handheld, phone, tablet or TV using Nova or a Moonlight client, and play your library without changing what is on your desktop. Pairing, settings and the library stay on your own machine, with no cloud account or subscription required.

Each game can run in its own invisible session (Private Stream), mirror the real desktop, add a virtual display sized to the client, or use a Gamescope-based setup. Hardware encoding is supported on NVIDIA, AMD and Intel GPUs, with H.264, HEVC and AV1 offered only when the GPU can actually encode them. A browser console called Mission Control shows the active session, connection quality, latency, frame rate, packet loss and the chosen capture path and encoder.

The project imports games from Steam, Heroic (GOG and Epic), Lutris and ROM folders, and includes a Doctor tool that diagnoses poor streams and can apply one reversible fix. Packages are provided for Fedora, Arch Linux, SteamOS, Bazzite and Ubuntu, and NixOS users can build from source.

Key features

  • 01Private Stream runs each game in its own session without disturbing your desktop layout.
  • 02Hardware encoding on NVIDIA, AMD and Intel GPUs, with codec support checked against what the GPU can encode.
  • 03Mission Control browser console shows session state, connection quality and host readiness.
  • 04Doctor diagnoses poor streams and can apply and verify one reversible fix.
  • 05Imports games from Steam, Heroic, Lutris and ROM folders with artwork.

Use cases

  • Playing your Linux PC game library on a Steam Deck, phone or TV elsewhere in the house.
  • Streaming games from a home machine while keeping your desktop open for other work.
  • Running a self-hosted game streaming setup without a subscription or cloud service.
  • Letting a second person watch a session without taking over control.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install a package for your distro (see the Get Polaris page or distro guides)

  2. 2

    Run one-time host setup

    sudo -H polaris --setup-host
  3. 3

    Start Polaris

    polaris
  4. 4

    Open the web console at https://localhost:47990/#/welcome, create your account, then pair Nova or a Moonlight client

Things to know

  • Linux hosts only; Windows and macOS hosts are not planned.
  • NVIDIA is the most tested GPU; AMD and Intel rely on VAAPI with software fallback.
  • Some features such as Spaces, PyroWave and Browser Stream are preview or experimental.

In collections

Self-hosted appsStreaming tools

Topics

#game-streaming#linux#self-hosted#moonlight#wayland#remote-play#gamestream#archlinux#fedora#streaming

FAQ

What is polaris?
Self-hosted Linux game streaming host that lets you stream your library to Moonlight or Nova clients while your desktop stays untouched. Polaris turns a Linux gaming PC or Steam Deck into a self-hosted game-streaming host. You connect from a handheld, phone, tablet or TV using Nova or a Moonlight client, and play your library without changing what is on your desktop. Pairing, settings and the library stay on your own machine, with no cloud account or subscription required.
Is polaris free to use? What license does it have?
polaris is open source under the GPL-3.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is polaris still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to polaris was on Nov 5, 2026.
What can I use polaris for?
Playing your Linux PC game library on a Steam Deck, phone or TV elsewhere in the house. Streaming games from a home machine while keeping your desktop open for other work. Running a self-hosted game streaming setup without a subscription or cloud service. Letting a second person watch a session without taking over control.
How do I install polaris?
Install a package for your distro (see the Get Polaris page or distro guides) Run one-time host setup: sudo -H polaris --setup-host Start Polaris: polaris Open the web console at https://localhost:47990/#/welcome, create your account, then pair Nova or a Moonlight client
Where can I get polaris?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/papi-ux/polaris

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