Streaming has grown popular enough that many people are basing their setups off of the industry in hopes of growing a following. For some, it’s an ambition toward a new career, while others are happy to share games they love with others.
Regardless of what your motivation is, you’ll need the right setup to stream with a Nintendo Switch. Some equipment is non-negotiable, while other items are great for making the process easier for you. Here are our picks for the best things to add to your setup so you can start streaming on your Nintendo Switch.
Elgato HD60 X Capture Card
Top performance and easy to use
The Elgato HD60X is the newest capture card from Elgato, long considered one of the best brands in the field. We recommend this capture card for a top-of-the-line experience.
One thing you’ll need for streaming is a capture card. Capture cards are responsible for capturing and streaming the footage. They’re necessary for high-quality recordings and can bring a more professional appearance to your footage.
The Elgato HD60 X is the current frontrunner from the titanic brand Elgato. It’s capable of recording in resolutions that are higher than what the Switch can offer, so you’ll never have to worry about low-quality footage. We recommend this as the best capture card for your Switch.
AVerMedia Live Gamer Mini
Capturing on a budget
The AverMedia Live Gamer Mini is a great capture card on a budget. It records at up to 1080p, making it the perfect fit for the Switch
If you’re looking to keep the cost of yourstreaming budgetlow, we suggest the AverMedia Live Gamer Mini. This capture card is cheaper than competitors like the Elgato without sacrificing quality. But why is the price lower?
Mostly, because the AverMedia caps out at 1080p. If you were trying to record footage of a new triple-A PC title or the beauty of a new PlayStation release, that could pose issues. But the Switch caps out at 1080p, making this a non-issue for Switch streaming and recording.
Nintendo Switch
Inherently important!
You won’t be streaming anything on a Nintendo Switch if you don’t have one! This piece is inherently integral to your streaming setup.
Clearly, you’ll need a Switch if you want to stream on one. But one difficulty you might run into is that there are several types of Switches out now! Our preference lies with the original over the OLED version. Since you’ll be streaming, the OLED’s better screen is irrelevant.
The other version you’ll find is the Nintendo Switch Lite. This version is meant for younger players and doesn’t have removable Joycons. It’s better to just stick with the standard Switch for streaming purposes.
Dell G3 Gaming Laptop - i5 8GB RAM GTX1650Ti 512GB SSD
Necessary, but replaceable
To stream on the Switch, you’ll need to connect your capture card to a PC for footage. A gaming laptop is perfect, as it’ll be just as portable as your Switch while also being a bit cheaper than a full desktop.
One thing you’ll need in your streaming setup is a PC. Your PC will connect with your capture card to transfer footage over and allow you to stream. As such, we’ve picked a good starting PC for you to think about while you consider what you’ll need for your streaming setup.
Your PC should be personalized to what you’ll use. To that end, we’re using the Dell G3 15 3500 as our example because it’s a perfect starting PC for your streaming career. It comes in for less than $1,000, is portable to match your Switch, and has adequate RAM, storage, and GPU components.
Razer Iskur Ergonomic Gaming Chair
Keeping back pain away while you play
Streaming sessions will often take hours. While you’re not streaming, you’ll still be in your chair editing footage and preparing future streams. The Razer Iskur’s ergonomic features will help keep away pain and soreness while you work.
Streams often take several hours, while capturing footage can be a full-time job if you also make video content to accompany your streams. You’ll want acomfortable and ergonomicgaming chair to sit in while you do so. Ergonomic features can fend off discomfort and pain from long periods of sitting.
Our choice for an ergonomic gaming chair is the Razer Iskur. While it has a high price, it also has all the ergonomic features you’ll need for your health and comfort. It’s also a fashionable chair from a recognizable brand, which will help your aesthetics if you intend to stream on cam.
SanDisk 512GB microSDXC UHS-I Memory Card Licensed for Nintendo Switch
Install more than two games onto your system
The Switch has agonizingly low storage fresh out of the box. This MicroSD will add 512GB of storage, helping you keep your games loaded up.
Out of the box, the Nintendo Switch has an abysmal storage space. The system requires you to install most games and store the files for those games locally as well. The paltry 32 gigs of storage is worsened even further by the fact that the Switch’s system uses some of this limited storage.
To remedy this, you can purchase a cheap and easy-to-install micro SD. Our choice is the 512GB SanDisk Micro SD. The extra 512 gigs of storage will make it so you can install dozens of games without much of an issue. It’s also cheap enough that it won’t eat up much of your streaming budget.
FAQ
Do I Need A PC To Stream On The Switch?
The Switch has no built-in streaming functionality like other consoles do. A capture card is needed to remedy this problem.
How Expensive Is A Switch Streaming Setup?
Not counting the price of the switch, the only real cost is a capture card and a PC. If you’re interested in streaming, there’s a good bet you already have a PC, so the financial barrier to entry is pretty low!Perfecting your setupafterward will depend on your tastes.
Is It Difficult To Stream From A Switch?
It’s more difficult than it is on other consoles that have built-in streaming functionalities, yes. But if you take the time to learn how to stream from your Switch, it’s as viable as any other platform.
