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Tech riderRev. 3 Oct 2026

Steam Audio SDK

Ch 057.6of 23 Game Audio Middleware
  1. 1Runs onAndroid, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows
  2. 2CostsFree plan
  3. 3Spatial audioYes
  4. 4Supported game enginesUnity, Unreal Engine, FMOD Studio, Wwise, C API
  5. 5Runtime platformsWindows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, SteamOS
5 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: valvesoftware.github.io
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The Steam Audio SDK homepage

Overview

Steam Audio SDK is ranked #5 of 23 in game audio middleware on Specifiction. It runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows. There is a free plan.

Steam Audio SDK plans and pricing

All plans
Steam Audio SDK Free Available for free to all developers Free to all developers · License agreement applies valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026

Compared on game audio middleware

Free plan
Yesvalvesoftware.github.io
Spatial audio
Yesvalvesoftware.github.io
Supported game engines
Unity, Unreal Engine, FMOD Studio, Wwise, C APIvalvesoftware.github.io
Runtime platforms
Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, SteamOSvalvesoftware.github.io

Facts

Purpose
Steam Audio is a cross-platform toolkit for adding spatial audio to games and VR/AR apps.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Environmental effects
Its features include physics-based sound propagation, occlusion, reflections, and reverb.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Ambisonics
It can spatialize Ambisonics audio and rotate it according to listener orientation.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Custom HRTFs
Users can supply HRTFs in AES SOFA format.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Performance
Steam Audio can use multicore CPUs and supported GPUs to accelerate environmental simulation and rendering.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Integrations
The official site lists Unity, Unreal Engine, a C API, FMOD Studio, and Wwise integrations.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Supported systems
The C API documentation lists Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS support, with platform and version requirements.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Wwise requirement
The Wwise integration requires Wwise 2023.1.0 or later.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
FMOD requirement
The FMOD Studio integration requires FMOD Studio 2.00 or later.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Unity requirement
The Unity integration requires Unity 2017.3 or later.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Unreal requirement
The Unreal Engine integration requires Unreal Engine 4.27 or later.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Intended users
The C API is intended for custom game engines, custom audio middleware, and digital audio workstations, and can be called from languages that use external libraries.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026
Support status
The official homepage invites feedback on Steam Audio and its development tools, which it describes as being in Beta.valvesoftware.github.io · 3 Oct 2026

Best Steam Audio SDK alternatives

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All accessCh 01 Audiokinetic Wwise Free planFree trialAndroid Free to start8.1 All accessCh 02 Unity Version Control Free planFree trialAPI Free to start7.9 All accessCh 03 FMOD Studio Free planFree trialLinux Free to start7.8 All accessCh 04 Amplitude Audio SDK Free planAndroidiOS Free to start7.7 All accessCh 06 OpenAL Soft Free planAndroidAPI Free to start7.5 All accessCh 07 SoLoud Free planAndroidAPI Free to start7.5

Where it ranks on Specifiction

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