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SPECIFICTION
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Sunshine

app.lizardbyte.dev

Free plan WindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted
Visit app.lizardbyte.dev
Spec score 7.4 #19 of 27 in Game Remote Play Software

What it is

Sunshine is a free, self-hosted game-streaming host for Moonlight clients, running on your own hardware. It supports AMD, Intel, and Nvidia hardware encoding, with software encoding also available. A web interface lets you configure the host and pair clients from a browser, including on mobile devices. Moonlight clients are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox, and more. Sunshine emulates Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series, DualShock 4, DualSense, and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers. Host compatibility includes FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with features varying by system. Listed maximums are 4K resolution and 120 fps. Minimum requirements include 4 GB RAM, a supported GPU, and 5 GHz 802.11ac networks for host and client. Sunshine is GPL-3.0 licensed and distributed through several package sources.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Sunshine is a self-hosted game stream host for Moonlight with low-latency cloud gaming server capabilities.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
Support
LizardByte says Discord is its preferred support method and GitHub Discussions can be used for support, feature requests, and general discussion.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
Maker
The project page identifies Sunshine as a LizardByte project.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
Configuration
A web UI lets users configure Sunshine and pair clients from a web browser, including on a mobile device.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
Controller emulation
Sunshine emulates Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation DualShock 4, DualSense, and Nintendo Switch Pro controllers.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
Downloads
The download links include Cloudsmith, Copr, Arch Linux, Docker, Flathub, and Homebrew.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
Hardware encoding
Sunshine supports AMD, Intel, and Nvidia GPUs for hardware encoding, and software encoding is also available.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
Host operating systems
The repository's compatibility table covers FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, and Windows, with features varying by operating system.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
Moonlight clients
Sunshine connects to Moonlight clients, which the project page lists for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Xbox, and more.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
Open source license
The Sunshine repository identifies its license as GPL-3.0.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security and privacy
LizardByte's website privacy policy says it strives to use commercially acceptable means to protect personal information but cannot guarantee absolute security.Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev
System requirements
The listed minimum requirements include 4 GB RAM, a supported GPU, and host and client networks using 5 GHz 802.11ac; the page says its requirements tables are a work in progress.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Sunshine Free Self-hosted; runs on your own hardware Read 3 Oct 2026 · app.lizardbyte.dev

Every Sunshine plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and self-hosted
  • AMD, Intel, and Nvidia encoding
  • Browser-based configuration and pairing
  • Emulates multiple console controllers
  • Supports up to 4K and 120 fps

Limits

  • Runs on your own hardware
  • Requirements tables are a work in progress
  • Features vary by host operating system
  • Requires 5 GHz 802.11ac networking

Who it suits

It suits users who want to stream games from their own computer to Moonlight clients. A supported GPU, sufficient memory, and compatible 5 GHz networking are required.

Verdict

Sunshine provides an open-source host for Moonlight streaming with broad controller, operating-system, and encoding support. Setup depends on suitable host hardware and network conditions.

Where Specifiction places it

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