LunarNX vs Pulsar

LunarNX is free, open-source Nintendo Switch homebrew software for Xbox Remote Play, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PlayStation Remote Play. It connects Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles, paired PS4 and PS5 systems, and the Xbox Cloud Gaming library with recent titles, search, and playback. PlayStation functions include local discovery, pairing, console wake-up, and remote PS5 discovery through PlayStation Network. Xbox and PlayStation sessions offer 720p, 1080p, and 1080p HQ profiles, hardware-accelerated H.264, and low-latency audio; PS5 also supports HEVC. Controls include separate button mappings, PlayStation touchpad gestures, Switch motion forwarding, and supported rumble or DualSense haptics as Switch vibration. The interface supports English and two Chinese variants. A homebrew-capable Switch, Homebrew Menu title-override/full-memory mode, and stable 5 GHz Wi-Fi or wired networking are required. Streaming depends on account permissions, console settings, NAT, network quality, and service availability.

Pulsar combines remote desktop control and low-latency game streaming in one free, open-source app. It is aimed at gamers and IT or support teams connecting to servers, client machines, or personal computers. Remote desktop tools include ID and one-time-password access, unattended access, file transfer, clipboard sync, session chat, multi-monitor support, and remote restart. Connections try peer-to-peer first and automatically use a relay if needed. For games, Pulsar supports hardware H.265 or AV1 encoding at up to 120 fps, HDR, ultrawide displays, multichannel audio, adaptive bitrate, and Xbox and PlayStation controller mapping. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android; the iOS App Store release is in development. The maker says no account is required and there are no ads or telemetry. Encryption keys are generated on user devices, and users can self-host a relay and device identity server with a Docker command. The plan is free, free forever.