Why Migrate to Sunshine?
Sunshine provides several advantages over the discontinued GameStream:- Cross-platform support: Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS
- Hardware agnostic: Compatible with NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel GPUs
- Active development: Regular updates and improvements
- Open source: Community-driven with full transparency
- Performance: Equal or better streaming quality than GameStream
- Flexibility: More configuration options and customization
Automated Migration Tool
The easiest way to migrate is using the GameStream Migration Script (GSMS) project.What GSMS Migrates
Custom Games
All manually added games and applications
Auto-detected Games
Games automatically detected by GeForce Experience
Game Settings
Working directory, command, and launch parameters
Box Art
Game images copied to your specified directory
Using GSMS
Install Sunshine
Install Sunshine on your system before running GSMS. Follow the installation guide for your platform.
Download GSMS
Download the latest release from the GSMS GitHub repository
Internet Streaming Setup
If you previously used the Moonlight Internet Hosting Tool for streaming over the internet, you can remove it after migrating to Sunshine.Enabling Internet Streaming
Your router must support UPnP for automatic port forwarding. If UPnP is not available, you’ll need to manually forward ports 47984-47990 (TCP and UDP) to your Sunshine host.
Key Differences from GameStream
While Sunshine provides a superior streaming experience, there are some differences to be aware of:What Sunshine Doesn’t Include
Automatic Game Detection
Automatic Game Detection
Unlike GeForce Experience, Sunshine does not automatically detect installed games. You’ll need to manually add games through the Web UI or migrate them using GSMS.However, you can configure Sunshine to launch game launchers (Steam, Epic Games, etc.) which provide their own game libraries.
Automatic Game Optimization
Automatic Game Optimization
GameStream could automatically adjust game settings for optimal streaming. Sunshine does not modify game settings.Instead, you have full control over your game settings and can configure prep commands to adjust resolution, refresh rate, and other display settings dynamically.
What You Gain with Sunshine
Prep Commands
Execute commands before and after streaming sessions (resolution changes, process management, etc.)
Custom Detached Commands
Launch applications in specific ways for better compatibility
Platform Support
Stream from Linux and macOS systems, not just Windows
GPU Flexibility
Use AMD or Intel hardware encoding alongside NVIDIA
Manual Migration Steps
If you prefer to migrate manually or GSMS doesn’t work for your setup:Document Current Games
Take screenshots or notes of your GameStream game library including custom launch parameters
Install Sunshine
Follow the installation guide for your platform
Add Games Individually
Open the Sunshine Web UI at
https://localhost:47990 and add each game through the Applications sectionPost-Migration Checklist
- Uninstall Moonlight Internet Hosting Tool (if using Sunshine’s UPnP)
- Test streaming on your local network
- Test internet streaming (if applicable)
- Configure firewall rules for Sunshine
- Set up prep commands for resolution switching (optional)
- Customize encoder settings for your GPU
- Back up your Sunshine configuration
Getting Help
If you encounter issues during migration:- Check the Troubleshooting guide
- Review application examples for configuration help
- Visit the Sunshine Discord for community support
- Report bugs on GitHub