How to Stream Games on Facebook

This article explains how to stream games on Facebook Gaming from your computer, mobile device, or gaming console.

How to Stream on Facebook Gaming

After you've set up your equipment and software, follow these steps to begin streaming:

1. Set up a Facebook Gaming page to host your stream.

2. Select the Facebook Gaming icon in the toolbar at the top of Facebook.

3. Select Start Streaming to go to the Facebook Creator Studio.

4. Select Create Post > Go Live to go to the Facebook Live Producer page.

5. Scroll down to Live Stream Setup, then copy-and-paste the Stream Key and Server URL into a separate document or text editor.

   Never give out your stream key to anyone, or else they can access your stream.

6. In your broadcast software, select Facebook Live for the Service. To do this in OBS Studio, go to File > Settings > Stream.

7. Enter the Stream Key and Server URL into your streaming software settings. To do this in OBS Studio, go to File > Settings > Stream.

   In some programs, the server will already be set to the appropriate default.

8. Once you've set up your stream, start streaming in your broadcast software. A preview will appear on Facebook. Select the small window to make it larger.

9. In the left sidebar of the Facebook Live Producer page under Post, make sure Post to Page you manage is selected and choose your gaming page.

10. Enter a title and description for your stream, tag a game, then select Go Live on Facebook.

Monitoring Your Facebook Gaming Streaming 

After going live, Facebook will take you to the Creator Studio, where you'll see helpful information like your number of viewers, stream health, and comments. You can return to the Creator Studio at any time to manage your streams and upload videos. Select Insights in the left sidebar to see your viewer metrics and earnings.

What Do You Need to Stream Games on Facebook?

Facebook Gaming only supports streaming from PCs, so if you want to stream from your console, you'll need to connect it to your computer using a video capture card. Additionally, you'll need some third-party game streaming software, such as OBS Studio or Streamlabs OBS.

You'll probably also want to invest in a quality webcam and a USB mic. To make your streams as professional as possible, consider a complete game streaming setup.

Setting Up Your Facebook Gaming Stream

Before you begin streaming, you'll need to set up your broadcast software. The process differs depending on which program you use. Facebook recommends the following settings:

• Bitrate: 4,000Kbps
• Keyframe interval: 2
• Video output: 720p at 30 frames-per-second.

In addition to broadcasting gameplay footage, you'll also want to create a visually appealing layout for your stream. At a minimum, your stream should include a background image and a webcam.

Create a Facebook Gaming Stream Layout in OBS Studio

While you can use Photoshop to create a streaming layout for video games, here's how to set up a basic layout using OBS Studio.

1. Go to File > Settings > Video and change the Base and Output resolutions to 1920x1080, then select OK. This will resize your stream to the best aspect ratio for broadcasting.

2. To add a background image, right-click the blank workspace and select Add > Image. If the image isn't 1920x1080 pixels, you'll have the opportunity to resize it.

   Keep an eye on the Sources box at the bottom of the screen to ensure the background image layer stays at the bottom of the list.

3. If you want to add a webcam, right-click the OBS studio workspace and select Add > Video Capture Device. Give it a simple name like “webcam,” and make sure it's above your background in the Sources box.

4. To stream gameplay footage directly from your PC, right-click the blank workspace and select Add > Game Capture.

5. Set the Mode to Capture specific window, then choose your game as the Window (the program must be running).

6. To stream footage from a game console, unplug the console's HDMI cable from your TV, plug it into the capture card, and then connect the capture card to your computer with the USB cable.

7. Turn on the console, then right-click the OBS studio workspace and select Add > Video Capture Device.

8. After you select your capture card, live footage from the console should appear on your computer. Resize the window and move it to where you want it on your screen layout.