Nova
Nova is a polished, controller-first home for PC game streaming across Android TVs, handhelds, tablets, and phones. It works with compatible hosts for normal streaming, and when the host is Polaris it stops guessing: the host tells Nova which launch modes exist, who owns the current session, what tuning is active, and what is safe to do next.
Nova ships on Android, and on Steam Deck as an Alpha: a native SteamOS client attached to every release as a Flatpak bundle, covered by Nova on Steam Deck. It is not on the Play Store; the install paths are GitHub Releases, Obtainium, and GitHub Store.
Start here
Section titled “Start here”- Nova quick start: pick the right APK, add a host, pair, and take your first stream.
- Nova on Steam Deck: install the Alpha, add it to Game Mode, and see what it does not do yet.
- Play Setup: choose where a title runs, keep resolution and frame rate independent, and understand the exact host-resolved launch plan.
- Polaris Sync: see the host defaults every game inherits, push or pull the launch profile, and read the rules for when Nova and the host disagree.
- Nova compatibility: devices, hosts, controllers, and the current limits.
- Spaces in Nova: open the Space assigned to your device, switch between permitted Spaces, and set its stream settings.
- Library sources and artwork: repair a missing Heroic poster, restore built-in utility artwork, and understand what Nova pins to Android’s home screen.
- Nova on papi-ux.com: the product overview, screenshots, and download links.
What Polaris adds
Section titled “What Polaris adds”Nova is a complete Moonlight-compatible client on its own. Pairing it with Polaris changes what the client can explain, not whether it works.
| Capability | With Polaris | With other Moonlight-compatible hosts |
|---|---|---|
| Standard GameStream launch, pairing, input | Yes | Yes |
| Wake-on-LAN | Yes | Yes, when host and network metadata allow it |
| Library with metadata, art, source badges, launch context | Yes | No |
| Private Stream / Host Virtual Display / Mirror Desktop choice | Yes | No |
| Independent per-game resolution, frame rate, and preset plan | Yes | Limited to standard host launch settings |
| Artwork Studio and artwork-backed home-screen shortcuts | Yes | Limited |
| Watch or resume owner-aware active sessions | Yes | Limited or none |
| Command Center session truth and host actions | Yes | Partial |
| NovaHUD host-health truth | Yes | Limited |
| Polaris Sync and tuning provenance | Yes | No |
| AI Auto Quality surfaced in the client | Yes, when enabled on Polaris | No |
Launch modes in plain English
Section titled “Launch modes in plain English”Nova shows these as explicit choices rather than unlabeled buttons, because launch intent changes what happens to the host. Private Stream is usually the safest first pick; Mirror Desktop is powerful but should be deliberate.
| Mode | What Nova asks Polaris to do | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| Host default | Follow the durable mode currently saved in Polaris | The host policy is already right for this title |
| Private Stream | Launch into an isolated Polaris compositor | You want handheld play without touching the host desktop |
| Gamescope Stream | Launch through an available Gamescope-owned session | The title behaves best in a Steam-first, Deck-style runtime |
| Host Virtual Display | Add a separate client-sized display when the backend is ready | You want display-backed behavior without mirroring the real monitor |
| Headless Dongle | Open Polaris’ host-wide physical display settings | The dedicated host uses a configured dummy plug |
| Mirror Desktop | Stream the current host desktop session | You intentionally want to see or control the real desktop |
| Watch Stream | Join a compatible active session as a viewer | Another device owns the session and you do not want to take it over |
Only modes the current host advertises are launchable. The host side is documented in Choose where games run; field precedence is documented in Play Setup.
Controller shortcuts
Section titled “Controller shortcuts”| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Guide/Mode + Start/Menu | Opens Command Center during a stream |
| Guide/Mode + Y | Shows or cycles NovaHUD |
During a stream
Section titled “During a stream”Command Center is where tuning, overlays, controller actions, and the exit controls live. Disconnect and End session are deliberately separate: disconnecting leaves the host session running so you can resume it, while ending it stops the session on the host.