Steam Audio SDK is a toolkit for adding spatial sound to games and VR or AR applications. It renders positional audio binaurally with HRTFs to represent sound direction relative to the listener. Environmental simulation includes sound propagation, occlusion, reflections, and reverb. The SDK can spatialize Ambisonics audio and rotate it with listener orientation, and developers can provide custom HRTFs in AES SOFA format. It can use multicore CPUs and supported GPUs to accelerate environmental simulation and rendering. Listed integrations include Unity, Unreal Engine, FMOD Studio, Wwise, and a C API. The C API is intended for custom game engines, audio middleware, and digital audio workstations, and can be called from languages that use external libraries. Supported systems include Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS; runtime platforms also list SteamOS. Integrations have minimum version requirements: Wwise 2023.1.0 or later, FMOD Studio 2.00 or later, Unity 2017.3 or later, and Unreal Engine 4.27 or later. Steam Audio is free to developers, subject to a license agreement, and its development tools are described as being in Beta.
Who it is for
It suits developers adding spatial audio to games and VR or AR applications. The C API may also suit teams building custom engines, audio middleware, or digital audio workstations.
What is good
- Free to developers, subject to a license agreement.
- Supports multiple game engine and audio integrations.
- Includes occlusion, reflections, and reverb simulation.
- Accepts custom HRTFs in AES SOFA format.
- Supports Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS.
What to know first
- Development tools are described as being in Beta.
- Integrations have minimum version requirements.
- Use is subject to a license agreement.
Verdict
Steam Audio SDK provides spatial audio and environmental simulation features across several listed integrations and platforms. Check the applicable integration requirements and license terms before choosing it.
Steam Audio SDK plans and pricing
All plansCompared on game audio middleware
- Free plan
- Yes
- Spatial audio
- Yes
- Supported game engines
- Unity, Unreal Engine, FMOD Studio, Wwise, C API
- Runtime platforms
- Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, SteamOS
