Running a game from a NAS share and streaming gameplay from a gaming PC are different workflows. With a NAS share, the computer runs the game while reading files over the network; with Steam Remote Play, the host PC runs the game and sends video and audio to another device. The four issues worth checking are slow launches, in-game asset delays, Remote Play stutter, and setup or compatibility friction—but available documentation does not verify that any particular writer encountered them as personal, tested problems.
First, identify which kind of “streaming” you mean
Running a game from NAS storage
The game runs on your computer, which reads its files from a network share, commonly accessed over SMB. Synology documents SMB access from Windows, Mac, and Linux clients, including mounting shared folders as network drives: Synology’s SMB access guide. That documentation describes file access, not compatibility certification for every game, launcher, operating system, or mount setup.
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Streaming gameplay from a gaming PC
With Steam Remote Play, the host gaming PC runs the game and sends video and audio to the client device. Steam describes the arrangement directly: Steam Remote Play. This is a real-time media stream, not a client launching game files from a NAS share.
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The distinction matters: slow file access while launching a game points toward the NAS-share path; choppy Remote Play points toward the gameplay stream. Fixes for one do not automatically fix the other.
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Problem 1: Launches can be slow when a game touches many small files
Starting a game or loading a level can involve many separate file requests. Microsoft’s SMB guidance explains that network latency can make small-file operations slower: a request is translated into SMB commands, sent across the network, and translated back before file-system work proceeds. See Microsoft’s SMB performance guidance.
This explains a possible mechanism for slow launches; it is not a gaming benchmark and does not show that every game will run poorly from a share. A faster connection may help with some transfers, but bandwidth alone does not eliminate the time spent waiting on network requests.
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Problem 2: Fetching assets during play can expose delays
A game that reads new assets while you move through the world may be more sensitive to storage response time than one that loads most of its content up front. Data already cached in memory can also make later access feel different from the first read. One Reddit user described occasional hangs when a game dynamically loaded new areas from a Synology share; that is an individual report, not evidence of a general result: the user discussion.
If the game is hitching while reading from a NAS, compare the same situation after copying the game to local storage. This helps distinguish network file-access delays from other causes, but it does not by itself establish that the NAS is the only bottleneck.
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Problem 3: Remote Play stutter is a streaming-network issue
When a host PC sends gameplay to another device, wireless interference or an inconsistent connection can make the stream choppy. Steam recommends connecting the computer to the router with Ethernet and provides a Remote Play performance overlay. The overlay can help reveal variable network time associated with stuttering or freezing. Follow Steam’s Remote Play network troubleshooting guidance.
- Connect the gaming PC to the router by Ethernet if practical.
- Reduce competing wireless traffic or interference on the client’s connection.
- Enable the Remote Play performance overlay and check whether network time varies when the stutter occurs.
These steps diagnose the gameplay stream. They do not address slow SMB reads when a game is installed on a NAS share.
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Problem 4: Setup and compatibility are not guaranteed
Mounting an SMB share is only one part of the setup. The operating system, launcher, game, and share arrangement all matter, and Synology’s SMB documentation does not certify every combination. Treat compatibility as something to verify for the particular game and client rather than assuming either that all games work or that none do.
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Choose a workflow that fits the problem
| Workflow | How files or gameplay reach the device | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Run the game from a NAS share | The computer runs the game and reads files over the network. | Centralizes storage, but network file access can affect launches or reads during play. Results depend on the game, client, NAS, storage, and network; the cited sources establish no universal minimum speed. |
| Keep active games locally; use the NAS as an archive | Copy game files to the computer for play, leaving archived titles on the NAS. | A practical workflow option, not a benchmark-backed universal prescription. Steam LAN transfers can copy eligible game content between Steam clients on a local network. |
| Stream gameplay from a host PC | The host runs the game and sends video and audio to a client. | Useful when the game remains on the host; stream stability depends on the connection between host and client. |
Use Steam’s local transfer feature when it fits
Steam Local Network Game Transfers can copy eligible Steam installation and update files from one Steam client to another over a local network, instead of downloading them again from a Steam content server. Valve says a modern PC can transfer game content at 100 MB/sec over a wired network connection; the support page does not state a publication year. This is a game-content transfer figure, not a guarantee of NAS performance or game loading speed. See Steam’s Local Network Game Transfers guide.
The feature has eligibility, connectivity, idle-client, and firewall requirements. It does not transfer local saves or configuration files, so those may need separate handling when moving between computers.
Quick Recap
A practical way to narrow down the cause
- Decide what is being accessed over the network. If the client is opening game files on an SMB share, investigate file access. If a host PC is sending gameplay to a client, investigate Remote Play.
- Note when the delay occurs. Slow startup or loading from a share is different from a hitch when new assets are fetched, and both differ from a choppy video stream.
- Change one relevant part of the path. For a share-related issue, try a local copy of the game. For Remote Play, use Ethernet for the host and inspect Steam’s performance overlay.
- Pick a storage arrangement based on your results. If network reads are inconvenient, keep frequently played games on local storage and use the NAS as an archive; Steam’s LAN transfer feature may help copy eligible content.
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