Vulkan and Metal
PyroWave encodes and decodes with Vulkan compute on Windows and Linux and with a native Metal port on macOS, straight from GPU memory.
PyroWaveLow-latency PyroWave game streaming for Sunshine and Moonlight setups, with 4:4:4 color and HDR
PyroWave is an intra-only GPU wavelet codec for ultra-low-latency streaming. Stock Sunshine and Moonlight do not have it; the USBridge Agent and client add PyroWave with free 4:4:4 color and HDR on the same Moonlight protocol, next to H.265, H.264 and AV1.
What PyroWave is
PyroWave is an intra-only wavelet video codec that runs on the GPU. Every frame is encoded on its own, with no reference frames, so a lost packet never smears into the next frames and there is no long GOP to wait for.
Very low latency
No inter-frame prediction and no B-frames: encode and decode take a fraction of a frame on the GPU.
Clean under packet loss
A damaged frame is replaced by the next one. No frozen picture while the stream waits for a keyframe.
Built for fast networks
It trades bitrate for latency and quality, so it shines on Ethernet, good Wi-Fi 6 and Tailscale links between nearby machines.
PyroWave for Sunshine and Moonlight setups
Stock Sunshine and the stock Moonlight client do not speak PyroWave. The USBridge Agent and the USBridge client add it on top of the same GameStream/Moonlight protocol, so you keep the Moonlight workflow you know.
Moonlight PyroWave
The USBridge client is a Moonlight-protocol client with a PyroWave decoder. Pick PyroWave next to H.264, H.265 (HEVC) and AV1 in the video dialog.
Sunshine PyroWave
Run the USBridge Agent next to or instead of Sunshine. The USBridge streamer engine encodes PyroWave; Sunshine, Apollo, Vibepollo and Punktfunk stay one tap away.
Fallback built in
The client offers PyroWave and falls back to H.265 or H.264 when a host does not have it, so one client works with every engine.
PyroWave with 4:4:4 color and HDR
PyroWave carries full-resolution chroma and 10-bit HDR together, which H.265 cannot negotiate in one mode today. 4:4:4 color is free.
4:4:4 chroma
Sharp text, lineart and UI edges without 4:2:0 color smudging. Useful for design, CAD and coding.
HDR10
BT.2020 with PQ, 10-bit, shown with EDR on a Mac and HDR10 on Windows.
Both at once
PyroWave 4:4:4 HDR in one stream, picked automatically from what the host and the client both support.
Where PyroWave works
Hosts
Linux and macOS hosts encode PyroWave with 4:4:4 and HDR on the GPU. Windows hosts encode 8-bit 4:2:0 PyroWave.
Clients
The Windows and macOS clients decode every PyroWave mode on the GPU; macOS uses a native Metal decoder. Linux decodes 8-bit 4:2:0.
Punktfunk
The Punktfunk engine offers PyroWave over the GameStream plane too, so it is also reachable from the USBridge client.
Frequently asked questions
What is PyroWave?
PyroWave is a GPU wavelet video codec where every frame is coded independently (intra-only). That gives very low latency and no visible damage from packet loss, at the cost of a higher bitrate than H.265 or AV1.
Does Sunshine support PyroWave?
Stock Sunshine does not. The USBridge Agent adds PyroWave through its USBridge streamer engine and keeps Sunshine, Apollo, Vibepollo and Punktfunk available in the same app, switchable in one tap.
Does Moonlight support PyroWave?
The stock Moonlight client does not. The USBridge client speaks the same protocol, decodes PyroWave on the GPU and falls back to H.265 or H.264 when a host has no PyroWave.
PyroWave vs H.265 (HEVC) vs AV1: which is better?
H.265 and AV1 save bandwidth, which matters over the internet or weak Wi-Fi. PyroWave minimizes latency and keeps quality on a fast local network, and it adds 4:4:4 and HDR together. The USBridge client lets you switch and benchmark them on your own link.
Is PyroWave 4:4:4 free?
Yes. 4:4:4 color and HDR are free. Only Wacom tablets and pen pressure need Pro.
Which GPU do I need for PyroWave?
PyroWave runs through Vulkan or Metal on the GPU. Any host GPU that encodes it offers 4:4:4 and HDR on Linux and macOS; Windows hosts encode 8-bit 4:2:0. The Windows and macOS clients decode all modes.