If you’re into streaming and game capture, you’ve probably heard of Elgato. They’ve dominated the game capture space for over a decade due to their quality and understanding of what streamers and content creators need with their products. This time around, though, Elgato has taken a different approach with its Elgato Neo line, offering a series of new products in a new Plug-and-play format at a competitive price, all while maintaining the quality you’d expect. For this review, we’ll be deep-diving into the Elgato Game Capture Neo, its latest game capture device that is great for anyone wanting to get into streaming and content creation.
Cut to the Chase
Price – $119.99 / £119.99
Max Passthrough Resolution – 4K60HDR
Max Capture Resolution – 1080p60
How does it work? – It connects your console (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, etc.) to your PC, laptop, or iPad to stream or record.
What apps are compatible? – It’s compatible with almost every app, including Discord, OBS, etc. and can be used to stream to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Tiktok.
Is there a subscription service needed? – No, it’s a one-time purchase price, and that’s it.
An Affordable Option
I’ve been in the gaming content creator scene for about 15 years now, and the truth is, it can be costly. However, the Elgato Game Capture Neo, priced at $119, is a fantastic price point that suddenly makes streaming and recording gameplay affordable for the masses. The Elgato Game Capture Neo offers a 4K60 max passthrough resolution and a 1080p60 max capture resolution, a perfectly acceptable output resolution for any novice (and some would argue professional) content creator. For comparison, the Elgato HD60 X will also offer these same resolutions, but with frame rate support up to 240FPS, priced at $159.99. However, unless you have a monitor that supports such a high FPS, you’re getting the same bang for your buck with the Neo but at 25% cheaper.
Plug in and Play
All the Elgato Neo family devices have a ” plug-in and play” design that makes whichever Neo device you use simple and easy to understand. While you will still need to download the Elgato Capture Software or OBS to start your recording or steaming journey, the Elgato Game Capture Neo can be set up from unboxing to recording in minutes.
Note – You must have two HDMI cables handy as they do not come with the device.
- Connect HDMI IN to your console and HDMI OUT to your TV or monitor.
- Connect Game Capture Neo directly to a USB 3.0 (or better) port on your PC or Mac. (To connect to your iPad, use an excellent third-party adapter or USB-C to USB-C cable. Do not use a USB hub.)
- Download your favorite recording or broadcasting app.
- Select Game Capture Neo in your favorite recording or broadcasting app.
- Share or share your gameplay on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Tiktok, etc.
Note—If you’re getting “No Signal,” you need to disable HDCP on your console. This is located under Settings in your console’s dashboard.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Elgato Game Capture Neo is a great capture device for anyone who wants to try out streaming or content creation. While it doesn’t record to the highest resolutions and framerates, it’s important to note that this product is for those who want to dip their toes into recording and streaming gaming content without spending hundreds of dollars on just one product.
Its elegant and simplistic design, lightweight and small size make it an ideal capture device to add to any setup and is the perfect choice for gamers on the move. Overall, it’s another high-quality product from Elgato and a great addition to its existing product line.
The entire Neo family of products, which consists of the Elgato Game Capture Neo, Stream Deck Neo, Facecam Neo, Wave Neo, and Key Light Neo can all be yours now for £399 on the Elgato website.
What do you think of the Elgato Game Capture Neo? Let us know in our community forums or in the comments below!
