Do you want to start streaming or creating videos with OBS Studio but don’t know how to capture your gameplay screen?

This article explains how to capture game footage using OBS Studio, whether from PC games, gaming consoles, or other devices, in a clear and categorized manner.

How to Capture Game Screens with OBS Studio: A Detailed Guide

OBS Studio is a popular and free software for streaming and recording games. It supports multiple functionalities and high-quality output, making it a favorite among streamers.

This guide explains how to capture various types of gaming screens, such as PC games, consoles, and mobile games, using OBS Studio. Since the appropriate capture method varies depending on the type of game, understand the characteristics of each and choose the best setting.

OBS Studio primarily offers the following four capture methods.

Capture Method	Description	Suitable Games
Game Capture	Directly captures the screen of PC games	PC games (compatible with many games)
Window Capture	Captures a specified window	Browser games, some PC games
Display Capture	Captures the entire screen	When you want to show the entire screen
Video Capture Device	Uses a capture board to capture footage from consoles, etc.	Consoles, mobile games

When streaming or recording PC games, “Game Capture” is optimal. It can neatly capture the game screen only with minimal load, allowing for smooth streaming and recording.

If “Game Capture” does not work properly, try “Window Capture.” It’s suitable for browser games and some PC games.

“Display Capture,” which captures the entire screen, is not ideal for game streaming as it includes non-gaming elements. To stream or record games from consoles or mobile devices, a capture board is needed, recognized by OBS Studio as a “Video Capture Device.”

The detailed setup procedures for each capture method will be explained in the following sections.

Game Capture: How to Record and Stream PC Games in High Quality

The “Game Capture” feature in OBS Studio is ideal for recording and streaming PC games at high quality. This function captures the running game directly, delivering high-quality and smooth video.

The advantages and disadvantages of game capture are as follows:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Can capture game screens in high quality	Might not work correctly with some games
Can capture game audio simultaneously	Settings can be complex
No worry about capturing other windows

Next, we’ll explain the setup method, steps to start recording/streaming, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

Game Capture Setup Method

Select “Game Capture” from the Add button (+) in the OBS Studio’s sources. Choose to create a new one and name it as you like. Select “Capture a specific window” for the “Mode” and choose the game you want to record. Note that the window must be running to be selectable. The “Use anti-cheat compatibility hook” checkbox may be necessary for some games, so check it if capture fails.

Mode Selection: How to Differentiate Capture Methods

Game Capture has several modes. “Capture a specific window” allows you to specify a game to capture, ensuring no other windows are captured. “Switching games with hotkeys” is handy when switching games during streaming. Ensure the game is running before setting, as you can’t configure without it running.

Starting Recording/Streaming

Once configured, click the “Start Recording” button or the “Start Streaming” button on the bottom right of OBS Studio to begin capturing or streaming your game screen.

Troubleshooting: If the Game Cannot Be Captured

If the game cannot be captured, check the following points:

Issue	Solution
The game is not running	Start the game.
Incorrect mode settings	Select the correct mode.
Requires anti-cheat compatibility hook	Check the checkbox.
OBS Studio is not run as an administrator	Run OBS Studio as an administrator.

For more details, refer to our article “Game Capture Not Working in OBS: Solutions for Common Issues”

Window Capture: Specifying a Particular Window for Capture

Window Capture allows you to specify which window to display in your stream. You can capture not just game screens, but also browser or specific application windows.

The advantages and disadvantages of window capture are as follows:

Advantages	Disadvantages
Low load	Does not capture anything other than the game window
Can capture only specific windows	Will not capture if the window is minimized
Relatively easy to set	May not capture correctly depending on the game

How to Set Up Window Capture

1. Additional Source in OBS Studio Click the “+” button in the source list and choose “Window Capture.” Enter a name and click “OK.”
2. Selecting a Window to Capture From the displayed windows, select the window you want to capture. For capturing a game screen, choose the game window.
3. Setting capture method Choosing Windows10 (1903 and later) can provide a more stable capture.
4. Setting priority match Select “Find window of same executable if it matches title.”

Capturing Multiple Windows

If you want to capture multiple windows simultaneously, repeat the above steps to create individual window capture sources for each window.

Display Capture: Capturing the Entire Screen

Display Capture captures the entire screen as it appears on your PC monitor.

The advantages and disadvantages of display capture are as follows:

Item	Description
Advantages	Easy to set up
	Can show PC screen operations as they are
Disadvantages	Captures the entire screen, possibly showing unnecessary information
	Privacy consideration is needed

How to Set Up Display Capture

The method to add display capture as a source in OBS Studio is similar to the other captures. Select “Display Capture” from the “+” button and set your desired name. In the setup screen, you can choose which display to capture. In a multi-display environment, specifying the screen to stream or record is important.

Settings in a Multi-Display Environment

If you are using multiple displays, you can specify which display to capture. It’s useful when you want to share only a specific screen during presentations.

Since it captures the entire screen, be careful not to show notifications or private information. Before streaming or recording, take measures like closing unnecessary windows or turning off notifications.

Video Capture Device: How to Capture Footage from Consoles, etc.

To stream or record games from consoles or smartphones using OBS Studio, a video capture device (capture board) is necessary. This section explains how to import video footage into OBS Studio using a video capture device.

A video capture device converts video signals from output terminals like HDMI into digital data that a computer can recognize. The converted data is then identified by OBS Studio for streaming or recording.

The advantages and disadvantages of using a video capture device are as follows:

Item	Content
Advantages	High-quality, compatible with various gaming devices
Disadvantages	Costly, setup may be complex

How to Set Up a Video Capture Device

The setup procedure is as follows:

1. Connection: Properly connect the capture board to the gaming console and computer using the appropriate cables.
2. OBS Studio Setup: Launch OBS Studio, click the [+] button in the sources and select “Video Capture Device.”
3. Select the Device: From the settings window, select the capture board you are using. You can also configure settings such as resolution and framerate in “Properties.”
4. Preview: After setup, confirm that the game screen displays on the OBS Studio preview screen.

Setting Item	Description
Device	Select the capture board you are using.
Resolution/FPS	Set the resolution and framerate of the video to be captured.
Buffering	Select buffering method to reduce latency.

To minimize latency, a computer with a high-performance CPU and GPU is important, in addition to a capture board. Utilizing USB 3.0 or later ports is also recommended as USB bandwidth can affect performance.

Frequently Asked Questions About Game Capture with OBS Studio

When capturing games with OBS Studio, issues like a black screen display or no audio recording can arise. Here are some common FAQs and solutions.

FAQ	Solution
Game screen is black and can’t be captured	Change capture mode to something other than “Game Capture” (e.g., Window Capture)
If a black screen still appears	Run OBS Studio as an Administrator
Cannot capture with PCs having multiple GPUs	Change the GPU OBS Studio uses to a dedicated GPU
Cannot capture due to compatibility issues	Enable compatibility mode
No audio is being recorded	Check audio mixer settings, ensure correct audio devices are selected
Capture is heavy or laggy	Review OBS Studio settings, adjust output settings, verify PC specs meet requirements

If these methods don’t resolve the issue, consider checking out this article.

Game Capture Not Working in OBS: Solutions for Common Issues

Checking OBS Studio’s log files or asking questions on the official forum may also be necessary for a detailed investigation. Since OBS Studio is a high-featured software with many configuration options, thoroughly checking each can lead you to a solution.

For methods and steps for game streaming with OBS Studio, check out this article.

How to Stream Games on OBS Studio: Beginner’s Guide

Summary

This article provided a detailed explanation of game screen capture methods using OBS Studio. OBS Studio offers various capture methods, allowing you to choose the optimal settings for your needs. Below is a summary of each feature.

Capture Method	Description	Application Example
Game Capture	Captures PC games in high quality	PC game recording/streaming
Window Capture	Captures specific windows	Recording specific application windows
Display Capture	Captures entire screen	Recording/streaming the entire screen
Video Capture Device	Captures video from external devices	Recording console games

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