Elgato Game Capture 4K S

Elgato Game Capture 4K S

The Elgato Game Capture 4K S is an external USB capture card for recording and streaming console and PC gameplay, and it is important to identify it correctly: the 4K S is Elgato’s newer compact model, distinct from the internal 4K60 Pro and from the older HD60 X. It captures at up to 4K60 in SDR, with high-frame-rate capture at 1440p120 and 1080p240 for competitive and fast-moving games, while passing the signal through to the television or monitor at up to 2160p60, 1440p120 and 1080p240 with near-zero latency, so playing through the card feels like playing directly. The HDMI input and output are HDMI 2.0, HDR10 passes through at up to 2160p60, and HDR10 capture is supported at up to 1080p60 on Windows. Variable Refresh Rate passthrough keeps variable-refresh displays working as intended. The card connects to the computer over USB-C 3.0 as a UVC device, needs no drivers, and works on Windows, macOS and iPadOS with Elgato Studio, OBS Studio and other common streaming applications. A 3.5 mm analogue audio input handles party chat and commentary sources.

Key features

• Capture up to 4K60 SDR, 1440p120 and 1080p240
• Lag-free HDMI 2.0 passthrough up to 2160p60
• HDR10 passthrough up to 4K60, HDR10 capture up to 1080p60 on Windows
• VRR passthrough for variable refresh rate displays
• USB-C 3.0 UVC connection, plug and play, no drivers
• Works with Windows, macOS and iPadOS, plus 3.5 mm analogue audio in

Capture and passthrough, separated clearly

Capture cards quote two different numbers and confusing them causes most buying mistakes. Passthrough is what you see while playing: on the 4K S it runs up to 2160p60, 1440p120 or 1080p240 through the HDMI 2.0 output, with the near-zero-latency design keeping input response effectively unchanged. Capture is what the computer records or streams: up to 2160p60, and at lower resolutions the high-frame-rate modes of 1440p120 and 1080p240 that suit esports titles and smooth slow-motion edits. Elgato’s documented capture resolution list also includes 1440p60, 1080p120, 1080p60, 720p60 and lower legacy rates. HDR needs the same care: HDR10 passes through at up to 2160p60 so the game still looks right on an HDR screen, while HDR10 capture tops out at 1080p60 and is a Windows-only function; on other platforms, and at 4K, capture is SDR. The HDMI input accepts an unencrypted signal, which covers consoles with HDCP disabled for capture as their makers intend.

Connections and compatibility

The signal chain is simple: console or gaming PC into the HDMI 2.0 input, television or monitor on the HDMI 2.0 output, and a USB-C 3.0 cable, at 5 Gbps, to the capture computer. Because the 4K S is a UVC device, Windows, macOS and iPadOS recognise it without driver installation, and it appears as a video source in Elgato Studio, OBS Studio, Streamlabs, Discord, Zoom and TikTok Live Studio among others. Elgato positions the card for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC sources. The 3.5 mm analogue audio input accepts line-level sources such as chat adapters and mixers, useful for bringing party chat or a separate microphone chain into the recording. The enclosure is compact at 112 by 72 by 18 mm and light at 90 grams, so it travels easily between a desk setup, a living-room console and an iPad-based mobile rig.

Software and workflow

Elgato Studio is the companion application, designed for low-latency preview and straightforward recording, while OBS Studio remains the standard route for layered streams with overlays, alerts and multiple scenes. The card’s plug-and-play nature keeps the workflow short: connect, select the 4K S as the video capture device, set the resolution and frame rate to match the source, and record or go live. For best results, match the console output to a mode the card captures natively, use the USB cable and port speed Elgato specifies, since capture bandwidth depends on a full USB 3.0 connection, and store recordings on a fast drive when working at 4K60. Creators editing for YouTube can record at 4K60 or 1440p120 and downscale on export; streamers can capture at the frame rate their platform and encoder handle best, independent of the higher passthrough rate they play at.

Who the 4K S is for, and its limits

The 4K S fits console creators and streamers who want true 4K60 capture without opening a PC or paying for HDMI 2.1-class hardware. Its limits follow from its published specification: HDMI 2.0 means no 4K120 passthrough, so players who game at 4K120 on a compatible display should look at Elgato’s 4K X instead, and HDR capture is capped at 1080p60 on Windows. Within those boundaries, the specification is complete and current: 4K60 SDR capture, high-frame-rate modes, VRR and HDR10 passthrough, analogue audio input and driverless operation across Windows, Mac and iPad, in a 90-gram USB-C device. For the majority of console streaming and recording setups, that is exactly the required feature set, delivered in Elgato’s established plug-and-play form.

Verified against Elgato’s own published technical specifications, the Game Capture 4K S is the company’s modern external card for the 4K60 generation of consoles, and its spec sheet should not be confused with the older HD60 X or the internal 4K60 Pro.