Hey guys!
For years now, I’m thinking about buying a VR-Headset for gaming. Since I entirely switched my devices to Linux (Debian), I have to consider, if that’s even an acceptable experience so far.
My questions:
- Is VR in an acceptable state for Linux?
- Which VR-Headset could give the best experience so far?
- Are we already at the point, where VR-Headset-companies deliver decent Linux software? Maybe open-source?
Please update me! I’ve been living under a rock for too long.
~sp3ctre
Running Mint 22.3 with a Quest 3. I had been using ALVR with some success but noticed a few weeks ago that Steam Link now works directly. Seems to work pretty well! Personally I’d wait for the Frame due this year, but who knows when that’ll actually happen and what the price will end up being.
I have an Index on Kubuntu. It works, I was able to play Beat Saber, but it felt a bit jelly-y. The framerate was fine, but it didn’t feel fine. I haven’t had time to troubleshoot further.
I’d wait for the steam frame. The HTC Vive has served me well, but is a bit dated now.
Consider:
besides protondb(and maybe contribute).
also:
Their discord is btw pretty awesome and also has a matrix bridge if you dont want to use discord.
Here’s my somewhat recent assessment of the current state of linux vr: https://piefed.social/post/1765677#comment_10094795
Personally i use a Pico 4 (non ultra) standalone headset. Its overall a good enough experience that i dont want to switch back to Windows. I would consider myself a somewhat ‘normal’ user. Huge nerd. But linux and opensource isnt the only thing which keeps me moving in my personal life.
PCVR is still overall just ‘bothersome’. Both on Windows and Linux. I have 6 years of experience with PCVR on Windows with a the Oculus/Facebook/Meta Rift S and and a Bytedance/Pico 4. On Windows its also just a mess. Zuckerbergs software is ass. Pico Connect got pretty good over the years but depending on the game while extracting the best performance can be pretty fiddly. Also sometimes you just want use Virtual Desktop instead. On Linux its maybe a bit worse, i guess? But not by much. Mostly different. It really helped me to be somewhat deep into the rabbithole of PCVR on the Windows side before i tackled Linux PCVR.
Anyway, WiVRn with Xrizer is pretty awesome.
To finally answer your questions:
-VR is IMHO in a acceptable state on Linux (all things considered)
-Pico 4 is pretty good IMHO(!).
-No, VR companies dont provide shit so far. Its all community software(which is pretty good). If thats important to you wait how the Steam Frame turns out.
Thanks! These links are helpful!
Yes, quest 3, no. I use quest 3 with alvr and it’s GREAT. Installed wayvr and now I can run browser etc in my headset and watch YouTube while I fly in elite dangerous. VR on Linux is definitely worth it. Elite in vr is the absolute best experience in vr ever. I have other vr games I haven’t touched yet. Happy to help set it up, it’s a blast!
I’ve been having issues with my Meta Quest 3 but finally had some success.
It’s not nearing as plug and play as Windows, unfortunately, but I think the Steam Frame will fix a lot of this.
I can’t get Steam VR to work at all. I’ve had to resort to WiVrn which has been working with tweaks. For a while, Forefront wouldn’t run at all no matter what I tried. But then out of nowhere, it started working without me trying anything else. Maybe an update to it or Proton. It kept originally trying to open without contacting my VR headset which was the problem.
Now things just work.
Modding is a chore though. I want to get into Skyrim VR again but the vanilla graphics are lacking and modding it is not as straightforward as it is on Windows. I mean using something like the Nexus app to manage the mods, at least. Manually probably works, but I want a manager to help me so I haven’t dug deeper into this since.
But I’m thinking the Steam Frame will bring good changes for everything VR related eventually as the Steam Deck did for handheld gaming if it takes off like we all hope it does.
My personal ergonomic favorite is still the CV1. It does not work on linux.
I’m using the Index, and it works quite well, but I’m not at all satisfied with it.
Compared to the CV1 the audio, colors, weight, and controllers are straight up worse.
Obviusly it also improves on the CV1 in a bunch of ways but I really wish the CV1 worked on linux. (It technically can be done, but not well). I prefer the tradeoffs it made for VR hardware.
I am hoping the Frame will still enough ideas from the CV1 to be the one.
