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Valve gives SteamVR and Linux a little love in the latest update

By - | Views: 35,450

While I absolutely love playing with my Valve Index, it has felt like for a while that Valve left things a bit too rough but a new SteamVR update is out now.

Giving a little love to everyone, here's what's been tweaked for SteamVR directly:

  • Fixed a motion smoothing issue that was affecting some applications.
  • Fixed a crash related to application submitted dx12 depth textures.
  • Fix for depth texture handling on dx12 causing crashes in major engine implementations.
  • Fixed a crash in the dashboard.
  • Display Task View if a non-interactable window gains input focus in Desktop View.
  • Added a button to Desktop View that allows users to show the desktop. This is especially useful when users have a single monitor and the scene app displays a full screen window.
  • Fixed a crash on app startup.

Specifically for Linux (finally!) Valve solved a few persistent issues including:

  • Fixed issue that would prevent some system UI from working some of the time.
  • Fixed webhelper crashing in OS's with recent versions of freetype2.
  • Fixed a failure to unpack steamrt-heavy on some distributions.

With this update, it sounds like the experience with SteamVR will be quite a bit smoother on Linux which makes me happy. While I never personally saw the third issue, the first two were something I was truly getting frustrated with.

Do let us know in the comments if you use SteamVR and how this update runs for you!

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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ikiruto Feb 22, 2022
How cool would it be to see "Oculus Quest 2 support added". :)
pb Feb 22, 2022
I totally expect a standalone VR device from Valve, based on their experiences with Index and Deck, powered by SteamOS.
micha Feb 22, 2022
Awesome, the freetype2 issue was getting in between me and Alyx
TheRiddick Feb 22, 2022
Quoting: ikirutoOculus Quest 2 support added

AFAIK only ALVR has experimental Linux support; I've heard its not that great yet but unless Oculus release API support for Android and Linux then its likely not to happen.

They do have a Android app for Quest devices but its not quite the same thing as PCVR.
Corben Feb 22, 2022
It's a shame that in the end only the Valve Index is officially supported for Linux.
Though the HTC Vive and HTC Vive Pro work, it's only unofficial. And the Vive Pro 2 even doesn't work at all.

Nevertheless, VR has never been better for me since the recent updates. I didn't have any issues with Beat Saber, Synth Riders, Pistol Whip... even without async reprojection. Also the GTFO VR Mod worked pretty well, though this mod would have benefit from async reprojection. Pre nVidia 510 driver, I had Steam VR crashes like every 30 to 60 minutes, which are more or less gone with the driver update.

In Hinge VR I still experience crashes, but those are game crashes, not Steam VR crashes.

With this I recently re-discovered my love for Elite: Dangerous in VR. I can tune it up to high settings even, and the performance is great. You can see the magic of async reprojection here, where the game dropped to less than 20 FPS, but async reprojection still made it smooth enough to be playable in VR for me.

So I guess with the latest Steam VR update, it can (hopefully) only get better
einherjar Feb 22, 2022
After upgrading to a 6800 XT the Index is the next big thing to buy for me.

So go Valve go :-)
poisond Feb 22, 2022
Quoting: pbI totally expect a standalone VR device from Valve, based on their experiences with Index and Deck, powered by SteamOS.
Still waiting for the wireless Index adapter :/
IMHO standalone is just not there yet regarding hardware capabilities (Unless you enjoy retro graphics and 'experiences' instead of proper games).
poisond Feb 22, 2022
Quoting: ikirutoHow cool would it be to see "Oculus Quest 2 support added". :)
Facebook hardware is subsidized by user data and their walled garden. Not going to happen.
pb Feb 22, 2022
Quoting: poisondIMHO standalone is just not there yet regarding hardware capabilities

Yes, that's why the device is not *here* yet. But I bet it's in the works. ;-)
yaomtc Feb 22, 2022
I'd like to plug the VR on Linux docs on Gitlab, it's got some useful info on VR compatibility. I'm looking for more edits/contributions to keep things up to date!
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