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Gamescope (used on Steam Deck) adds in some VR support

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What are you up to Valve? Gamescope, software used on the Steam Deck for Gaming Mode that handles displaying everything recently had some VR work pulled in. Perhaps for the upcoming Deckard VR HMD?

Pointed out by Brad Lynch on Twitter, it's certainly raising a few eyebrows. On the GitHub page the code merge request titled "vr_session: Initial implementation" was pulled into Gamescope 2 days ago and the question is — why?

Thanks to many different sources (like Lynch above), we've known for a while that Valve appear to be working on a new VR HMD code-named Deckard. One that will seemingly support wireless play without it needing to be attached to a PC, but also supporting being connected to a PC to run games that need more power. The standalone mode will no doubt run Linux, and perhaps this Gamescope work is progress towards that end.

It could also be completely unrelated of course.

What do you think Valve are up to?

Valve have been on a bit of a roll lately getting Proton into a pretty incredible state for running Windows games on Linux, releasing the Steam Deck powered by SteamOS Linux, over 7,000 games now rated at least Playable for Steam Deck, the HDR teasers (#1, #2), breaking their own records, getting Steam into Tesla vehicles and so much more.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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dos Jan 15, 2023
It was known that Gamescope is being used by Valve for VR already since November: https://github.com/Plagman/gamescope/commit/279146669257d374a367dce965e94e6f6792b782 :P
scaine Jan 15, 2023
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Quoting: dosIt was known that Gamescope is being used by Valve for VR already since November: https://github.com/Plagman/gamescope/commit/279146669257d374a367dce965e94e6f6792b782 :P

Good find. But there's a big difference between a six-word comment in a random git commit and a member of Valve's team making a public announcement, I think!
Purple Library Guy Jan 15, 2023
Quoting: mphuZ
Quoting: rustybroomhandle
Quoting: mphuZThis is for SteamOS, not for Deckard.

And what flavour of Linux do you think Deckard will run in standalone mode?

Of course, but what does that have to do with this?
Because of some trifle, intrigues are woven. The development of SteamOS as a whole is much more important for Linux than the focus on a single device.
I'm not convinced that's true. There are plenty of good distros, SteamOS in itself is just one more.
What makes it significant is high sales (or in Deckard's case at least high profile) hardware running it preinstalled.
Mind you, that doesn't make you wrong about the significance of this particular event--might have nothing to do with Deckard. Or at least, have Deckard as only a secondary consideration . . . I mean, I find it hard to imagine doing a thing that makes VR on Linux work better, without having somewhere in your mind the thought that it might be good for your upcoming VR hardware that runs Linux.
TheRiddick Jan 16, 2023
If they want VR under Steam OS with future VR hardware then they'll need special compatibility profiles for steam deck level of hardware (assuming they want to have stand alone one day).

Only some games will be capable of running VR on steam deck, stuff like superhot perhaps?
rustybroomhandle Jan 16, 2023
Deckard is ARM based, so I'm going out on a limb here and predicting that it will not actually be used to run games locally, but instead be used to stream from your more powerful PC hardware.
mr-victory Jan 16, 2023
Quoting: rustybroomhandleDeckard is ARM based, so I'm going out on a limb here and predicting that it will not actually be used to run games locally, but instead be used to stream from your more powerful PC hardware.
Source?
EDIT: Found it, near the bottom in https://uploadvr.com/brad-lynch-new-deckard-findings/


Last edited by mr-victory on 16 January 2023 at 2:17 pm UTC
rustybroomhandle Jan 16, 2023
Quoting: mr-victory
Quoting: rustybroomhandleDeckard is ARM based, so I'm going out on a limb here and predicting that it will not actually be used to run games locally, but instead be used to stream from your more powerful PC hardware.
Source?
EDIT: Found it, near the bottom in https://uploadvr.com/brad-lynch-new-deckard-findings/

Too lazy to Google now where I saw it mentioned. I should have qualified it with "supposedly" though since we don't actually have a any confirmed facts about this thing and it's a lot of speculation.
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