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Valve adds OSVR headset support to Steam

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If you want to play games in VR on Steam, the list of compatible headsets just got bigger. OSVR is now a supported option.

What is OSVR?
OSVR is a movement founded to create a universal open source VR ecosystem for technologies across different brands and companies. Giving you the freedom to combine different brands of HMDs and Controllers to experience VR the way they want to.
Technology

Powering OSVR is an SDK that is designed to allow developers to support all the hardware available in the ecosystem at a single go. Addressing the challenges the industry is facing such as hardware fragmentation, allowing them to focus more on delivering high quality immersive experiences.

See the Steam announcement here. You can check what games support OSVR here.

31 titles that support OSVR on Steam right now also support Linux, so that's nice.

Hopefully we will see more headsets come along that support Linux, the more competition VR gets the better variety of products we will see and hopefully lower prices. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
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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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slaapliedje Nov 30, 2016
I huess this would be more pertinent if SteamVR would do anything on Linux at the moment. Cool that they are adding more support for peripherals in general (like the recent PS4 controller support.) On that note, it would be spectacular if they added support for steering wheels. Being able to change the input gor games that really should support wheels but don't would rock! I can readily think of a few.

OS VR seemes awesome, though I already have a Vive that needs more play time!
InverseTelecine Nov 30, 2016
What I really want is an option to stream VR content from a Linux PC to the likes of Cardboard or GearVR using phones/tablets. I have a set up right now that I'm pretty happy with using a Samsung refurbished tablet (so no cellular contract) and a Homido VR goggle set that is big enough to fit the tablet. Works great and cost me about $250 for everything. I don't know of anything that can match that price for VR right now. The problem is all phone VR games are junk, and all the streaming from PC software I know of is windows only. Hopefully this will be an option soon, because I won't be able to afford Oculus/Vive anytime soon.


Last edited by InverseTelecine on 30 November 2016 at 1:37 am UTC
aL Nov 30, 2016
so does something work on steam on the vive on linux at the moment?

You got me excited there for a moment liam :/
slaapliedje Nov 30, 2016
Quoting: aLso does something work on steam on the vive on linux at the moment?

You got me excited there for a moment liam :/

Sure it does... if it is connected your login screen appears on it and you can use it like a monitor... if you can make yourself go cross-eyed. :)

At the moment that is all the vive does in Linux.
slaapliedje Nov 30, 2016
Quoting: InverseTelecineWhat I really want is an option to stream VR content from a Linux PC to the likes of Cardboard or GearVR using phones/tablets. I have a set up right now that I'm pretty happy with using a Samsung refurbished tablet (so no cellular contract) and a Homido VR goggle set that is big enough to fit the tablet. Works great and cost me about $250 for everything. I don't know of anything that can match that price for VR right now. The problem is all phone VR games are junk, and all the streaming from PC software I know of is windows only. Hopefully this will be an option soon, because I won't be able to afford Oculus/Vive anytime soon.

I initially got a GearVR for my Note 4. It was pretty cool, but I didn't even have much luck with any streaming from the computer to it. Netflix and the 360 video stuff is neat, but you are right, 'Mobile' gaming is crap, VR or not... give me back hardware buttons on a phone and gaming might be better...

Dread halls is pretty awesome, but the fact that Oculus Activities and Facebook Messenger somehow cheat and auto-update on my phone even though I tell the play store to ot auto update..

Anyhow, before phone / tablet to PC streaming becomes actually usable, we would probably want better wifi and more Vulkan support so it isn't yack city.

That and the difference between head tracking with goggles vs 'true' VR where you can interact with things... you just aren't going to get that from the cheaper things for years to come. Even the PS4 VR doesn't do that all that well.
Seegras Nov 30, 2016
Quoting: slaapliedjeSure it does... if it is connected your login screen appears on it and you can use it like a monitor... if you can make yourself go cross-eyed. :)

At the moment that is all the vive does in Linux.
Hmm, no.

Vrui works, see http://www.vronlinux.com/

And I've got Vivecraft working somewhat https://github.com/jrbudda/minecrift/issues/241
Code_Eye Nov 30, 2016
Quoting: InverseTelecineWhat I really want is an option to stream VR content from a Linux PC to the likes of Cardboard or GearVR using phones/tablets. I have a set up right now that I'm pretty happy with using a Samsung refurbished tablet (so no cellular contract) and a Homido VR goggle set that is big enough to fit the tablet. Works great and cost me about $250 for everything. I don't know of anything that can match that price for VR right now. The problem is all phone VR games are junk, and all the streaming from PC software I know of is windows only. Hopefully this will be an option soon, because I won't be able to afford Oculus/Vive anytime soon.

http://trinusvr.com/

seriously though, google is a thing.

and i use this program it works great.


Last edited by Code_Eye on 30 November 2016 at 8:46 am UTC
badber Nov 30, 2016
Quoting: CodeEye
Quoting: InverseTelecineWhat I really want is an option to stream VR content from a Linux PC to the likes of Cardboard or GearVR using phones/tablets. I have a set up right now that I'm pretty happy with using a Samsung refurbished tablet (so no cellular contract) and a Homido VR goggle set that is big enough to fit the tablet. Works great and cost me about $250 for everything. I don't know of anything that can match that price for VR right now. The problem is all phone VR games are junk, and all the streaming from PC software I know of is windows only. Hopefully this will be an option soon, because I won't be able to afford Oculus/Vive anytime soon.

http://trinusvr.com/

seriously though, google is a thing.

and i use this program it works great.

He said "from a Linux PC". TrinusVR is Windows only.
Cybolic Nov 30, 2016
Quoting: InverseTelecineWhat I really want is an option to stream VR content from a Linux PC to the likes of Cardboard or GearVR using phones/tablets. I have a set up right now that I'm pretty happy with using a Samsung refurbished tablet (so no cellular contract) and a Homido VR goggle set that is big enough to fit the tablet. Works great and cost me about $250 for everything. I don't know of anything that can match that price for VR right now. The problem is all phone VR games are junk, and all the streaming from PC software I know of is windows only. Hopefully this will be an option soon, because I won't be able to afford Oculus/Vive anytime soon.

There's a number of VR VNC apps for Android that you can use to receive your desktop. It's not incredibly useful though, as they all just put your screen in front of you, whereas I was hoping for a way to have it placed in a virtual theatre for films or to be able to watch 3D or 360 videos, neither of which works.
Tak Nov 30, 2016
Quote31 titles that support OSVR on Steam right now also support Linux
But how many of those support OSVR on Linux?
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