My labor of love game... again... No Man's Sky

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@logge:
At first I didn't even understand how this could work, but they have a good documentation and are very helpful on the LVRA discord. Once you see it's like a client-server-like thing, it becomes easy. Yet, setting up Envision can be a bit tricky. You just have to try and learn while testing around. It's a bit of a learning curve, eventually once it's setup is done, it just works.
Unfortunately not all games work with Monado (for OpenXR) and/or OpenComposite/XRizer (for OpenVR), but here you can check the protondb-like vronlinux database. It has entries per game for Steam VR, Monado, WiVRn and ALVR.
I do see though that Envision is not made for the average user, but which Linux user is this "average user" anyways, hm? :grin:

edit: Ah yeah, for me it doesn't matter if I start Envision or Steam first, at least I didn't run into any issues so far, and I have started it in arbitrary order many times. But before starting Monado via Envision, VR controllers and basestations have to be turned on. They are working on detecting them on the fly, but for now you have to start up things before the software itself.

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Steam VR is an easy way to get into VR, on Windows and on Linux (does it still work on Mac?).
Yet, it does have issues and even more on Linux :whistle: Here's what I learnt in the last months condensed:

• If you use a wired HMD you're better off using an AMD GPU. For nVidia it does work, yet if the game is hitting the performance maximum on your card, where async reprojection should help, you'll have issues if using any nVidia driver after 550.


• You can toggle async reprojection on Linux by editing:
   $HOME/.steam/steam/config/steamvr.vrsettings
  And set this to true or false in the steamvr section:
   "enableLinuxVulkanAsync" : false,


• Changing Controllerbindings within VR is a hit or miss, sometimes it takes ages for the UI to show. It's better to do it in the browser on your desktop:
  

  http://localhost:27062/dashboard/controllerbinding.html



• To get better performance use Monado instead of Steam VR. The opensource OpenXR runtime is performing better. In short, start Steam, start Monado (it'll show a grey screen if not using wlx-overlay-s, see below), start a game, and it'll render in your HMD


• Use Envision to build Monado locally, it'll also bundle OpenComposite for OpenVR applications. Here are my env vars for Monado + nVidia, enabling represenation (async reprojection) and a fix for the tracking delay:
  

  XRT_COMPOSITOR_USE_PRESENT_WAIT=1 # to fix headset tracking latency
  U_PACING_COMP_TIME_FRACTION_PERCENT=90
  XRT_COMPOSITOR_COMPUTE=1 # async reprojection
  XRT_COMPOSITOR_SCALE_PERCENTAGE=140
  U_PACING_APP_USE_MIN_FRAME_PERIOD=1 # this and the next for float fps
  U_PACING_APP_IMMEDIATE_WAIT_FRAME_RETURN=1
  XRT_COMPOSITOR_DESIRED_MODE=0 # set index to 90 Hz
  XRT_CURATED_GUI=1
  XRT_JSON_LOG=1
  XRT_DEBUG_UI=1

  If you want to change the refresh rate of the index, change the XRT_COMPOSITOR_DESIRED_MODE to one of these values:
  

  DEBUG [choose_best_vk_mode_auto] Available Vk direct mode 0: [email protected]
  DEBUG [choose_best_vk_mode_auto] Available Vk direct mode 1: [email protected]
  DEBUG [choose_best_vk_mode_auto] Available Vk direct mode 2: [email protected]
  DEBUG [choose_best_vk_mode_auto] Available Vk direct mode 3: [email protected]
  DEBUG [choose_best_vk_mode_auto] Auto choosing Vk direct mode 3: [email protected]



• You can use Steam VR's roomsetup, when starting Monado via Envision and the lighthouse driver (the base stations), it'll pick up the configuration from Steam VR, so do not press "Calibration" in Envision.


• You'll have no issues with async reprojection when using a wireless headset as computation is handled in the HMD. Steam Link VR is now working on Linux, yet... as with Steam VR... using Monado instead gives better performance. Setting up WiVRn is similar to setting up Monado, in fact WiVRn uses Monado. Just start WiVRn then via Envision, install the App on your Quest and connect. Works also with wlx-overlay-s then to interact with your Desktop


• To see your Desktop in VR use wlx-overlay-s, which can be enabled as a plugin within Envision. Once it is installed, you can also start it once manually when running Steam VR, it'll add itself as overlay also for Steam VR. Can be disabled again by going to the Steam VR settings and check for the Autostart entry.


• VR doesn't work wired on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS using Wayland, as Gnome 46 is missing DRM leasing. X11 works, or using a wireless HMD.


• VR works on the ROG Ally with an eGPU attached (in my case XG Mobile 2022: AMD RX 6850M XT) using Cachy OS. I wasn't able to get any VR things up and running with Bazzite. I'm dualbooting into Windows for enabling the eGPU and using all-ways-egpu to disable the iGPU (all-ways-egpu configure egpu). Apparently there is a performance it when the internal screen is also attached. Which means it looks like an external Monitor is needed for this kind of setup.


• wlx-overlay-s will not open if the Steam VR dashboard is open. wlx-overlay-s seems to cause issues using Steam Link VR and might have to be disabled, games migh load but will show a black screen.


• Like ProtonDB there is a community driven database for VR games: https://db.vronlinux.org [External Link]


• Check out the Linux VR Adventures wiki and discord https://lvra.gitlab.io/ [External Link] , you'll also get help there in all questions VR on Linux, Envision, Monado, WiVRn, etc.

Hope this helps :)

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Reading about what's currently being played among the (Gaming On) Linux community and the experiences is really nice, gives even some ideas on what to play next.

So, what have you been playing lately (and why isn't it ARC Raiders?).

Hm, so this sounds like it's safe to get it? Unlikely to be suprised in the near future with a non working game for gamers using Linux? Because so far that's my reason (and my pile of games and thus monetary considerations :tongue: )

Yet, I have been playing games:

• Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop
  I've been to a few LAN parties recently, and this has become our go to coop game. It's free, it's good, it's fun... it's hard :huh: What turned out as a tech demo from Valve has turned into a nice community project. And I love Alien themed games.


• Arizona Sunshine Remake
  VR on Linux... yeah, that's its own topic. But when it works, it's sooo good! And as Steam Link VR now works on Linux, I got a Quest 3, after testing wireless VR on Linux with the Quest 3S from my little son. And as Steam Link VR does sometimes have issues, I tried WiVRn, and Steam Link VR vs WiVRn is like Steam VR vs Monado. When working, it's better than Steam's version. Especially when using nVidia, as async reprojection is still an issue with wired HMDs. Not so with wireless HMDs. So now I'm playing wireless VR on Linux cooperatively with my son :wub:


• Escape Simulator
  Same as with Arizona Sunshine Remake, works with WiVRn and we play it coop. Unfortunately (well, it's not that much of an issue) I have to switch from the native Linux version to Proton, as the native Linux versions doesn't support VR.


• Returnal
  Hard, rogue lite, good. Still haven't finsihed it, but it plays so good with the MoveMaster, it's a game I can dive in for an hour or two, trying to get back into the flow... but also then end again. Hopefully I improved a bit, as I still want to have a complete run at some point.


• No Man's Sky
  Expedtion 20: Breach. Played this, started in VR, finished on Steam Deck. Labor of love game. NMS is so good and that it's still updated after almost 10 years with such dedication is such a joy. One of my all time favorites.


• Fall Guys
  Speaking of all time favorites, this is also one of them. Playing it almost daily, completing the dailies, though after finishing the Fame Pass it's not really daily anymore. The rewards in shards for completing the dailies is ridiculous. Yet a fun game, easy to learn... sometimes hard to master. The only "competetive" game I play online :D
  And I'm better at it on Deck than I am on Desktop PC with Stadia Controller :whistle:

Game On!

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Same as wintermute, I haven't used it in a while, yet I'm also on the founders subscription (27.45€/6m) and don't want to lose this budget price.

It would be perfect if GeForce now had all those games, that are using any form of Anti-Cheat which doesn't work on Linux, e.g. GTA V... but that game is missing -.-
I just saw, they have Plants vs Zombies GW2 though... maybe I can give that a try and my subscription finally has some use again :D

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Rage 2 AsyncCompute issue is finally fixed after 4 years :)

Hm... time for some testing, if this AsyncCompute fix also fixes the VR async reprojection issue. Sounds similar enough. If so, it would be a huge improvement, as this is still an issue with any driver after 550. It might not be prominent on more powerful GPUs, yet my VR rig is either a 2080 oder 3070, and here it is happening when not using the 550 driver.

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As I'm not much into extration games, and I'm not feeling safe with purchasing this without an official statement from the publisher... I'll pass on this one. We've seen games working, even with official anti-cheat support for Linux, just to have Linux support removed later.

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Remember back then, what Pierre-Loup Griffais said during the announcement of the Steam Deck and Proton (like, how I remember it at least :whistle:)

We do the heavy lifting with Proton so your game works on Deck. We will also help and talk about native Linux versions, but it's not the time yet.

Looks like the time for it is coming and these words are coming to fruition now! First Baldur's Gate 3, now Cronos: The New Dawn.
This is where I'm not much waiting for a sale, this is a reason for me to show my support with my wallet.

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Erm... what a boring pre-order trailer. Showing that is runs games... oh, wow, really, what a surprise :whistle:

It would have been way more interesting to see how people actually use it, hold it in their hands, especially with those gamepad handles, maybe transitioning from an XBox Controller to the Xbox Ally, how they operating it, showing the UI.

Depending on your (Linux) needs, the Rog XBox Ally (X) might be interesting if it lasts much longer than the Steam Deck. I'm wondering about eGPU support? Looks like it does have VRR support, which is really great to see and will help with battery life. E.g. I can run Fall Guys on the Ally X (2023, 40Whr) using Cachy OS and 8W TPD and VRR. With that I can play Fall Guys smoothly for about 1.5 - 2 hours. Which is not bad for the small battery. Using it with 15 TDP like the Deck does, I can't play for an hour even on the Ally.

Yet, I'm still good with the 2023 Ally, I have an eGPU for it and I can play VR (also Steam Link VR) on it using Cachy OS. That's just awesome and I can postpone any upgrades for quite a while.

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@posthum4n: I'm not even playing it on my main desktop with the 3070, but instead on either my gaming notebook (i9 9900k RTX 2080 mobile) or on my ROG Ally + egpu (6850m XT). There are some things to consider.
For the 2080m + Index I need to use driver 550, as async reprojection is having issues in drivers after that, even up to driver 580. But with 550 driver and even Monado instead of Steam VR async reprojection works well. I tinkered around with the ingame settings:
- Scaling 0.8 or 0.9
- Anti-Aliasing to FXAA
and the settings on the bottom of the page, where you can set the target framerate, which I have at 72.
Rest can be set to epic even, it doesn't affect the framerate much.

With these settings it's well playable for me.

As you are depending on the 580 driver for the Big Screen Beyond, you'll probably have to tinker with the settings, so it doesn't drop much below 90 FPS or the stutters might become annoying. This is only an issue with wired headsets on nVidia.

When using Steam Link VR (which requires nVidia 575 at least), stutters are no issue, as async reprojection happens in the (e.g. Quest) HMD. But that doesn't help of course with the Big Screen Beyond.

@TheRiddick: This pancake version has some improvements for the non VR gameplay, yet, basically it is the same game though.

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