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Steam users can access VR through free SteamVR software
Steam users can access virtual reality now through SteamVR, without waiting for Valve’s £1,000 Steam Frame headset. SteamVR links compatible headsets to the Steam launcher, allowing users to play VR games, access their desktop and adjust settings; it supports devices from Valve, HTC, Meta/Oculus and other manufacturers.
To begin, users must install SteamVR for free, connect their headset, controllers and any sensors, then complete its setup process. They can choose Room-Scale or Standing Only play, with Room-Scale requiring roughly 6.5 by 5 feet of space; wireless play is available through Steam Link on selected Meta Quest, HTC Vive Focus and PICO headsets. SteamVR also includes SteamVR Home, a social hub, plus settings for play-area safety, brightness, resolution, graphics, Motion Smoothing, controller bindings and frame-time monitoring.
In short
- SteamVR enables VR gaming through Steam with compatible hardware.
- Setup involves installing the app, connecting devices and defining your play area.
- Advanced tools manage safety, performance, graphics and motion comfort.
Explained simply
Steam is a digital shop and launcher for PC games, including games made for virtual reality (VR), where players use a headset to experience a computer-generated environment. SteamVR is Valve’s free software for connecting compatible VR headsets and controllers to Steam, so players can use supported equipment from several manufacturers.
Valve makes Steam and SteamVR, while companies including HTC, Meta and PICO make headsets that can work with the software. A VR setup may also need controllers, sensors and enough clear space for movement, depending on the headset and chosen play mode.
The software links headset owners to VR games in Steam and provides tools to set up and adjust their equipment. This matters because access to Steam’s VR games is not limited to people who own a headset made by Valve.
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Originally published by Engadget as “How to enter VR mode on Steam”.