4 ms·

I recently ordered a Valve Index + gaming PC. How's the VR support on Linux looking like? I'd rather not install Windows if I have to.

fartcannon 6y ago
Through proton, it's fantastic. The native Linux stuff is hit or miss unfortunately.
sandworm101 6y ago
I own a Valve index and have eben running it exclusively on a linux gaming PC for the last couple months. There are problems. The VR games themselves are generally good. Games generally "just work" but some of the other VR bits and pieces are troublesome. Each time I play I have to bounce around menus to enable sound through the headset. And very few media players work in linux (codex issues). Skybox VR works, but not on the latest version of proton. I still haven't figured out how to watch youtube in VR. I would still recommend VR gaming under linux for all the same reasons I would recommend linux over windows generally, but not to a casual gamer expecting a seamless experience.
- Zardoz84 6y ago
  You usually have the sound using HDMI/Display port output ? I suggest enabling simultaneous sound output.
Scaevolus 6y ago
It works somewhat, but the more advanced VR features like async reprojection or motion smoothing don't work, and there's a definite performance hit. The FPS drop for general gaming is less noticeable, but it's really important for VR.
account42 6y ago
It works, but still beta quality. Steam still crashes every time I start SteamVR (restarting Steam afterwards works though). There is no official way to play VR videos. Half-Life: Alyx has enough bugs that Valve still does not advertise that it supports Linux on the store page. SteamVR and Half-Life: Alyx have both not been getting many updates on Linux. Maybe I'm wrong and there are fixes coming up but honestly it feels kind of like whoever at Valve got VR running on Linux lost interest.
- als0 6y ago
  Is there a Linux version of Half Life Alyx without Proton?
  - account42 6y ago
    Yes, but as I said it still has some bugs and Valve themselves don't advertise it on the Store page.

fartcannon 6y ago

Through proton, it's fantastic. The native Linux stuff is hit or miss unfortunately.

sandworm101 6y ago

I own a Valve index and have eben running it exclusively on a linux gaming PC for the last couple months. There are problems. The VR games themselves are generally good. Games generally "just work" but some of the other VR bits and pieces are troublesome. Each time I play I have to bounce around menus to enable sound through the headset. And very few media players work in linux (codex issues). Skybox VR works, but not on the latest version of proton. I still haven't figured out how to watch youtube in VR. I would still recommend VR gaming under linux for all the same reasons I would recommend linux over windows generally, but not to a casual gamer expecting a seamless experience.

Zardoz84 6y ago
You usually have the sound using HDMI/Display port output ? I suggest enabling simultaneous sound output.

Scaevolus 6y ago

It works somewhat, but the more advanced VR features like async reprojection or motion smoothing don't work, and there's a definite performance hit. The FPS drop for general gaming is less noticeable, but it's really important for VR.

account42 6y ago

It works, but still beta quality. Steam still crashes every time I start SteamVR (restarting Steam afterwards works though). There is no official way to play VR videos. Half-Life: Alyx has enough bugs that Valve still does not advertise that it supports Linux on the store page. SteamVR and Half-Life: Alyx have both not been getting many updates on Linux. Maybe I'm wrong and there are fixes coming up but honestly it feels kind of like whoever at Valve got VR running on Linux lost interest.

als0 6y ago
Is there a Linux version of Half Life Alyx without Proton?
- account42 6y ago
  Yes, but as I said it still has some bugs and Valve themselves don't advertise it on the Store page.