So…yeah. I have the original HTC Vive VR, with the original Vive Wireless kit. But I guess the whole thing is pretty much useless in Linux. AFAIK it never got support. My question would be, is there any headset there with proper decent support for VR? I mean, after the whole Steam Deck and proton support, maybe things have changed?
SteamVR + ALVR worked on my quest, and then I tried WiVRn. Fewer options to tweak than ALVR, but it’s all in one and has been rock solid since I started using it.
Quests have a ton of tools for linux and android. ALVR is on Linux. IDK about Virtual Desktop or SteamVR, but I would expect Steam has something to work on Linux. I dont know how well anything works; I just know because most of the software I use outside of the games themselves is FOSS and generally has a release for every OS.
But it’s all also for the Meta Quest so… 😔
You have the choice between ALVR and WiVRN for Quest or Pico headsets. Both work, though they have some rough edges. ALVR relies on SteamVR, while WiVRN uses the open source Monado backend. Both can play Steam games however.
I have the original wired HTC Vive with the two sensors that have to be nailed up near the ceiling. I’ve been hoping to find support for VR tech that old but it looks grim. And I really don’t wanna have to buy a new headset when this one still works.
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ALVR is a thing for Quest (and maybe other?) headsets. I’ve been able to get it to “work”, but it was a pain and would constantly have random issues.
I ended up just dual booting windows for VR.
A while ago this was the case, but lately it just works perfectly for me without any issues.
I have been playing with ALVR with a NON quest wireless headset. The Pico 4 does sort-of work but it does not work well enough for me to actually use it that way. That’s even with the connection being over USB instead of wireless (though it does also work wirelessly). I hope that someday ALVR is a suitable replacement for Pico Connect or that Pico Connect comes to Linux. (Running on regular Fedora btw)
I was able to play through HL Alyx with a Valve Index Kit, on linux (PopOS!, installed Steam/SteamVR from Debian source), back in 2021/2.
Only thing back then that was a little wonky was trying to get the uh, front facing camera to just work in passthrough mode, but it got fixed up at some point in '22, IIRC.
I can’t speak for any other hardware, but … seems to me the Index is very well supported on linux.
It does work well but that’s not what OP asked for, they asked for wireless VR.
I believe if you’re willing to compromise and install chrome/chromium 🤢 you can run ALVR? It requires a Quest headset last I checked though.
Oh, shit, I genuinely missed that.
Well derp.
I really, seriously need to get glasses, damnit.
Follow-up question. Seems whatever option I might have to consider for any wireless, it seems now it might need to be standalone. Do ALL of them need account/login? As in Meta-style tracking? Does Pico require account/online login?
From the pico side of things it does require an account but you can disable any telemetry in the settings. I have looked at my network traffic with it both on and off and they do seem to be true to their word. I wouldn’t trust their apps or App Store necessarily, I just use Pico Connect to connect to my windows PC (or ALVR on Linux) and everything is steam or local from that point on. I’m pretty sure I made the account with a fake name and email and it let me.
I’ve since sold my Quest 2, but when I had it I was able to play my entire SteamVR library via ALVR at *comparable performance to Windows. Elite Dangerous, modded Boneworks, the whole nine yards.
*Definitely not 1-1 with Windows, but easily at 85%+ of the performance. It does require some tweaking of your settings, and definitely benefits from a snappy network setup (wireless was basically not an option for me due to my housing/wifi situation, but the link cable worked great and was even easier to set up).
I’m using ALVR with a Pico 4 headset on Linux, and it’s pretty solid. I’m not playing a ton of VR games, but so far I haven’t found anything that doesn’t work. It has some quirks, but it works pretty well. I’m very happy with it.
