Subj : SteamVR could come to the Apple Vision Pro soon  but theres a maj
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Wed Feb 28 2024 13:00:06

SteamVR could come to the Apple Vision Pro soon  but theres a major catch

Date:
Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:47:12 +0000

Description:
Developers are trying to enable SteamVR games on Apples Vision Pro, but 
theres a lot of work to do.

FULL STORY
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Ever since it launched, people have been wondering what sort of gaming 
platform the Apple Vision Pro will end up being. Apple has said that the 
headsets spatial computing platform makes new types of games possible, but 
thats so far been limited to Apples own strict interpretation of virtual 
reality (VR) gaming. 

Now, though, it looks like some intrepid developers are working to port 
SteamVR to the Vision Pro. If successful, this could open up an entirely new 
library of games to Vision Pro users, allowing for a much wider range of 
titles to be played on Apples device and potentially turning it into a 
serious gaming platform. 

According to AppleInsider , a set of developers have begun porting the 
open-source tool ALVR. This allows you to stream VR games to VR headsets over 
Wi-Fi. Right now, the Vision Pro isnt compatible with SteamVR and its large 
library of games, so getting ALVR to work on Apples headset could be big news 
for VR gamers . 

One developer has revealed that they are working on hand-tracking support for 
the project. Seeing as the Vision Pro does not use physical hand controllers, 
this could be an essential component for getting ALVR to work with Apples 
headset. Its not all smooth sailing (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff) 

Before you get too excited, there are some major caveats for a project like 
this. For one thing, many SteamVR games require a specific type of controller 
that can be tracked by itself rather than by the headsets cameras. 

 Bluetooth controllers therefore will not work, and while Valves Index 
controller is compatible, it requires a separate lighthouse station for 
tracking  and that means more compatibility and set-up work. 

Speaking of setting things up, ALVR itself is complex to run. First, it must 
be downloaded from GitHub (its unlikely to ever land on the Vision Pro App 
Store ). Getting ALVR onto a Vision Pro requires a separate Mac running 
Xcode, while streaming SteamVR games necessitates a high-end gaming PC that 
can beam the games to the headset. 

Thats a lot of additional work, and it suggests that getting SteamVR games to 
run on the Vision Pro is going to be no easy task (both building out the 
compatibility and running the games once thats done). We therefore dont 
expect this to end up being much more than a hobbyist pursuit, especially 
considering how niche the Vision Pro already is. 

Still, it would be very interesting to see whether this project is successful 
in the end. While it wont change Vision Pro gaming on its own, it might help 
open up the device to gamers just a little more. You might also like Apple 
Vision Pro review: The spatial computing revolution is here, and I love it 
Apple Vision Pro hits app milestone, but finding them is still a nightmare 
Best VR games: top virtual reality experiences to play right now



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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/computing/steamvr-could-come-to-the-apple-vision-pro
-soon-but-theres-a-major-catch


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