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In a few simple steps, you can use your Oculus Rift to play SteamVR games. Our quick guide will show you exactly how.
Valve wants Steam and SteamVR to be the full VR content destination of all VR headsets. Although Valve is working very closely with HTC to promote the Vive , Steam VR also supports the consumer Oculus Rift and even the older Rift DK2 development kit.
How to Use the Oculus Rift With SteamVR
1. Install your Rift
The first step of getting your Oculus Rift start working with Steam VR is actually to confirm that your Rift is installed and working properly. If you haven’t already, go here to download the Oculus Home setup which will help you through installing your consumer Rift (you’ll also want to use this to install Oculus Home even if you’re using the Rift DK2). Once installed Properly , check to make sure you can launch into the Oculus Home VR environment with no issues.
2. Enable Other Unknown Sources
Take your headset off and check Oculus desktop app. At the top right, click the gear icon to access Settings. On the left side menu, click General then tick the Unknown Sources switch, followed by the Allow button. Do not close the Oculus desktop app.
3. Install Steam VR
Launch Steam VR (install it from here if you haven’t already). If you are not automatically prompted with a pop-up to install SteamVR, go to Library > Tools and install SteamVR from the list.
4. Launch Steam VR
Once Steam VR is properly installed, you will be able to see a VR icon at the top of the Steam window (near to minimize and maximize buttons). Click to launch SteamVR. Your Rift should now be detected and you should be able to put on your headset and see the VR version of SteamVR. (***The Oculus desktop app will likely need to be running in the background.) The Back button on the Xbox One controller will open the SteamVR menu when you have the headset on.
Find Favourite SteamVR Games for the Oculus Rift
Now you have got your Oculus working with SteamVR, but you need to know which games support the Rift particularly. Games on Steam VR are designed with different headsets, inputs, and play areas (how much room you have) in mind.
Steam Search allows you to sort by each of these factors to find SteamVR games that work with your setup (expand the ‘Narrow by VR support’ option on the right).
The typical breakdown follows:
Headset
- HTC Vive
- Oculus Rift
Input
- Tracked motion controllers
- Gamepad
- Keyboard / Mouse
Play Area
- Seated
- Standing
- Room-scale
Play Non-VR Steam Games in VR with Desktop Theater Mode
If you are a PC gamer, you have probably got a library of non-VR games and would not mind a way to bring them into VR. With SteamVR Desktop Theater Mode, you can also play your entire Steam game library in virtual reality on a virtual screen TV. For this, simply put your headset on and jump into SteamVR. Then use the menu to launch a non-VR game in your library. Launching the game in this way will bring it up in Desktop Theater Mode which will allow you to play it on a virtual screen TV in a home-theater like setting.