Meta announced it’s overhauled its aging PC software with a few new features, which should make using Quest for PC VR gameplay a little less 2019 and a little more 2024, as it now includes more modern features such as a higher refresh rate on Quest 3, longer playtime via Air Link, and broadened support for nVidia 4000 series GPUs.
Meta updated its PC software, previously called the Oculus PC app, with “numerous bug fixes and enhancements,” the company announced in a blog post, noting it’s now changed the name to ‘Meta Quest Link’ app.
The newly renamed Meta Quest Link app should update by itself if you already have the PC software installed, otherwise you’ll need to download the app here.
The update includes support for 120Hz refresh rates on Quest 3, bumping it from its previous max of 90Hz. To enable the option, simply head into the PC software with your Quest 3 plugged into your VR-capable computer with a USB 3 cable, select your Quest 3 in the ‘Devices’ tab, scroll to the ‘Graphics Preferences’ section, and choose your preferred refresh rate.
Meta Quest Link App | Image courtesy Meta
Additionally, Meta has expanded its list of supported GPUs to include nVidia 4000 Series, which admittedly throws out a blue compatibility warning banner when using nVidia 4070, 4060, 4050 GPUs. Not to be worried though. They still work, as the company calls it a “transient error and does not affect usage.”
The company also says it’s enabled the USB Link Auto-Connect toggle, which will let your Quest automatically start Link when you connect it to your PC via USB-C.
One of the biggest improvements overall with Meta’s newly rebranded Quest Link PC app is greater battery efficiency when connected via Air Link. The company says it has reduced power consumption “by approximately 30%,” which should result in extended battery life from 1.5 hours to about 2.2 hours of play time. Meta says we can expect similar results over wired Quest Link, however it depends on your PC’s unique power specs.
It’s good to see Meta hasn’t entirely abandoned its PC app with this overhaul, although it seems in reaction to recent developments by Valve, which launched Steam Link late last year, offering up a direct connection to Steam games through a dedicated app downloadable from the Quest Store on your headset. This comes in addition to Valve’s longstanding native support for gameplay on Quest and Rift headsets over cabled connections, which although not perfect, offered direct access to PC VR games on Quest without having to go through Meta as a middleman.
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Even after updating to the newly named Meta Quest Link app, you’ll probably still see a ton of ‘Oculus’ branding about, including software signatures (OculusSetup, by Oculus VR LLC), Oculus symbols, and even the Oculus name still on the app itself.
It seems the company is still deep into the sanitization process of the name change, which happened back in October 2021. One less ‘Oculus’ in the bunch however it the old Oculus accounts, which the company announced recently will be entirely defunct by month’s end, forcing its early adopters to switch to a Meta account or lose access to all apps, in-app purchases, store credits, achievements, etc.
The Public Test Channel of the Oculus PC app fixes Oculus Link juddering on Windows 11.
Oculus Link is a Quest feature which lets the device act as a PC VR headset, either wired via USB or wirelessly via your home Wi-Fi network. While it works as advertised on Windows 10, if you try it on Windows 11 you may see a constant distracting – and even sickening – juddering effect. The issue had existed since the release of Windows 11.
Yesterday we reported on a Tweet from Meta Reality Labs “Consulting CTO” John Carmack apologizing for the issue still existing. “We think we have a handle on it, and an update is in the pipeline, but I can’t say exactly when it will land”, he wrote. After publication we were contacted by readers pointing out this fix actually already shipped in the Public Test Channel.
To enroll in the Public Test Channel navigate to the Beta tab of the Settings of the Oculus PC app, then wait for the update to finish downloading. I tried this today and found it did indeed fix the constant juddering issue.
However, I did still experience an occasional judder I don’t remember happening on Windows 10, and that I don’t experience when using the paid 3rd party alternative to Air Link Virtual Desktop.
If you use Windows 11: does the Public Test Channel fix the juddering for you? Which works better for you: Air Link or Virtual Desktop? Let us know in the comments below.
A fix for Oculus Link juddering on Windows 11 is “in the pipeline”, but there’s no estimate for when it will arrive.
Oculus Link is a Quest feature which lets the device act as a PC VR headset, either wired via USB or wirelessly via your home Wi-Fi network. While it works as advertised on Windows 10, if you try it on Windows 11 you may see a constant distracting – and even sickening – juddering effect.
There is a strange but functional workaround involving the Oculus Debug Tool, but it requires leaving a console window foregrounded and you need to repeat the steps if you close the Oculus software.
Some timing details changed in Win 11. We think we have a handle on it, and an update is in the pipeline, but I can't say exactly when it will land. Sorry it has taken so long.
Meta Reality Labs “Consulting CTO” John Carmack apologized to a customer on Twitter for the issue remaining unfixed. He explained the cause as “timing details” changing between Windows 10 and 11, likely referring to how the operating system talks to the GPU to schedule the timing of frames. “We think we have a handle on it, and an update is in the pipeline, but I can’t say exactly when it will land”, he wrote.
Virtual Desktop, the paid 3rd party alternative to Air Link, doesn’t have this juddering issue. Developer Guy Godin frequently updates the application to support the widest possible range of PC hardware and software configurations. On Windows 11 with a Wi-Fi 6 access point Virtual Desktop performs perfectly for me, with no workaround needed.
Oculus Link is a Quest feature which lets the device act as a PC VR headset, either wired via USB or wirelessly via your home Wi-Fi network. While it works as advertised on Windows 10, if you try it on Windows 11 you may see a constant distracting – and even sickening – juddering effect.
Six months after the release of Windows 11 and Meta hasn’t released an official fix, with the company still recommending Windows 10. Still, 17% of Steam users have already upgraded. For those who need to access Oculus Link on Windows 11, there is a strange but functional workaround:
1) Open the Oculus PC app
2) Open the Oculus Debug Tool (ODT) in the oculus-diagnostics subfolder of the Support folder of your Oculus Rift software directory (by default this is C:\Program Files\Oculus\Support\oculus-diagnostics)
3) Click Service at the top, then click ‘Toggle console window visibility’
4) When asked if you want to restart the Oculus service, click ‘Yes’
You need to keep the console window that appears open and focused for Link to work without juddering. Do not close or minimize it.
Annoyingly, to close the Oculus software you’ll need to repeat these steps to toggle the console window to invisible again. And when you want to use Link again, you’ll need to again follow the steps to make the console visible.
I should note that Virtual Desktop, the paid 3rd party alternative to Air Link, doesn’t have this issue. Developer Guy Godin frequently updates the application to support the widest possible range of PC hardware and software configurations. On Windows 11 with a Wi-Fi 6 router Virtual Desktop performs perfectly for me, with no workaround needed.
An open source tool called OculusKiller makes Oculus Link load directly into SteamVR, disabling Oculus Dash.
The tool, available on GitHub, was developed by software engineer ItsKaitlyn03. You may recognise that name – earlier this month Kaitlyn found code referencing the ‘VR Air Bridge’ accessory for Quest 2 wireless PC VR (the manual for this leaked last week). You might also find the name OculusKiller familiar – there’s actually another tool by the same name on GitHub, though it’s used to forcibly terminate Oculus services running on your PC.
OculusKiller replaces this Oculus Dash UI with a SteamVR auto-loader
From a technical perspective, Kaitlyn’s OculusKiller is an executable that replaces the Oculus Dash executable with a simple SteamVR loader. You still need the Oculus PC app open, but you no longer get the in-VR Oculus PC interface. If you use Oculus Link but solely purchase your VR content from Steam – ie. you don’t use Oculus Store content – it’s a way to make jumping into PC VR faster and more convenient.
Kaitlyn claims the lack of Oculus Dash will “boost performance by considerable amounts”, as it takes up “200 MB of memory + GPU, even when not in use”. There is one problem however – there’s no way to exit SteamVR from inside VR, since when it closes it will just be automatically launched again. You need to take the headset off and close the Oculus app manually, which will close SteamVR too.
Of course, if you’re using the wireless Air Link you could alternatively purchase Virtual Desktop, which itself bypasses the Oculus Dash UI and has a one-click Launch SteamVR button. OculusKiller seems more suited for those opting for a wired USB connection.
To install OculusKiller just follow the instructions on GitHub – rename your existing OculusDash.exe to something like OculusDash.exe.bak and paste in the replacement OculusDash.exe. To get Dash back, just delete the new file and rename the old one back to OculusDash.exe again.
SteamVR 1.21 adds support for Vive trackers in OpenXR, improves Desktop View, and reminds Quest users to install the Oculus PC software & start Oculus Link.
If you start SteamVR with a Quest or Quest 2 attached to your PC but haven’t started the Oculus app, SteamVR now prompts to start it. If you don’t have the Oculus software it prompts you to install it. Meta’s download page now calls this the ‘Quest 2 PC app’. In July Valve made SteamVR handle Oculus Link disconnections without needing to restart it. Quest headsets make up 50% of SteamVR’s monthly userbase.
Desktop View will no longer get stuck when a non-interactable window gains input focus, and there’s a new button to quickly minimize all windows to switch to your desktop. Last year Valve improved SteamVR’s desktop support and added new features, including pinning windows to controllers and pinning windows in space around you.
Full Update Notes From Valve
SteamVR
Fixed a motion smoothing issue that was affecting some applications.
Fixed a crash related to application submitted dx12 depth textures.
Fix for depth texture handling on dx12 causing crashes in major engine implementations.
Fixed a crash in the dashboard.
Display Task View if a non-interactable window gains input focus in Desktop View.
Added a button to Desktop View that allows users to show the desktop. This is especially useful when users have a single monitor and the scene app displays a full screen window.
Fixed a crash on app startup.
Linux
Fixed issue that would prevent some system UI from working some of the time.
Fixed webhelper crashing in OS’s with recent versions of freetype2.
Fixed a failure to unpack steamrt-heavy on some distributions.
OpenXR
Implemented the XR_HTCX_vive_tracker_interaction extension.
Oculus
When SteamVR starts, if you have a Quest or Quest2 attached to your PC but have not started Oculus Link, you will be reminded to do so. SteamVR also will notify you to install the Oculus software if SteamVR cannot communicate with the Oculus service.
Around 1 in 3 SteamVR gamers in July were using Oculus Quest 2, according to Valve’s monthly hardware survey data.
Companies like Facebook, Valve, & HTC don’t reveal sales figures. The Steam Hardware Survey remains the most reliable indicator of PC VR’s adoption.
The survey is offered to a random sample of Steam’s userbase each month. If you choose to accept, it uploads your PC specifications along with SteamVR’s log of any headsets connected in the past month.
When adding Quest 1, Pico Neo 2, and Pico Neo 3 standalone headsets now make up more than 38% of SteamVR. Quest 1 didn’t officially support PC VR until six months after launch, but third party WiFi streaming apps like Virtual Desktop filled the gap. Quest 2 is marketed as a hybrid headset, last week getting an official WiFi streaming mode.
HTC’s Vive Pro 2 also saw the most growth of native PC headsets this month, while Valve’s Index slightly contracted. With the highest angular resolution available to consumers and new dual element lenses, Vive Pro 2 is seemingly becoming the choice for the high end.
The overall percentage of Steam users with a VR headset increased slightly, from 1.86% to 2.07%, though that’s still below the all time high.
Want to play PC VR content wirelessly on your Oculus Quest 2 using Air Link? Here’s everything you need and how to do it.
This guide was first published in April 2021, but was updated and republished in June 2021 to ensure all information remains correct and up-to-date.
The Oculus Quest 2 is a fantastic standalone headset from Facebook. There’s heaps of native content available on the Oculus Quest store, but one of the key features of the Quest platform is the ability to also play PC VR content as well, while connected to a VR-ready PC.
Facebook’s official method, Oculus Link, launched in late 2019 as a wired solution for playing PC VR games on Quest. However, thanks to the latest v28 software update, Air Link now allows you to play PC VR content on Quest wirelessly. Here’s how to do it.
Just like with a regular wired Link connection, in addition to an Oculus Quest headset, you will also need a VR-ready PC for Air Link.
Take a look at Facebook’s Oculus Link compatibility page to see if your computers meet the minimum requirements for Oculus Link. While this was written for wired Link connections, it’s still a good way to gauge if your PC is VR-ready for Air Link too.
The specification requirements will change depending on the game as well — some PC VR games require beefier specs than others — so be sure to check game requirements too.
Software
Download the official Oculus PC app, which is the software that will run Oculus Link and allow you to play PC VR games on your headset. You can get it here, listed as Oculus Link setup software. To run Air Link, you’ll need to be running the latest version, v28, of the PC software.
Likewise, your Quest 2 will also need to be running v28 of the system software. This has started rolling out, but like all Quest software updates, it’s gradual. This means that not everyone gets the update at the same time and headsets will gradually be granted access to the software over time. You can see what software version your Quest is running and check for updates by going to the Settings menu on your Quest, and heading to the About section.
Wi-Fi Router
Much like Virtual Desktop, Air Link requires a good Wi-Fi router with a stable internal network connection in order to run reliably. Oculus recommends that you use a 5Ghz network running on an AC or AX router. It’s also recommended that the PC running the games is connected to the router directly via ethernet cable and not Wi-Fi.
Setup Process
Enable Air Link On PC
Every time you want to use Air Link, you’ll have to first turn it on in the Oculus PC app.
Go to Settings, then head to the Beta tab. At the bottom, you should see a switch for App Lab at the bottom. Turning this on will switch the app to use wireless Air Link instead of the regular wired Link connection. This switch will automatically switch back to off after 24 hours, so if it’s been 24 hours or longer between play sessions, you’ll have to enable it again.
Enable Air Link on Quest/Pairing Your Quest
You’ll also have to enable Air Link on Quest, as the feature is still experimental and not in official full release just yet. To do this, go to the Settings menu on your Quest and then head to Experimental Features. In this tab, you should have an option to turn Air Link on. If you don’t have that option, try restarting your headset once more. Still not there? Then Facebook may not have enabled Air Link on your device just yet, even if you have v28. You’ll need to give it a little while (we really can’t say how long) and check again.
When turning this on, you may see a dialog box warning you of the equipment and setup you’ll need for an optimal Air Link experience. If you’ve read and followed everything we’ve said above, you should be good to go and meet all the requirements listed here. Select Continue.
Starting Air Link
You can start Air Link from the Quick Actions menu in the Quest settings. Just make sure Air Link is still switched on in the Oculus PC app settings (again, it will automatically switch off after 24 hours) and that your Quest is connected to the same network. If it’s your first time using Air Link, you’ll be asked to pair your Quest with your computer. This will bring up a list of any computers on the same network as your Quest that are running v28 of the Oculus PC app and have the Air Link setting enabled under Beta, as outlined above. Select your PC and you should be paired and ready to go.
Once started up, the process for using Air Link to play PC VR games should be exactly the same as using a PC VR headset natively or using a wired Oculus Link connection. Enjoy!
Performance
Adjusting Air Link Refresh Rate and Rendering Resolution
Once you’ve got Air Link up and running, you can switch between 72Hz (the default, recommended option), 80Hz, 90Hz and 120Hz refresh rates. To do this, connect your Quest to your PC via Air Link and go to the Devices tab in the Oculus PC app.
If you click on the active Quest headset, a settings sidebar will be brought up. Click on Graphics Preferences to adjust the refresh rate and rendering resolution, as pictured above. Setting these options too high will impact performance — it depends on your PC hardware and potentially what game you’re playing, so test and adjust accordingly.
If you’ve adjusted your Oculus Link bitrate in the debug tool, you’ll need to set it back to 0 in order to get proper Air Link performance. The Oculus Debug Tool can be found in Program Files\Oculus\Support\oculus-diagnostics\.
Once you’ve opened the debug tool, find the Encode Bitrate (Mbps) setting under Oculus Link — make sure it’s set to 0 before using Air Link for optimal performance.
Bitrate Adjustment
There’s also a new setting in Oculus Dash that allows you to adjust the bitrate of Oculus Link while using Air Link, which may improve performance.
The setting can be found in the Air Link panel of Oculus Dash, and will allow you to choose from either a dynamic bitrate or a static bitrate.
The bitrate is the amount of data being transferred over Air Link to your Quest — a higher bitrate will mean higher quality, but it may increase latency and introduce stuttering.
This setting will have to be adjusted on a case-by-case basis — the upper limit of your bitrate will be determined by the specs of your PC and how much it can handle.
A dynamic bitrate will automatically choose what’s best according to how your equipment is performing at any given time — if you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t want to mess with anything, use this option. A static bitrate will allow you to set a consistent quality level, but has the potential to impact performance. If you want a static bitrate, fiddle around with the slider to find a setting that gives you the best quality without compromising performance. If you go too high and Air Link freezes up, the setting will be reversed within 10 seconds automatically.
The long wait for a sequel to one of VR’s best games is scheduled to end this summer with the release of Lone Echo II.
The mechanics in the 2017 single-player zero-g game became the basis of Ready At Dawn’s other Echo games, the free-to-play competitive sport Echo Arena and multiplayer shooter Echo Combat. The single-player game focuses on the relationship between a player-controlled a cybernetic A.I. called Jack that embodies robotic shells, accompanied by Captain Olivia “Liv” Rhodes.
The latest teaser video presented by Facebook in its gaming showcase event offers a sense of the mysterious space environments the duo are set to explore in the sequel after the cliffhanger ending in the first game that left us wanting more.
The game is officially launching on the “Rift Platform” which means it will be playable on a VR-capable PC with a Rift, Rift S and on Oculus Quest or Quest 2 with a wired or wireless Oculus Link or Air Link connection. Ready At Dawn was purchased by Facebook in 2020 but other PC VR headsets can usually access Oculus exclusives via a software solution like Revive, but we’ll likely have to wait until release of the game to confirm that. There’s also a chance it could come to SteamVR just like Medal of Honor, but there was no word on that today.
We still don’t know much about the sequel and we don’t want to spoil the original since there are so many people who will likely explore the game for the first time in anticipation of Lone Echo II. But we do have eight new screenshots shared by Facebook for you to peruse hinting at some of the things you’ll see in the new game.
Are you excited to revisit Lone Echo and see where Ready At Dawn takes the story in this much-anticipated sequel? Let us know in the comments below.
Parkour VR game STRIDE is getting a big new PC VR update soon and is running Closed Beta tests right now. Plus, the PSVR version is delayed to late 2021.
STRIDE – VR Parkour
There are no details on what the big new update is exactly, but it’s being described as a “major content update” for STRIDE. You won’t need to own the game already either — you’ll be provided access.
STRIDE is a VR parkour free-running game, similar in style to Mirror’s Edge, except it’s got an “endless runner” format along with a gun that lets you fight back against assailants. In the short clip posted to Reddit, it looks like the content update is probably adding a more exploratory game mode that lets you explore the city in more directions rather than going in a straight line. Perhaps this is the long-alluded to Story mode.
If you’re interested in helping test the new features for STRIDE, you can visit the Closed Beta sign up page right here. You’ll have to be willing to sign an NDA, available to playtest today at a scheduled time, have access to a VR-ready PC with a Rift, Quest + Link, or Quest + Virtual Desktop, and you must live in the EU, UK, western CIS countries, Turkey, or North Africa. Feel free to invite friends to apply as well.
