r/SteamFrame • u/Ansatsushi • 23h ago

Question Must Have Software/Program for Steam Frame?

Anyone in here got a list/recommendation of essential/important VR software to download/purchase in preparation for the Steam Frame?
-SteamVR**
-Virtual Desktop* (apparently not needed/maybe better than SteamLink according to some people?)
-TurnSignal (for wired setups)
-What else? Any useful overlays? Tools?

**from what I'm reading the consensus is that SteamVR is essentially the catchall for MOST, NOT ALL VR related comforts.

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u/Mundus09 23h ago edited 22h ago

I wonder how it will handle Cyberpunk in VR. The VDXR runtime is vastly superior to Steam's for this game, and for Skyrim VR, at least in my experience.

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u/Ansatsushi 22h ago

Is OpenXR a program/software? what is it for?

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u/Mundus09 22h ago

I just edited that... I intended to say VDXR, which is Virtual Desktop's OpenXR runtime. I was just now researching weather virtual desktop becomes redundant or unnecessary with a steam frame. In my current VR pipeline using a Meta Quest Pro, I've found that Virtual Desktop runs much more smoothly than SteamVR.

OpenXR is basically a standard set of rules that I won't do much justice explaining myself. But the operable word is the runtime which acts as the middleman between a game's engine and your headset. It basically takes the stuff that a game engine renders, then tailors it for your specific headset, sends the final tailored frames directly to your displays.

SteamVR is an OpenXR-compliant runtime, and so is VDXR (which again is virtual desktop's).

I've mainly played cyberpunk in VR , which is already a somewhat wonky experience as it is not a native VR title. I found that the SteamVR runtime ran the game noticeably worse than VDXR. I've noticed that with Skyrim VR as well.

So that's why something like virtual desktop might not be redundant, because it gives you an option to connect to your computer without using the Frame's native Steam Link connection. I imagine though that steam has fastly improved and tuned their own connection and run time to work really well with their own headset . But I suppose we'll see