Since Quest’s release in 2019, it has become a highly sought-after option among Steam users, now representing over half of all VR headset sales. Valve’s latest SteamVR update, version 2.8.3, introduces several new features that significantly enhance the capabilities of the Oculus Quest as a PC-based virtual reality (VR) headset.
Introducing a seamless gaming experience in late 2023: with the ability to effortlessly connect your Quest to SteamVR and play PC VR or flat-screen PC video games directly, eliminating the need for Meta’s personal Air Link?
The Meta Quest beta update 2.0.11.1197 introduces a range of new features for the Steam Link on Quest, including hand-tracking passthrough capabilities and enhanced restricted hand-tracking performance.
Valve clarifies that its hand-tracking technology on the Oculus Quest is not a fully-fledged version of native Quest functionality, but rather an experimental offering nonetheless allowing users to test its capabilities. The Replace feature allows customers to craft personalized control bindings through the intuitive Binding User Interface within Controller Settings, enabling users to design their own custom management schemes based on available gestures.
Steam Link 2D streaming is now reactivated within the Quest app, available for free through the Horizon Store. To access PC VR games through Steam’s Hyperlink feature, you’ll need to opt-in to the SteamVR beta first – a straightforward and hassle-free process.
Following the release of several key updates towards the end of last year, including “Superior Supersample Filtering”, a significant enhancement was made to wireless video streaming quality when using high supersampling rates. In March, an additional improvement was made to overall stability.
Don’t conflate the steady stream of useful updates with a favor to Meta though. As the Oculus Quest 2 dominates Steam’s VR market with a whopping 40%, it’s no surprise that Valve is reportedly accelerating its development of its own standalone headset, dubbed ‘Deckard’, which will likely leverage the quality-of-life upgrades already benefiting Quest users.
