How to play Half-Life: Alyx on Oculus Quest

Half-Life: Alyx could be performed on virtually each PC VR headset below the solar, from the tremendous costly Valve Index to entry-level Windows Mixed Reality headsets. However, you may as well play it on the standalone Oculus Quest if you make the most of Oculus Link, which connects your Quest to your PC like an peculiar Rift headset. In this text, I’ll stroll you thru precisely learn how to play Half-Life: Alyx on the Oculus Quest, in addition to precisely what you might want to get began.

As you in all probability know by now, the Oculus Quest is a standalone VR headset that doesn’t have to be related to your PC or any exterior sensors to be able to work. It’s an excellent headset for wire-free VR, as all you might want to do is pop it in your head and off you go. However, because of the current introduction of the Oculus Link beta, now you can use your Quest to play all these demanding PC VR games you’ve been eyeing up from afar. It does contain connecting your Quest to your PC through a high-speed USB-C to USB3 cable, thereby shedding its engaging tetherfree perform, however I believe you’ll agree it’s a small worth to pay for getting the perfect of each worlds in the case of your PC VR library. So, with out additional ado, right here’s learn how to play Half-Life: Alyx on the Oculus Quest.

How to play Half-Life: Alyx on Oculus Quest

Step 1: Check you might have a appropriate graphics card First issues first, you might want to make certain your graphics card truly helps Oculus Link. It’s solely in beta in the meanwhile, and Oculus are nonetheless the method of testing varied graphics playing cards to ensure they’ll present a ok expertise. At launch, for instance, it didn’t assist any sort of AMD GPU, however fortunately that’s been rectified within the final couple of months.

Below, you’ll discover each graphics card at the moment authorised by Oculus for Oculus Link. If your graphics card isn’t one of many supported GPUs, then Oculus can’t assure that it’s going to work correctly.

Step 2: Make positive your PC meets the minimal necessities You’ll additionally want to ensure your PC meets the minimal PC necessities for the Oculus Rift and Rift S headsets. These want not less than an Intel Core i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1500X CPU or above, in addition to 8GB of RAM, Windows 10 and not less than one USB3 port. However, when you’re utilizing your Oculus Quest for Half-Life: Alyx, then you definately’ll additionally want to satisfy Half-Life: Alyx’s PC requirements, which I’ve listed beneath:

Half-Life: Alyx minimal PC necessities:
OS: Windows 10
CPU: Intel Core i5-7500 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
RAM: 12GB RAM
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) / AMD Radeon RX 580 (8GB)

Step 3: Get a high-quality USB-C to USB3 cable In order to make use of Oculus Link, you want a quick USBC to USB3 cable to attach your Quest to your PC. Sadly, the USB-C to USB cable that comes with the Quest so you may maintain it charged is just USB2, so it gained’t be ok to ship all that VR video and audio goodness out of your PC.

Naturally, Oculus have made their own special cable for the event, nevertheless it’s very costly and is at the moment out of inventory right here within the UK.

Fortunately, Oculus have authorised different cables from Anker which can be loads cheaper. US patrons can get one from Amazon US, whereas UK patrons can get one from Amazon UK for £12. This can also be the cable I purchased myself to check Oculus Quest on PC, and I haven’t had any issues with it to this point. Just ensure you purchase the 10ft / 3m cable to ensure it’s lengthy sufficient.

Step 4: Download the Oculus PC app Next, you might want to obtain and set up the Oculus PC software, which you are able to do by clicking on the hyperlink there. All you might want to do is ensure you have 9.19GB of free area out there in your C: drive. Once that’s put in, you’ll have to log into your Oculus account (or create a brand new one when you don’t have already got one). You don’t should log in with Facebook when you don’t wish to.

Next, you’ll want to decide on the place you wish to obtain all these juicy VR games. Fortunately, you may specify the place you need these to be put in this time (in contrast to the principle Oculus app).

Once you’ve performed that, you’ll be requested so as to add a fee methodology if you want, however you may at all times skip this and do it later when you want. Next, choose the Quest icon (as within the image above) to begin its PC setup course of.

Step 5: Connect your Quest to your PC You’ll then be requested to plug your USB-C cable into your Quest headset, earlier than sticking the USB3 finish right into a USB3 port in your PC. If you might have hassle getting your PC to recognise the Quest as a USB machine, strive plugging it into a special USB3 port. If that doesn’t work both, then flip your Quest off whereas it’s plugged in and swap it again on once more. Your PC ought to now recognise the USB connection and allow you to proceed the setup course of.

Step 6: Put in your Oculus Quest You’ll want to complete organising your Oculus Quest from inside your headset for this subsequent step, so have a learn of what you might want to do earlier than sticking the factor in your head. First, chances are you’ll be requested to obtain the Quest’s Android or iOS app if that is your first time organising the Quest and hyperlink your Quest to your own home Wi-Fi community. Once that’s performed, you’ll then have to outline your play space and arrange your Quest Guardian, which can warn you if you’re about to crash into your surrounding furnishings. You’ll then be plonked into Oculus Quest’s dwelling menu. Now it’s time to take off your headset.

Step 7: Get to Steam and launch Half-Life: Alyx Now your Oculus Quest has been arrange in your PC, it’s time to take away your headset and return to your desktop. To play games from Steam, you’ll want to permit the Quest to play non-Oculus games. To do that, click on the Settings possibility within the Oculus PC app on the left-hand aspect, and go to the General Tab. Then, click on the Unknown Sources button, as proven beneath.

With that performed, open SteamVR in your desktop. With any luck, it ought to recognise the Quest and your two Touch controllers like so:

Launch Half-Life: Alyx out of your PC, then put in your headset (though not with out studying this subsequent bit first!). Once you’re again within the Oculus Quest dwelling menu, there must be a bit of button on the menu in entrance of you saying ‘Enable Oculus Link’. Click that utilizing your Quest controllers and voila, it is best to now be taking part in Half-Life: Alyx. Enjoy!

Alternatively, must you wish to use your Oculus Quest to only play Rift or Rift S games that you simply’ve purchased by means of Oculus, then there’s no have to run SteamVR. Instead, simply click on that very same ‘Enable Oculus Link’ button and also you’ll be taken to the Rift / Rift S dwelling menu as a substitute. From there, you may then browse your Rift / Rift S game library, and use the Rift / Rift S retailer to purchase extra of them (as a result of the Rift retailer isn’t the identical one because the Quest’s, sadly).

I hope this How to play Half-Life: Alyx on Oculus Quest information has been helpful! If one thing doesn’t work, please do let me know within the feedback, and I’ll try to get it sorted as quickly as potential. And don’t neglect to learn Graham’s Half-Life: Alyx review when you haven’t already, and ensure you take a look at my Half-Life: Alyx VR performance information to see the way it copes with right this moment’s best graphics cards when you’re right here. I’ll be doing extra Half-Life: Alyx testing over the following couple of days to see the way it performs on all right this moment’s massive VR headsets as effectively, so keep tuned for that, too.