Valve emailed a press release today, to mention that the full bundle of the Valve Index kit is back in stock for those in the US looking to pick it up.
That's the most expensive lot at $999 but that does include everything you need to get going like the Index Headset, two SteamVR 2.0 Base Stations, two Index Controllers (left and right) and all the needed accessories. This is not a pre-order or a reservation, as the email stated clearly they are "available for immediate shipping in the US".
If you're worried about a previous reservation, Valve did state in the email that "All prior reservations will be honored" so that's good of course, as it should be. As for orders of other bundles or single items like just the Headset (if you already have say older Controllers and Base Stations), Valve said "a similar announcement will be forthcoming" and the same for "other international territories" so expect them to get more stock for everyone sometime soon.
Despite the high price, initial orders were completely sold-out, although we still don't know how many Valve had ready for the original batch. You can find the Valve Index on the Steam store.
I'm still hoping Valve will eventually supply a unit to us to review it on Linux, as they did agree originally, until then sadly no VR content from me directly. Happy to cover all related announcements though of course, it's very exciting tech. It will be very interesting to see what games Valve are cooking up for it, like the Half-Life VR game that's apparently coming.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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14 comments
Even though Linux is supported, it's still a bit of work to get everything set up properly. The most annoying limitation is that it won't turn off the base stations and has me pull the power from them manually. Nothing too problematic for me as I didn't expect a fully smooth ride.
The worst thing is that my VR playing is on hold for a bit. Putting a VR headset on with 35 degrees is just not a pleasant experience.
The worst thing is that my VR playing is on hold for a bit. Putting a VR headset on with 35 degrees is just not a pleasant experience.
5 Likes, Who?
I can tell you my review for the Valve Index on Arch Linux with a GeForce GTX 1080:
Things that work great:
- Hardware detection.
- Setting it up in Steam.
- The "Home Room" in which you start your 3D experience.
- Linux native VR games playable (duh)!
- Multiple Windows VR games playable using Steam Play!
I was amazed by how it "just worked".
Things I encountered:
- Needed to install missing lib32 packages for doing Big Picture stuff in the "Home Room".
- Some Windows VR games not playable.
- Movies for VR (360 movies) only worked on Windows.
- Google Earth VR is way too slow on Linux (is a great program btw).
- Booting VR the second time (in the same Steam session) makes it crash.
I cannot speak for people with an AMD card, but an Arch-based distro using NVIDIA drivers works!
Last edited by Oet_ on 24 July 2019 at 7:37 pm UTC
Things that work great:
- Hardware detection.
- Setting it up in Steam.
- The "Home Room" in which you start your 3D experience.
- Linux native VR games playable (duh)!
- Multiple Windows VR games playable using Steam Play!
I was amazed by how it "just worked".
Things I encountered:
- Needed to install missing lib32 packages for doing Big Picture stuff in the "Home Room".
- Some Windows VR games not playable.
- Movies for VR (360 movies) only worked on Windows.
- Google Earth VR is way too slow on Linux (is a great program btw).
- Booting VR the second time (in the same Steam session) makes it crash.
I cannot speak for people with an AMD card, but an Arch-based distro using NVIDIA drivers works!
Last edited by Oet_ on 24 July 2019 at 7:37 pm UTC
7 Likes, Who?
Things I picked up:
Apparently Proton needs an update to its OpenVR to make the Index work properly in some games. Updates are merged but not released I think.
Some games are mapped really strangely for the Index controllers. (Serious Sam for instance. An update to the game is incoming)
Apparently Proton needs an update to its OpenVR to make the Index work properly in some games. Updates are merged but not released I think.
Some games are mapped really strangely for the Index controllers. (Serious Sam for instance. An update to the game is incoming)
0 Likes
slaapliedje Jul 24, 2019
I can tell you my review for the Valve Index on Arch Linux with a GeForce GTX 1080:I run Debian Sid, and it likewise works.
Things that work great:
- Hardware detection.
- Setting it up in Steam.
- The "Home Room" in which you start your 3D experience.
- Linux native VR games playable (duh)!
- Multiple Windows VR games playable using Steam Play!
I was amazed by how it "just worked".
Things I encountered:
- Needed to install missing lib32 packages for doing Big Picture stuff in the "Home Room".
- Some Windows VR games not playable.
- Movies for VR (360 movies) only worked on Windows.
- Google Earth VR is way too slow on Linux (is a great program btw).
- Booting VR the second time (in the same Steam session) makes it crash.
I cannot speak for people with an AMD card, but an Arch-based distro using NVIDIA drivers works!
Of note, it seemed to me that Google Earth VR was caching things slower than I was used to in Windows, but once it cached the 'scene' it worked just fine.
Hotdogs, Horseshoes, and Hand Grenades sadly don't detect the Index controllers for me, instead I see a model of the Vive controllers just floating there. Yet it works with full index controller support in Windows.
1 Likes, Who?
Hotdogs, Horseshoes, and Hand Grenades sadly don't detect the Index controllers for me, instead I see a model of the Vive controllers just floating there. Yet it works with full index controller support in Windows.
Yeah, that's the part that needs the proton update.
0 Likes
Unfortunately the Index' mic doesn't work on Linux. It's detected as mic in Alsa and PulseAudio, but you get no input signal.
Last edited by Corben on 24 July 2019 at 11:26 pm UTC
Last edited by Corben on 24 July 2019 at 11:26 pm UTC
0 Likes
Thanks for these reports, guys
Highly appreciated for someone who's eager to join.
Looks like there's still work to do, but it's working good enough to warrant a purchase. Now all I need is for it to become available in Northern Europe...!
Highly appreciated for someone who's eager to join.
Looks like there's still work to do, but it's working good enough to warrant a purchase. Now all I need is for it to become available in Northern Europe...!
4 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man Jul 25, 2019
I think "stupid expensive" is the best description.
0 Likes
slaapliedje Jul 26, 2019
I think "stupid expensive" is the best description.Yeah, I guess it all depends on your life, income, etc. For example, when you have a family, you have to consider everyone and make sure you budget accordingly.
When you're single, and don't have anything else to come home to but being able to tear apart people in Gorn with the best controllers ever made for that purpose, then you can see it as being worth it :)
2 Likes, Who?
People pay more than 1k for a phone that do exactly the same as one of 200 euros. A phone that you carry at street, can be lost, stolen or broken. If you like enjoy videogames and the best inmersion that existed in the whole videogames history with the best controllers, FOV and resolution is the price you should pay.
PD: and with linux support ;D
Last edited by bubexel on 26 July 2019 at 9:26 am UTC
PD: and with linux support ;D
Last edited by bubexel on 26 July 2019 at 9:26 am UTC
4 Likes, Who?
I'm considering Index, but I am a bit wary of being "in a niche (SteamVR) of a niche (VR in general) of a niche (Linux gaming)". Few native Linux VR games, then some Steam VR Windows games through proton, then Oculus exclusives (does Revive even work under Linux?). Paying $1000 to play only a subset of already few VR games seems like a stretch.
But then I loved VR every time I tried it.
But then I loved VR every time I tried it.
2 Likes, Who?
Sil_el_mot Jul 26, 2019
Sorry to say so, but to have Fun with the Index you have still to dual boot. Even Beatsaber doesn't work as smooth as on windoof. Only games that work as good as on Windows are the very few native ones. Maybe (hopefully) with the next proton Version this will change.
0 Likes
slaapliedje Jul 27, 2019
I'm considering Index, but I am a bit wary of being "in a niche (SteamVR) of a niche (VR in general) of a niche (Linux gaming)". Few native Linux VR games, then some Steam VR Windows games through proton, then Oculus exclusives (does Revive even work under Linux?). Paying $1000 to play only a subset of already few VR games seems like a stretch.I stick my nose up at Oculus exclusive games. Even ones that were timed exclusives like Superhot VR. Unless I get them in a humble bundle for free, I won't own them. I refuse to give Facebok any money :P
But then I loved VR every time I tried it.
Anyhow, I'm about to test ViveCraft, hopefully I can get it to work :)
Edit: ViveCraft launches, but as soon as I go to generate the world everything looks white and on the desktop the window has locked up.
Last edited by slaapliedje on 28 July 2019 at 5:55 pm UTC
0 Likes
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