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After a couple of Beta releases, Valve has now launched the latest stable release of SteamVR which brings in the recent Linux improvements.

I've covered the Beta changes across a couple of articles so it's nice to see them rolled out for everyone now. This release focuses on bug fixes, quality of life improvements across SteamVR as a whole, Steam Link and Linux. Valve also released an updated version of Steam Link for Meta Quest devices. Hopefully at some point soon we might see Linux support for that too.

All the changes are:

SteamVR:

  • Fixed a bug where compatibility mode would fail for certain controller / HMD combinations and legacy input titles.
  • This release has an experimental feature allowing overlays to use controller simulation in bindings.
  • Disabled AMD Wireless VR driver by default. You can reenable it under startup/shutdown manage addons. This is a wireless driver installed by the AMD GPU driver that can interfere with some new, asynchronous paths in SteamVR.
  • Detect when AMD drivers were installed, but no AMD card is present, preventing "Error 309" and other crashes when loading LiquidVR.
  • Fixed some localization issues in the binding UI.
  • Fixing missing haptic component in some vive tracker profiles.
  • Fixing some scenarios where the menu button didn't work on HTC wrist trackers.
  • Add ability for Vive tracker haptic pogo pins to be bound.

Steam Link:

Steam VR 2.5 release corresponds to Steam Link client version 2.0.8.748

  • Improved prediction for increased lateral tracking stability.
  • Fix initialization issue causing connection failure. Requires client and server to both be updated.
  • Fix issue causing persistent failure when headset goes into standby and returns.
  • Fix deadlock on host when USB devices are inserted or removed.
  • Resolved two client crashes.
  • Fix an issue with video encoder initialization on certain AMD integrated GPUs.

OpenXR:

  • Fix Vive tracker menu pogo pin not being mapped correctly for OpenXR apps.

Linux:

  • Add support for direct mode drivers (IVRDriverDirectModeComponent) on Linux.
  • Improved launch scripts and log capture for bug reports.
  • Fixed random colors appearing at the periphery of the right eye's viewable area.
  • Fixed SteamVR Home launch script.
  • Fixed an SDL compatibility problem on Fedora.

I'll have to jump back into some VR soon on my Index and see how it runs on Kubuntu 24.04 now.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
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10 comments

ghiuma May 8
I use Quest 2 with ALVR and Steamvr on Manjaro and it's crazy how well it works, Moss, Half Life Alyx, Fallout 4 vr etc etc, but this updated version no longer works. It no longer connects to ALVR, I went back to the old version and it works... I hope for a solution...
based May 8
You love to see it!
Zappor May 8
Ok this is just a stable release that collects all the changes that have been in beta then.
muhgo May 8
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Quoting: ghiumaI use Quest 2 with ALVR and Steamvr on Manjaro and it's crazy how well it works, Moss, Half Life Alyx, Fallout 4 vr etc etc, but this updated version no longer works. It no longer connects to ALVR, I went back to the old version and it works... I hope for a solution...

Thx I use the same setup with Quest 3, will not upgrade now.
Quoting: ghiumaI use Quest 2 with ALVR and Steamvr on Manjaro and it's crazy how well it works, Moss, Half Life Alyx, Fallout 4 vr etc etc, but this updated version no longer works. It no longer connects to ALVR, I went back to the old version and it works... I hope for a solution...

just out of curiosity , does this work wireless?
ghiuma May 8
Quoting: Sil_el_mot
Quoting: ghiumaI use Quest 2 with ALVR and Steamvr on Manjaro and it's crazy how well it works, Moss, Half Life Alyx, Fallout 4 vr etc etc, but this updated version no longer works. It no longer connects to ALVR, I went back to the old version and it works... I hope for a solution...

just out of curiosity , does this work wireless?


Yes wireless, just configure the ALVR, the difference with the cable is small, on YouTube there are excellent videos on configuring the Quest on Linux.
Termy May 9
Can the Index wake/shutdown the lighthouses in the meantime? Haven't used mine in quite a while tbh, but this alone was very disappointing...
Vixea May 9
Quoting: ghiuma
Quoting: Sil_el_mot
Quoting: ghiumaI use Quest 2 with ALVR and Steamvr on Manjaro and it's crazy how well it works, Moss, Half Life Alyx, Fallout 4 vr etc etc, but this updated version no longer works. It no longer connects to ALVR, I went back to the old version and it works... I hope for a solution...

just out of curiosity , does this work wireless?


Yes wireless, just configure the ALVR, the difference with the cable is small, on YouTube there are excellent videos on configuring the Quest on Linux.

Hello, I'm one of ALVR's devs. Sadly because of the requirements put on us by the Steam Runtime(scout) we are unable to get alvr to work in this release nor can we compile ALVR in scout because of glibc a dependency of Rust being too old. The solution on Valve's side would to make a version of soldier or sniper that isn't containerized so that VRcompositor can be updated to use it as the driver(ALVR) has a dependency on it. We are considering other options like Monado. It's a little sad that Linux direct mode driver API support something we requested for a long time now has also arrived in a update that breaks everything.
ghiuma May 9
Quoting: Vixea
Quoting: ghiuma
Quoting: Sil_el_mot
Quoting: ghiumaI use Quest 2 with ALVR and Steamvr on Manjaro and it's crazy how well it works, Moss, Half Life Alyx, Fallout 4 vr etc etc, but this updated version no longer works. It no longer connects to ALVR, I went back to the old version and it works... I hope for a solution...

just out of curiosity , does this work wireless?


Yes wireless, just configure the ALVR, the difference with the cable is small, on YouTube there are excellent videos on configuring the Quest on Linux.

Hello, I'm one of ALVR's devs. Sadly because of the requirements put on us by the Steam Runtime(scout) we are unable to get alvr to work in this release nor can we compile ALVR in scout because of glibc a dependency of Rust being too old. The solution on Valve's side would to make a version of soldier or sniper that isn't containerized so that VRcompositor can be updated to use it as the driver(ALVR) has a dependency on it. We are considering other options like Monado. It's a little sad that Linux direct mode driver API support something we requested for a long time now has also arrived in a update that breaks everything.
I want to thank you for the work you do with ALVR, thanks to you I can use Quest 2 on my beloved Linux, I hope Valve solves the problem. They're investing a lot in Linux so I imagine it's a valid goal for them too to make SteamVR usable for everyone.
chr May 9
Quoting: TermyCan the Index wake/shutdown the lighthouses in the meantime? Haven't used mine in quite a while tbh, but this alone was very disappointing...

For me, this has been working ever since I got my Index in 2024-02.
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