Launching Elite Dangerous in VR.

Hi there Peeps.

I'm feeling rather ashamed of myself here. After years of being a die hard linux fangirl I have installed Windows 10 on my computer. This is purely to use an Oculus Rift S HMD.
I usually play using dual joysticks. A HOTAS X and a Microsoft Force Feedback (For those that are curious -this is because the potentiometers on the stick part of the HOTAS are worn and I use the second joystick to control pitck - yaw - roll -fire etc and the HOTAS just as a throttle with extra buttons )

I would like to know how to launch ED in VR mode. I can do this fine through Steam VR. But I want to know how to do it without Steam VR. The reson for this being that in Windows 10 - when steam is running in windows 10 my HOTAS X becomes completely disabled and only the Microsoft Stick works.

I'd be very grateful if someone can either

1) Guide me through launching ED in VR without Steam VR as per my request

or

2) Guide me through stopping Steam from knobbling the second joystick. ( Steam Recognises that the Hotas X is there - it just stops working completely, even in the windows 10 USB controller application

* Edit *

My bad - it's not Steam per-sé it's Voice Attack that seems to be disabling the second joystick. If someone can answer the 1) question all the same though I'd be grateful.
 
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Hi there Peeps.

I'm feeling rather ashamed of myself here. After years of being a die hard linux fangirl I have installed Windows 10 on my computer. This is purely to use an Oculus Rift S HMD.
I usually play using dual joysticks. A HOTAS X and a Microsoft Force Feedback (For those that are curious -this is because the potentiometers on the stick part of the HOTAS are worn and I use the second joystick to control pitck - yaw - roll -fire etc and the HOTAS just as a throttle with extra buttons )

I would like to know how to launch ED in VR mode. I can do this fine through Steam VR. But I want to know how to do it without Steam VR. The reson for this being that in Windows 10 - when steam is running in windows 10 my HOTAS X becomes completely disabled and only the Microsoft Stick works.

I'd be very grateful if someone can either

1) Guide me through launching ED in VR without Steam VR as per my request

or

2) Guide me through stopping Steam from knobbling the second joystick. ( Steam Recognises that the Hotas X is there - it just stops working completely, even in the windows 10 USB controller application

* Edit *

My bad - it's not Steam per-sé it's Voice Attack that seems to be disabling the second joystick. If someone can answer the 1) question all the same though I'd be grateful.
Do you have the Steam store version of Elite? If you bought it on Steam before 24th April 2019 you should be able to request an Oculus key:


...which should cut out Steam from the problem.
 
Do you have the Steam store version of Elite? If you bought it on Steam before 24th April 2019 you should be able to request an Oculus key:


...which should cut out Steam from the problem.
I bought my accounts long before steam was required. I can launch the game from either steam OR from just double clicking the executable.

Taking steam out of the equation was how I discovered it was voice attack - voice attack can also be run without steam loaded and as soon as I run voice attack the HOTAS joystick is disabled. But this is an ED forum so I'm not asking for VA help here (I've done that on the VA forum). I don't mind running elite in Steam VR if I have to now I know it's not Steam that's causing the issue with the controllers.

Thank you very much for the advice on how to get ED running on the rift without steam though. That's brilliant! It will help me out.
 
I bought my accounts long before steam was required. I can launch the game from either steam OR from just double clicking the executable.

Taking steam out of the equation was how I discovered it was voice attack - voice attack can also be run without steam loaded and as soon as I run voice attack the HOTAS joystick is disabled. But this is an ED forum so I'm not asking for VA help here (I've done that on the VA forum). I don't mind running elite in Steam VR if I have to now I know it's not Steam that's causing the issue with the controllers.

Thank you very much for the advice on how to get ED running on the rift without steam though. That's brilliant! It will help me out.
If you’re able to run from just the Frontier launcher then it’s pretty easy:
  • In the Oculus options look for “enable external sources”
  • Launch ED and select “HMD headphones” in the 3D options drop-down menu
  • Restart ED and it should be in VR mode when you put the headset on
You’ll probably need to reset your view straight away, default is f12 (it’s worth rebinding this to something handy on your control sticks).

Hope everything works for you!
 
Turns out my HOTAS disables itself when Elite Dangerous Runs too. So it's not just VA that causes it to bork out.

I think Win 10 hates the T-Flight Hotas X now
 
Sounds a bit grim! Any chance fitting a USB card would solve the problem, or is it the more expensive solution?
this is exactly what I've done. The occulus does not like any of the ports on the card though. It can't do it's sensor check while connected to one. But it's fine with one of the two remaining working ones on my motherboard.

I played Elite Dangerous in VR for 2 hours last night.

It certainly adds a new dimension to the game ( pun intended )

So much fun using voice commands to get the ship to perform minor actions / nightsight, lights, landing gear etc ( Voice Attack - not a feature of Elite Dangerous )

I am contemplating renaming Star Step to Aziz so I can shout Aziz light! at it.
 
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So much fun using voice commands to get the ship to perform minor actions / nightsight, lights, landing gear etc ( Voice Attack - not a feature of Elite Dangerous )
Have you tried with the panel interfaces? The L and R panels pop up when I look at them with the HMD and I can use the hat switch and buttons on my stick to navigate them. It is rad.
 
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