Epic Odyssey version with Quest 3 with Virtual Desktop VDXR only working with keyboard/xbox not Quest controllers?

[krazmuze]

I am using Virtual Desktop newer wireless link product which in launched as a Quest app to connect to the VD streaming desktop. This software now has VDXR (Virtual Desktop's OpenXR) and thus open composites version of OpenXR is not used (yes I do see there is an older thread but that was for Virtual Desktop classic wired product which has not been updated in many years)

Does ED Odyssey not have VR controller support and just gaming controller support? Virtual Desktop Menu>Streaming>Advanced>Track Controllers is ON and Virtual Desktop Streamer>Options>GamePad Emulation is set to XBOX. I do have HOTAS set coming from china but that seems like it is not making it in time for XMAS... I did plug in the XBOX controllers and those did work on both VR and flatscreens version but that means I cannot charge my quest battery - so anyone now how to get VD's emulated XBOX controller support using the Quest Controllers worling (since I have to use them in VD to launch)

There is also minor launch issue, "Launch in VR" from the epic store using Virtual Desktop desktop view, which then opens StreamVR, Steam VR launcher, and Meta Link Launcher. I presume this is VD just loading them all as it's game launcher was not used which only recognizes Oculus/Steam library games. The headset is not connected using Stream Link nor MetaLink - ED is working using Virtual Desktop VDXR and the VR version of the game launches and keyboard menus works (as long as atl-tab so it focus on the ED client). Since I use VDXR there is no need to load Steams Open XR nor Metas Open XR so not sure why it loaded those.anyway to get into game directly and bypass all the launchers which do nothing but disrupt my alt-tab focus?

 

[DeckerSolo]

ED game doesn't support VR controllers. Keyboard, Mouse, HOTAS etc only.

If you are running OpenComposite you need the Runtime Switcher installed which prevents SteamVR running when set to "Switch to OpenComposite" as shown below.
You can then use the switcher to switch back to SteamVR is you want.

 

[krazmuze]

As I said I was not using Open Composites Open XR - I am using Virtual Desktops Open XR (VDXR) they added this last year integrated into the Virtual Desktop Streamer - VD also has a switch to use Steam's Open XR if needed . However Steam VR recognized I used VDXR it works fine and I use VDXR for all my PCVR games. Maybe this is just Virtual Desktop loading both Oculus and Steam VR both when you launch wihtout using the VD game launch panel which knows which store the game is loading from and it just does not recognized the Epic Launcher. This is just an annoyance though does not impact function other than alt-tabbing to get to the actual client with all those unused launchers loading.

So it sounds like I need to figure out how to get Virtual Desktop's XBOX controller emulation working, because it should do that if VR Controllers are not supported by the game.

 

[krazmuze]

I guess it does not make much sense as meta controllers lack the dpad - found that response on a similar report in the Frontiers issues database saying not enough buttons so they are not supporting VR controllers.

I guess I wait for the hotas, and suffer xbox controller and blind keyboard in the meantime.

So I just need suggestions for cleaning up the mess of launchers at launch. The epic launcher, steam vr, steam launcher, meta launcher, frontier launcher- all need to be alt-tabbed past to make the actual game window active.

 

[DeckerSolo]

I'm also using VDXR together with OpenComposite ToolKit and OpenComposite Runtime Switcher and launch ED from a shortcut on my desktop.
I don't even have the Meta Software installed now the Q3 is setup.
ED launches without invoking any other launchers.

 

[krazmuze]

SO it sounds like it is VD doing the launching of meta and steam since it was not launched from it's game menu it does not know which to use. I figured I needed to install meta to get the meta sound drivers - it worked with it uninstalled? So it is the OpenComposite Runtime Switcher that is forcing steam to not load - I'll post to VD that this is a feature that they need to add - their entire point of VDXR was not having to use OpenComposite's OpenXR to bypass steam - seems silly to install that only to have it still use VDXR.

Tried the xbox controller and the default config sucks I will just wait for the hotas to get here.

How did you get the epic shortcut to launch VR and bypass frontier launcher? I did not have it put a shortcut when I installed it.

 

[DeckerSolo]

I don't have an Epic version of the game.
I have both a Frontier & Steam version.
In both cases I have a desktop shortcut with /VR at the end of the Target launch

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Elite Dangerous\EDLaunch.exe" /vr
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Frontier\EDLaunch\EDLaunch.exe" /vr

Game Launches directly in to VR with either version of the shortcuts

Also creating a shortcut with /NOVR forces the game to launch in to 2D mode

I believe OpenComposite Runtime Switcher prevents SteamVR from launching in both cases.

 

[krazmuze]

OK VD says its the game loading both SteamVR and MetaLink and nothing to do with not using VD game launcher (and they have no way to add Epic VR games to it) So I uninstalled metalink - but will hold off on open composite - IIRC vorpx and some walk trackers I had needed actual SteamVR to work. I will just figure out how to turn off Steam Home hog again so at least I just get the simpler steamvr launcher.

That is the same switch you put in Epic launcher to get back to novr after running vr so I will just see if Epic has that similar binary. Does it bypass the Frontier launcher as well and autologin past that? No need to select which version of the game I want to run!

Not sure if Odyssey is in the Epic launcher or the Frontier launcher. I had orginally bought and installed the DLC on epic. Then uninstalled everything using the Frontier launcher when I saw it installed all versions, and just installed the Odyssey from the Frontier Launcher (does not seem to have reduce what Epic thinks disk GB is though!). So I will just search in both places see where it is.

Though seems everyone is saying the legacy version had better VR so I guess I need to check it out if losing planetside is worth it.

 

[krazmuze]

I'm also using VDXR together with OpenComposite ToolKit and OpenComposite Runtime Switcher and launch ED from a shortcut on my desktop.
I don't even have the Meta Software installed now the Q3 is setup.
ED launches without invoking any other launchers.

I tried the OC Runtime switcher (worked with just that and not OCTK) and now that Meta is uninstalled, and no steam VR and using command line options on ED "/autorun /autoquit /edo /vr" it also solved the alt-tab window focus issue. VD debug overlay now shows VDXR+OC.

 

[DeckerSolo]

Good news.
FYI, the optional ToolKit provides a collection of useful features to customize and improve existing OpenXR applications, including render upscaling and sharpening, foveated rendering, image post-processing and other game-enhancing tweaks.

Quickstart

OpenXR Toolkit

mbucchia.github.io

 

[arjepsen]

I don't have an Epic version of the game.
I have both a Frontier & Steam version.
In both cases I have a desktop shortcut with /VR at the end of the Target launch

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Elite Dangerous\EDLaunch.exe" /vr
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Frontier\EDLaunch\EDLaunch.exe" /vr

Game Launches directly in to VR with either version of the shortcuts

Also creating a shortcut with /NOVR forces the game to launch in to 2D mode

I believe OpenComposite Runtime Switcher prevents SteamVR from launching in both cases.

View attachment 411130

So if I would like to run wired, not wireless, do I still need to install opencomposite?
You seem to prefer this over the quest software - but is this only for wireless, or?

 

[krazmuze]

So if I would like to run wired, not wireless, do I still need to install opencomposite?
You seem to prefer this over the quest software - but is this only for wireless, or?

opencomposite is not the software for compressed audio/video streaming the game to the headset - that is only done by Quest Meta Link (wired/wireless), or SteamVR Link (wireless) or Virtual Desktop (obsolete classic product is wired and runs on the PC, new supported wireless product is wireless and runs on the headset), or M$ Remote Desktop (new wireless but unknown if just desktops or if it supports games). Each of these will have their own version of Open XR, which is the software layer that abstracts your headset hardware so games can work with any headset, but does not do any streaming.

I personally use Virtual Desktop, they manage to sell a product with more features and better quality despite competing against free Meta Link - for the longest time after Meta dropped the Oculus name they could care less about PCVR and only after seeing they topped the steam charts did they start working on MetaLink again. Steam is a new entrant into the game and is not really motivated about capturing the quest market - they are obviously doing it to support the new Valve VR headset coming whenever Valve decides to do it. M$ is a result of the alliance they formed with Meta after they decided to drop WMR support - and it integrated the best with the desktop simply making virtual displays that look like any monitor to windows.

The OpenComposite Switcher is used only if you find the SteamVR popup and SteamVR launcher annoying especially when it causes focus switches, it can work with any implementation of Open XR. What it does it is convert the older VR abstraction to the new XR standard - but might lack SteamVR features you use - walk trackers input processing, steam home etc. It solved my problem, though with flatscreen for planetside I am not going to use my walking tracker anyways but I would want to turn it off for Skyrim VR where I do use the walking tracker. I asked on Virtual Desktop discord and they said they do not support using it - as they get complaints blaiming there VD when it is OC not doing everything Steam VR did and they only test with SteamVR. But it was the only way to solve the problem of turning off Steam VR.

And as the prior poster explained the OC TK is only used if you want to do image processing, not required at all the OC Switcher worked fine for me without it.

So if you insist on wired then I would use MetaLink, as the Virtual Desktop Clasic wired has not been updated since the Oculus Rift days. But make sure you understand that wired is not an uncompressed display and is using the same streaming compression as wireless - if your motherboard/cable does not deliver promised USB3/C/SS label it will revert to USB2 speeds and you might also find your USB is not delivering power (I had these issues due to a faulty USBC connector had to use a USB3 connector but if it had USB2 plugged in elsewhere but it did not do power nor SS - had to upgrade my motherboard and get a powered cable). It is certainly possible to get a wireless result that looks better than a wired result, it just requires a good dedicated router in the same room connected via ethernet - not your ISP router in another room.

 

[arjepsen]

Thanks for the reply.
I am aiming for wired, because - first of all - I'm sitting down for ED. Second, I have relatively new hardware (i14700k / 4080). The motherboard (asus rog strix gaming wifi ii) has a 20gbps usb-c port, that I presume should do an ok job. This will be cheaper that buying a dedicated wifi router, and I assume I might end up wiring the headdset up anyway for a bit extra play-time-battery. My main concern is getting the softare needed up and running, and understanding how to optimize the settings both in those, and in ED.

 

[DeckerSolo]

Thanks for the reply.
I am aiming for wired, because - first of all - I'm sitting down for ED. Second, I have relatively new hardware (i14700k / 4080). The motherboard (asus rog strix gaming wifi ii) has a 20gbps usb-c port, that I presume should do an ok job. This will be cheaper that buying a dedicated wifi router, and I assume I might end up wiring the headdset up anyway for a bit extra play-time-battery. My main concern is getting the softare needed up and running, and understanding how to optimize the settings both in those, and in ED.

What krazmuze said.
But you will need a powered USB cable to do any sort of headset charging while playing, not enough power will come from the just the motherboard.

 

[krazmuze]

It is actually not cheaper if you buy Metas cable https://www.amazon.com/Meta-Quest-Link-Cable-oculus-2/dp/B081SHD773 vs. the meta branded Dlink wifi dongle https://www.amazon.com/D-Link-Air-Bridge-Dedicated-Connection/dp/B0BJ39BCPL. Of course you can buy a cheaper cable or an expensive router, but it is likely wired is better bandwidth if you have a house ISP router not connected to PC ethernet. The main thing is dedicated router in same room connected with usb dongle or ethernet and you get good wifi.

Just wanted to make sure you understood it is not HDMI or DisplayPort uncompressed display just because it is a wire - Meta is using the same streaming software for wireless/wired. In theory you can get more compression bandwidth over the cable - but I had to change motherboards to get that to happen despite the USBC and USB3/SS ports on my old motherboard. With the Quest 3 I am using H264+ at 500Mbps rate - and it looks fantastic - my router gives me a stable 1200Mbps dedicated channel. With Quest2 I was using HVEC at 200Mbps in VD. You can max MetaLink to 500Mbps only if you use the debug tool and it is lacking in codec variety and is a major cpu/gpu slog if you try it. Of course more Mbps means more latency and you can adjust that as you prefer, I prefer quality over twitch performance as I hate playing games that look like youtube videos.

Most motherboard powered ports are not even going to be close in recharging rate compared to the Meta recharger that comes in the box.

What I do is use Virtual Desktop Wireless, and have the Quest Elite Battery strap that I plug my recharger into (just got a longer USBC charging cable) then I can play forever. IIRC that is a feature of the Quest 3 version that it charges the headset and the battery strap while playing, with the Quest 2 I could charge the headset or the battery strap while playing. There are also after market straps that use battery docks for hotswapping. So there is no need to restrict yourself to wired streaming just because of charging.

The main reason for wireless is it allows me to use the better streaming features that are in Virtual Desktop wireless (and there are more wireless competive options - whereas wired for Quest3 MetaLink is the only choice). VD has much better performance and codec variety than MetaLink and I really like the virtual screening rooms it has for watching videos. I found a post on here that shows using VD to convert the flatscreen walking into a 3D wraparound flatscreen that I am absolutely going to try as I thought it only did 3D media but can apparently fool a game into being a 3D monitor!

Now of course VD is not free, but I also hear good things about Steam Link which is free - and you know they are going to make it as good as possible to support their new headset. It just added handtracking, though it lacks greenscreen AR feature that VD has (not used in ED)

 

[krazmuze]

Tuning is going to be specific to your CPU/GPU/HMD and streaming software used and it's bandwidth. The best thing to do is learn what each module does and what its tuning does.

As far as graphics, the main thing I did was make sure the best ingame VR preset was used. I also made sure Steam was set for 100% supersampling not 150% , and turned off Virtual Desktop Qualcomm oversampling and virtual desktop sharpening and am not going to use the OC TK sharpening. You do not want sharpening anywhere in the chain with ED Odyssey - it has horrendous asset jaggies in space and flatscreen land is horrificly jagged. The last thing you want to do is sharpen those jaggies, then stack it with a lower VR rez/sampling preset that will be inherently jaggies then even worse not realize you have a chain of sharpeners.

In VD I used godly 4090 setting for max resolution even though I have a 4070, and set it VD 120Hz as that gets me a 60Hz frame rate upconverted (VD has its own version of the similar Meta feature here) and do not need to worry about battery drain. Apparently the legacy ED was 1.5x-2x the frame rates but I want the planetside features of Odyssey. MetaLink if you use that also has a rez slider if you turn it off auto, you want it all the way to the right. You want sufficient oversampling the digital panel rez to overcome the digital warping correction for the optical warping, but not more than that done in external software.

You will probably get better fps than my rig, so you might want to try 90Hz and see if you can hit it without upconverting. I would be surprised with the new version if that happens as I have been deep reading and the VR performance seems universally bad.

 

[arjepsen]

What krazmuze said.
But you will need a powered USB cable to do any sort of headset charging while playing, not enough power will come from the just the motherboard.

Just wanted to reply to this, for anyone else reading this thread:
I actually did manage to charge my headset just fine from my motherboard - it's an asus rog strix gaming wifi ii z790-e.
It has a 20gb port that I use, and I found a 3 meter long thunderbolt cable that manages to work well, while charging the headset. So it can be done, but yes - the whole system only works as well as the weakest link.

 

[krazmuze]

Just wanted to reply to this, for anyone else reading this thread:
I actually did manage to charge my headset just fine from my motherboard - it's an asus rog strix gaming wifi ii z790-e.
It has a 20gb port that I use, and I found a 3 meter long thunderbolt cable that manages to work well, while charging the headset. So it can be done, but yes - the whole system only works as well as the weakest link.

I did not mean motherboards do not have power, what I mean is insufficient power to play a game and keep the headset at 100% (and the battery strap). The actual draw depends on your Meta model, frame rate, speaker volume, display brightness, and how much your PC streaming software bangs on the headsets gpu/cpu (rez/fps/codec used).

The Meta wallwart is 9v/2a=18w. USB standard data/power is 5v/.5a = 2.5W so that is trickle charging. Now there are usb extensions that allow simultaneous data and power for 3x (7.5W) - but motherboards rarely support that mode and even if it did is inferior to metas wallwart. Usually motherboards will just mark a port as power charger only (in my last motherboard I have to use their software utility to configure front ports as phone rechargers or data ports) then usb can do 25W or even 100W.

 

[arjepsen]

Sorry - the comment was in relation to DeckerSolo's post above, stating that the motherboard couldnt provide enough power.
(Please dont get me wrong - I'm looking through his posts, since there seem to be a lot of good pointers from him!)