Where to buy when planning to use VR (Rift S) in future?

[SargonX]

Hi Forum!

I've played ED on PS4 so far and I'm now making the switch to the PC version because of VR. I've pre-ordered the Oculus Rift S, but since that will still take some weeks, I'd like to start playing ED in non-VR until the Rift S arrives. Problem is... I have no clue whether I should buy it via the Frontier store, the Steam store or yet another store I'm not aware of so far...

I assume that I will have to "transfer" ED somehow to either Steam VR or Oculus Home by generating "partner keys" from the Frontier account page.

I further assume that I will have less problems running ED (VR) via Oculus Home compared to Steam VR. Mainly because Oculus Home is made for.. welp.. Oculus specifically. And Rift S will be completely new. But I realize I'm just guessing here...

OTOH, I stumbled over this knowledge page: https://support.frontier.co.uk/kb/faq.php?id=311

Does that mean I won't be able to "transfer" it to Oculus Home anymore? Heck, it seems that this store stuff is more complicated than the rest of ED.

Thanks!

Sargon

 

[Maolagin]

My read of the page you linked is that you only need the Steam key to be able to launch ED from the Oculus Home launcher. You can use ED through Steam VR without needing a Steam key. That said, hopefully someone who has actually set that up can comment.

 

[SargonX]

Hm.. I'm understanding this article completely different...

• They are saying it will no longer be possible to get a partner key for launching it via Oculus Home. For me that means I will have to buy ED from the Oculus store, if I want to run it via Oculus Home.
• You can still get a partner key for Steam and run ED (VR) via Steam VR.

So I seem to have two options:

• I buy ED twice: once (from Frontier or Steam) to run it w/o VR. And the 2nd time from the Oculus Store to run it via Oculus Home.
• Or I only buy it once (either from Frontier or Steam) and can now run it w/o VR and later via Steam VR in VR (but not via Oculus Home).

But then, I'm completely new to PC gaming. So maybe I understand these store thingies completely wrong...

 

[CMDR MAIN SEQUENCE]

You only need to buy the game once. I would recommend avoiding Steam entirely because a) well, what's the point? you are just adding an extra layer of complexity b) as per the FAQ you are tied to Steam VR not Oculus Home and c) Valve take a cut, believed to be 30%, so less revenue for FD.

1. buy from Frontier store
2. download launcher and then game to play in 2D
3. claim free Oculus partner key from your account on the Frontier store
4. add your key to your Oculus account
5. download game in Oculus Home. Yes this means you will have two separate installs but they will share options, bindings etc. as they are tied to your Windows user account. Note that steps 3 to 5 are optional for playing in the Rift, but it does allow some extra functionality in the Oculus ecosystem (e.g. Dash).

 

[SargonX]

That sounds perfect. I was not aware I could also get a partner key for my Oculus account from the Frontier store. Thanks!

 

[Salidaan]

I can't confirm this with double installation. I bought Elite /Horizon and all the other packages at STEAM. STEAM shows all the KEY's from different packages in a submenu. Oculus itself was searching for possible installed games - and you can also specify the path of an installed game to get it startet in Oculus-Bibliothek. I only made 1 (one) installation and it works. The only difficult thing I was confronted with was, that I had to copy all my key's from buyed packages in STEAM into my FRONTIER-Account once. This is not really discribed well. All painting-packages and others you have to copy the key's from STAEM-submenu into your FRONTIER-Account and then everything works fine.
If you start Elite first time with VR and make your first trips in supercruise and galaxy-jump, you get your brain paralysed …
I was sitting fascinated and I never would go back without VR. Importand is a very good H.O.T.A.S to get your bird fly blindly. The only problem seems to be the Galaxy-Cart and using it - in opposite of non-VR. I need my H.O.T.A.S and the mouse both to get it work. I'm not satisfied with it - but I'm also not really well trained and I'm learning every day new stuff and tricks to become a better Commander.
But back to your question: I'm convinced that you can also buy at Oculus-store or Frontier and start the game from all plattforms. You do not need to install it more than 1 time. It make sense to buy all packages at one store, but you can also sort out special offers in all different stores to make it cheap as possible.

Regards: Salidaan

 

[vegman]

I just have the one installation . I bought elite/horizons from frontier and can launch through the launcher for either 2d or vr. In oculus home settings you check the box to allow apps from other sources and when oculus is running it will launch in vr when launched from the launcher . if oculus is off get message vr headset not available and will launch in 2d. you will also see elite in oculus home and can also launch from there works fine with my rift. I don't have steam vr installed​

 

[TorTorden_VR]

You can use the steam version to play on Oculus.

You can use the regular frontier version to play on either.

In fact I'm certain you can use the Oculus bought version to play regular flat and on steamvr.
But you have slightly less control on where Oculus stores It, and you would have manually find the executable.

The thing is.
All these version uses the frontier launcher.

 

[jhaimes22]

I bought the game from Oculus home but I cannot get it to work properly. It wants me to use the keyboard and mouse and such. I sit in the cockpit, and can look around but it will not do anything with my oculus controls except go to main menu...what am I doing wrong.

 

[Salidaan]

You really try to play Elite with Oculus controls? I've never heard, that this will function. As I wrote some blogs above ..... you can use a good H.O.T.A.S - system. I have - for example - SAITEK X52 Pro - which is actually sold by LOGITECH. If you want to fly something by Oculus controls, there is for example XPlane11 VR. But most of the pilots use the mouse in XPlane ..... but thats completely another game / simulation .... this is like comparing apples and pears .....
My / this H.O.T.A.S. - system is optimised to use it over the complete Elite-content including submenues up & down. All buttons/functions are preset. You can optimize it to your own usage.

Regards: Salidaan

 

[TorTorden_VR]

At most has support for the touch controllers in an xbx 360 controller compatibility mode.

So just buttons and stick.

So no motion interface, no pointing or anything.

 

[Nova McCool]

Be careful with Steam. After playing for a few years after buying the game from Frontier (kickstarter) on VR without problem (works as long as Oculus is open in background) I decided to get another account for the extra pip (and girlfriend said she would play lol) so I bought another copy from Steam. Now I cant launch the game without first starting Steam, turning on the steam VR than opening the Oculus program than ocasionaly launching the game from the Oculus page even though I only have the Steam keys.

If I do not follow these steps the game will either tell me I cant have the game open twice or it will run without sound.

 

[Zed]

I have 3 accounts all bought direct from Frontier.
All work with my Oculus Rift after enabling apps from other sources.
I have steam and steam VR does kick in when I start the game in 2D or VR modes. No idea why but it doesn't cause any issues so I don't care.
If you have multiple installs and close the launcher after starting the game you can then start another launcher and then another copy of the game with another account etc. I've had 3 copies running at once in VR doing this and alt-tab between them works. I wouldn't describe it as practical though.

 

[Time Lord]

I just recently bought the rift s.. Got the partner key from the store. The rift s works ok. I have the Hotas TM 1600 and throttle. I also got the voice attack pack but a bit confused still on getting that to work. My problem is the game only starts in in a small screen called client on my monitor. Even with the headset disconnected. cannot play in 2D. tried turning off 3D in options but no difference. what am I doing wrong.