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[IbizaPocholo]

Daily reminder that Valve's next VR headset will be running a Linux ARM version of SteamOS tailored for XR

It will include its own standalone Linux ARM Steam client

And will launch with "Steam Play 3.0" which will be able to play Android ARM, Windows ARM, and Windows x86 games

He also said some more stuff about the Steam Controller whose icon recently got leaked in a Steam update:

Steam Controller 2 will have an extra wacky functionality in its controller handles

It will remind some people of Valve Knuckles.. but will not go as extreme as that

When further questioned about that he answered this:

by the sound of that, I'm assing the grip buttons will be pressure sensitive?

Bradley: You're close. Something along those lines.

It can sense how you holding the controller and behave differently?

Bradley: Yes.

Note that the Steam Controller 2 is expected to also pair up with the Steam Frame since it's a VR headset designed to also play traditional flatscreen pancake games.

Also, for those that don't know, SteamPlay is essentially what Valve files Proton (the windows to linux translation layer) under.

Steam Controller 2 may be coming soon as dataminers discover new “Triton” codename in Steam update

New Steam Controller 2 leaks show the upcoming Triton controller added to SteamOS' backend as development continues.

frvr.com

In the files for the latest Steam update, dataminers discovered new icons for an alleged Steam Controller 2. The new controller shows two touch pads beneath a single analogue stick and a D-Pad. However, this is "a minimalist icon not meant to convey every freaking input/button on the controller", explained popular Valve leaker SadlyItsBradley.

In reality, the controller is closer to the current Steam Deck setip with a D-Pad on the far-left side and the usual A,B,X,Y face buttons on the right. In the centre, two analogue sticks are present for dual-stick movement and aiming with two touchpads underneath for the same additional options found in the Steam Deck.

While not confirmed, the controller is also expected to keep the same feature set of the current Steam Deck. This would mean that the Steam Controller 2—or whatever Valve ends up calling it—will also have access to gyro controls as well as rear additional buttons for even more inputs.

 

[Magic Carpet]

I hope this thing will have wireless to my PC with little effort.
Not looking forward to more puny cellphone powered VR worlds.
Mobile VR has been a no texture blocky affair. Doable but I've been there done that.
Time to reboot into a more texture rich less cartoony VR world.

 

[Tobimacoss]

$1200 headset incoming.

 

[Perrott]

$1200 headset incoming.

The next Xbox has made this upcoming Valve headset look like a steal at that price point.

 

[Burger King]

Microsoft is doomed

The light of Linux's dawn is ever brighter

 

[EverydayBeast]

Valve is trying to make hardware matter for them, looking back they're the hardware underdog, nobody respects valve hardware YET, I think the steam deck is thriving.

 

[Moses85]

 

[AJUMP23]

I would like to get into VR, I just want to play Half Life ALYX. But I need more.

 

[Wonko_C]

I would like to get into VR, I just want to play Half Life ALYX. But I need more.

There is plenty if you know where to look. I already have a 50+ VR game backlog, and that's without counting neat stuff like VR mods, emulators, etc.

 

[lastmessiah]

Windows ARM games? What?

 

[Tobimacoss]

Windows ARM games? What?

I believe FortNite and WOW have native Windows on ARM builds. Might be few others too.

Windows on Snapdragon support is coming to Epic Online Services Anti-Cheat and Fortnite

To help devs bring more games to more devices, we’re working with Qualcomm to add Windows on Snapdragon support to Epic Online Services Anti-Cheat.

onlineservices.epicgames.com

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

I would like to get into VR, I just want to play Half Life ALYX. But I need more.

Never gets old. Who knew they quit making VR games after 1. Especially FPS campaign games. There's none of those . . .

 

[StereoVsn]

So would it stream games from PC or does it have native translation layer for x86 games?

 

[Dacvak]

I would like to get into VR, I just want to play Half Life ALYX. But I need more.

There is plenty if you know where to look. I already have a 50+ VR game backlog, and that's without counting neat stuff like VR mods, emulators, etc.

I disagree. I've been a huge advocate for VR since I backed the original Oculus on kickstarter, and I think a vast majority of VR games are one-offs or just garbage.

Nothing comes even close to HL Alyx. Not even remotely close. It's like being shown everything that VR can be, and then having literally no other games follow that example.

At this point, I tell most people to just borrow a friend's VR setup and just play through Alyx.

 

[Tobimacoss]

I disagree. I've been a huge advocate for VR since I backed the original Oculus on kickstarter, and I think a vast majority of VR games are one-offs or just garbage.

Nothing comes even close to HL Alyx. Not even remotely close. It's like being shown everything that VR can be, and then having literally no other games follow that example.

At this point, I tell most people to just borrow a friend's VR setup and just play through Alyx.

Meta Quest has some good exclusives. Batman: Arkham Shadow

 

[Dacvak]

Meta Quest has some good exclusives. Batman: Arkham Shadow

I honestly wasn't a fan. It felt more like a console game trying to masquerade as a VR game to me. But I do realize a lot of people liked it.

 

[Dacvak]

Ya know I will say Superhot VR is an incredible VR game. I always wished someone would take that concept and turn it into a full narrative experience, instead of just having snapshots of levels.

 

[Magic Carpet]

I'll probably keep my Quest 3. I've got too many games on it. Many I've one and done.
But a couple get used over and over. Beat Saber and Walkabout Minigolf. They keep releasing new courses all the time.
Any new VR is bought on Steam, poor Meta, they did so much and I just tossed them over my shoulder like a dropped french fry.

 

[Prekk]

I hope this thing will have wireless to my PC with little effort.

I hope it connects via displayport as well though.

 

[FoxMcChief]

A new Steam Controller!?

I absolutely fucking loved the first one.

 

[Hudo]

So would it stream games from PC or does it have native translation layer for x86 games?

It's probably a translation layer similar to what Apple did (Rosetta 2) when they transitioned from Intel to their own chips (which are ARM-based). But that was using both software AND hardware (they had some stuff on their M-chips for this) and did shit like ahead-of-time compilation of x86_64 assembly to ARM and stuff. But still, that was intended as a workaround until devs provided native M-compiled binaries for their apps. My guess would be that Valve might have a bespoke fork of QEMU, using KVM, throwing all the things away they don't need and add stuff they do need for games (or to make the translation faster). That's at least how I would tackle that problem. Ideally, you'd obviously want devs to ship ARM binaries, though.

 

[StereoVsn]

It's probably a translation layer similar to what Apple did (Rosetta 2) when they transitioned from Intel to their own chips (which are ARM-based). But that was using both software AND hardware (they had some stuff on their M-chips for this) and did shit like ahead-of-time compilation of x86_64 assembly to ARM and stuff. But still, that was intended as a workaround until devs provided native M-compiled binaries for their apps. My guess would be that Valve might have a bespoke fork of QEMU, using KVM, throwing all the things away they don't need and add stuff they do need for games (or to make the translation faster). That's at least how I would tackle that problem. Ideally, you'd obviously want devs to ship ARM binaries, though.

I do think that there must be a way to stream x86 from a regular PC. Otherwise things a non starter.

 

[Trogdor1123]

What does this mean for Apple hardware? They are all arm now right?

 

[Mownoc]

Android apps like gamehub and winlator have been getting steam games working recently...

Perhaps official support from steam could come with something like this.

 

[Crayon]

Oh fuck it's on like Donkey Kong.

Think about it- what even is steam if this happens? And what does "pc gaming" even mean?

I've been warning for years that this is coming and it will be seriously disruptive. In a good way.

 

[Hudo]

I do think that there must be a way to stream x86 from a regular PC. Otherwise things a non starter.

Oh yeah. I mean, if you just plug the headset into your PC, it's essentially just running using your PC hardware, like all the previous headsets. So the ARM chip inside won't run the games, they would run on your PC.