Hello pilots. When I setup my HP G2 for the first time, I assume it will want to install WMR/OpenXR by default. I realize the situation has been evolving, but with the latest edition of Steam, will I be running the G2 via SteamVR, or the Steam Beta with OpenXR, or a variation of this?
Upon install, will the G2 recognize I have the latest Steam (which supposedly supports OpenXR) and adjust install accordingly?
Sorry if I’m construing things. Any current guidance for Steam FS2020 via a G2 would be much appreciated.
Native Windows Mixed Reality OpenXR works better with MFS compared to SteamVR.
Download also OpenXR toolkit from Windows Store, it will let you manually set the resolution.
For more details of G2 setup search for the guide by CptLucky
I have a G2 and MSFS via steam.
I open OpenXR then turn on the headset.( I use a separate switch for the headset and turn it off at the power when not in use, I don’t unplug any of it.)
WMR loads automatically when I turn on the headset.
Once WMR says the headset is ready I double click on the MSFS icon on my desktop.
MSFS loads and I select a plane and takeoff location.
Once the flight loads I ctrl tab into VR.
This works well for me except that after some time 20min 45min ?? it usually ctds.
I have an AMD 6800 so i suspect its drivers are the cause of my problems.
I find the G2 great.
Thanks. I’ve quickly scanned CptLucky’s many related posts. I have some reading (and configuring) to do. It appears the jury’s still out on some of these questions.
Your step-by-step is very clear cut! One thing that struck me - it doesn’t appear you ever start Steam. Since downloading FS2020 last Fall, my sequence (non VR sessions) has been to login/load Steam first, check for FS updates and news on Steam, then launch FS from my Steam library. I’m wondering if launching Steam first has been unnecessary all this time? My system is currently offline so can’t test, but I always assumed Steam had to be running in the background as FS2020 was active.
You did not mention SteamVR at any stage. I have been reading that some favor SteamVR’s implementation of OpenXR. I don’t know enough to weigh in, and not exactly sure how a SteamVR (OXR) launch sequence would compare to your native XR sequence.
So for any resolution adjustments you make, all are within OpenXR and FS2020 - you are not making any performance tweaks in SteamVR?
Just for the avoidance of confusion you are using OpenXR regardless as it is the only runtime that MSFS supports.
The choice is using window’s OpenXR runtime or Steam’s OpenXR runtime (or of course oculus but not relevant to this discussion).
I’ve not tested recently but in the past I also found slightly worse performance on the G2 using steam as the default OpenXR runtime, but it does allow concurrent use of other steamVR executables such as fpsVR or OVR toolkit so is not without its advantages.
For all other VR games I start the game via the desktop and they will automatically open steam VR.
I preset the resolution in steam VR per game settings.
For MSFS I set the resolution in OpenXR between 100 and 200.
then adjust the rest of the settings in the game .
I do not use steam at all and it does not start at all.
When I have used MSFS with steamvr the result is nowhere near as good as it is with Openxr.
I far prefer the graphics with high Openxr settings . The picture seems much richer.
I fly in the bush in small planes and my cpu is very weak so I load up the gpu to get the most out of what I have. I’m sure that every system is different and every persons tastes are different.
It’s secondary to the VR discussion, but clearly I’ve been wasting processing resources, launching Steam when there was no need. Helpful on multiple fronts, and it appears there’s consensus on OpenXR runtime.
Hi
I have just tried a couple of different ways of loading the game.
I clicked on the desktop icon first , the game loaded in 2d as usual . I then turned on the headset and the game immediately crashed. Steam VR did not load at any stage. Steam itself loads on my computer as soon as I start it and runs in the background the whole time it is on but not steam vr.
I then left the headset on and clicked on the game on the desktop again. It loaded as usual. I ctrl tab’ed into vr and the game ran fine as usual.
Open XR ran as a background process in Task Manager without my loading it the way I normally do .
Steam VR did not load at all.
If I open steam VR first and then the game it does not run as well as it normally does.
I have no idea whether it is using steam and that is not as good as open xr or just that having steam vr open as well slows the pc down.
I have an i5 4690k so someone with a better cpu may not see the same change of quality that I do.
On my system in my testing I have not proven it to be any worse and know that SteamVR has much better VR tools that I have been using with my previous headsets before getting the G2.
As a VR flight sim streamer I know what I need in a VR cockpit to make my life as easy as possible and SteamVR allows those tools to be available.
Other users may have a different experience but I have testing this from the start of MSFS public VR support with my G2.