OpenXR Registry settings for switching between Oculus Quest 2 and HP Reverb G2

[SkyKlop]

I just purchased a HP Reverb G2 arriving next week to use with MSFS 2020 installed in a Steam account. I’ve been using the Oculus Quest 2 for almost 2 years. I have OpenXR for Windows Mixed Reality v112.220930002.0, OpenXR Toolkit v1.2.0 and Mixed Reality Portal installed. I am very confused on how to setup the HP Reverb G2 and how to switch between the Oculus Quest 2 and HP Reverb G2. Part of my confusion is how to configure the OpenXR registry settings. According to a FlightSimulator Zendesk post, How to install OpenXR – Microsoft Flight Simulator Support (zendesk.com) the OpenXR registry should be configured as follows for Oculus headsets: Under Registry setting “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Khronos\OpenXR\1” , For “ActiveRuntime” change its value to the one that matches your platform (NOTE: default path is C:\Program Files\Oculus\Support\oculus-runtime\oculus_openxr_64.json). Pie In the Sky YouTube videos MSFS | QUEST 2 OPENXR RUNTIME/REGISTRY KEY TUTORIAL and MSFS | REVERB G2 OPENXR RUNTIME/REGISTRY KEY TUTORIAL suggest “ActiveRuntime” be set to C:\Windows\system32\MixedRealityRuntime.json. I’ve had it set the Zendesk recommendation.

Questions:

1. What is the difference between oculus_openxr_64.json and MixedRealityRuntime.json? Should I have been using MixedRealityRuntime.json with my Oculus Quest 2?

2. Should I change my OpenXR “ActiveRuntime” to C:\Windows\system32\MixedRealityRuntime.json when I get the HP Reverb G2?

3. For the HP Reverb G2 setup, I’ve seen YouTube videos that say I need to download and install “Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR” from the Steam store? Should I do this or will that force SteamVR instead of OpenXR VR?

4. I have other Steam VR programs (Project Cars for example). When I select “Play” in Steam, I get 3 options. Play Project CARS, Launch Project CARS-HTC Vive in Steam VR Mode, Launch Project CARS-Oculus Rife in Oculus VR Mode. I don’t have an HTC Vive only VR headset I have is Oculus. These 3 options don’t show up when launching MSFS 2020 in Steam. Will this change when I plug in my HP Reverb G2?

Here is my current OpenXR registry stettings.

[mbucchia]

Hi, you no longer need to use the registry to do this stuff. Both the WMR and Oculus software have convenient ways to switch.

WMR

1st method: start Mixed Reality Portal and use the banner to Fix it:

2nd method: use the optional OpenXR Tools for Windows Mixed Reality from the MS Store:

Oculus

1st method: if your headset is connected, start the Oculus software and you can use the banner to set as default:

2nd method: go through the settings:

[SkyKlop]

@jgklopfe

oculus-runtime\oculus_openxr_64.json)

Wow! Makes a lot of sense now. Thanks! I’ll give it tray when I get the HP Reverb G2.
Thanks again!

[SkyKlop]

Does anyone know what the Steam Store Program “Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR” Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR on Steam actually does and if it is absolutely needed for using the HP Reverb G2? Does it force SteamVR instead of OpenXR runtime? I’ve seen YouTube videos stating it is better to use OpenXR over SteamVR runtime? I purchased MSFS 2020 on Steam, so how do I make sure I’m using OpenXR vs SteamVR runtime?

[mbucchia]

That Windows Mixed Reality for SteamVR is needed to run OpenVR apps, not OpenXR. You won’t need it for Flight Sim, but you will need it for Half-Life Alyx for example.

If you follow my instructions above w.r.t WMR (the “Fix it” stuff) you will be using the native OpenXR runtime, not the SteamVR one.

[SkyKlop]

Got it, thanks! I read your excellent FAQ post on OpenXR but wasn’t quite sure. This helps a lot. Keep up the great work on OpenXR.