Oculus Quest 2 Replace Affords 120 Hz Help, Wi-fi PC streaming
The v28 software update for Oculus Quest headsets. Oculus Air Link is a wireless way to play PC VR games on Quest 2, while new Infinite Office features make working in VR even easier. We’re also announcing native 120Hz support for Quest 2 to ensure the most fluid gaming experience.
Since launching in 2019 and ending beta last year, Oculus Link has been a widely used feature on the Quest platform. Using a gaming PC and a compatible USB-C cable, Link has given users access to Rift’s impressive library of content, including games like Asgards Wrath, Lone Echo, Stormland, and more. However, being tied to your PC can break your immersion and limit your mobility. We know gamers want to use Link wirelessly to enjoy the full freedom of movement of Quest 2 while playing the high-end titles that can only be run on a gaming PC. That’s why we’ve been working on a new streaming technology called Oculus Air Link – a completely wireless way to play PC VR content on Quest 2 over WiFi, based on the successful Oculus Link streaming pipeline.
Air connection
Air Link ships in experimental mode on Quest 2. We appreciate community feedback while Air Link is in early development.
Air Link offers more ways to access PC VR games on Quest 2. Oculus Link cables continue to provide a robust and consistent experience, while users with a strong WiFi setup can choose to stream wirelessly over Air Link. If you want to charge your headset during your VR exploits, want the highest possible fidelity, or if your available WiFi network is overloaded or unsecured, connecting using a USB-C cable is the way to go. If you have a strong and secure WiFi network and your play area is ideally within about 20 feet of your WiFi router, Air Link is a great option.
While Air Link is an experimental feature, not every network and PC setup is ideal. We recommend following the guidelines we provide to ensure the best experience possible. These include: Only use Air Link on a secure WiFi network that you trust. Use a 5 GHz network on an AC or AX router connected to your PC with an Ethernet cable. and make sure your PC meets the Oculus Link requirements.
To get started with Air Link after the launch: First, download and install the Oculus PC app if you haven’t already. You need the PC software v28, which will be available shortly. Then navigate to Settings → Beta in the PC app and activate the Air Link switch. Then put on your Quest 2 headset, navigate to Settings → Experimental, and enable Air Link. To deactivate Air Link and use Link again with a USB-C cable, you must deactivate Air Link in the experiment field.
We will work to improve Air Link over time, including performance, visual quality, and the ability to run in less than ideal wireless scenarios. We look forward to community feedback while Air Link is in experimental mode.
Infinite office
On Facebook Connect, we announced Infinite Office – a collection of new features built into Oculus Home to make working in VR feel more productive and flexible. In January, we introduced the ability to find and use your Bluetooth-enabled mouse or trackpad in VR. Today we’re announcing two more great new features in the Infinite Office suite: physical interface integration and the ability to track your physical keyboard.
Bring your desk into VR
The ability to interact with parts of the real world can help you feel safe, immersed, and more comfortable in VR. Starting as an experimental feature on the Quest platform allows you to place a virtual desk on top of your real-world furniture so that you can see and use it in your home environment. This feature allows you to use your desk as a separate seating area to access work devices such as the browser. In addition to being integrated into your real environment, your virtual desk boundary is automatically saved and recognized so that you can simply pick up things where you left off.
Pair your physical keyboard with your Quest 2 for better typing
At Facebook Connect, we announced a partnership with Logitech to bring a physical keyboard into VR, starting with the Logitech K830. In no time, Bluetooth-enabled keyboard tracking will let you type VR just as effectively as it does in the real world. This experimental feature allows you to sit at your desk in the comfort of your home, pair your Logitech K830 keyboard with your Quest 2, and view a 3D rendering of your hands and keyboard in VR for easy text entry and system navigation in your home environment. For the best in VR experience, we recommend placing the keyboard on a flat and bright surface in a well-lit area. We’ll be adding support for additional keyboards in the future.
You can activate your virtual desk and pair your keyboard using Bluetooth pairing from the Experimental Features window in your settings. Tracking must be enabled in order to use your keyboard in VR. To do this, you can put on your headset, navigate to Settings → Device and activate the tracking switch.
120 Hz support
With its increased graphics processing power and the new display, Quest 2 supports high frame rates that offer an extremely smooth gaming experience. Quest 2 currently runs at 90 Hz by default in system software such as Home, Explore, Store, Oculus Browser, and Oculus TV. Last year we also rolled out full platform 90 Hz support, so developers can ship titles with native 90 Hz support for Quest 2. Many apps, including Echo VR, Rote Matter, Vacation Simulator, Racket: Nx, Eleven Table Tennis and Down the Rabbit Hole have already delivered 90 Hz updates.
Now we’re giving players and developers even more choices to take smooth gameplay to the next level, with the option to enable a refresh rate for the display of 120Hz in Quest 2. Developers can soon start shipping apps in the Oculus Store that run at 120 Hz natively, while Quest 2 users can activate the 120 Hz option via a switch in the experiment panel to experience these apps at higher frame rates. While there aren’t any apps that support 120Hz yet, people who enable this setting will see 120Hz performance in apps that support them in the future. In the meantime, Quest 2 system software will remain at 90 Hz. Oculus Link support for 120 Hz will be available in a future release.
Our goal is to continue to unlock new features of the Quest 2 hardware. We expect the 120 Hz and 90 Hz support to be the most useful for games that are based on fast-moving, fast-twitching motions, while for many other apps, the 72 Hz mode remains a great option for smooth and comfortable play is.
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