Virtual Desktop Adds Support for Quest Pro's Tongue Tracking and Bypasses SteamVR
Virtual Desktop has released an update that includes support for Quest Pro's tongue tracking capability. The update also allows users to bypass SteamVR for improved performance.
Virtual Desktop Adds Tongue Tracking Support
Virtual Desktop now supports Quest Pro's recently added tongue tracking capability. While Quest Pro has supported eye tracking and face tracking since launch, tongue tracking was only added in December. Steam Link quickly added support for this feature, and now Virtual Desktop has followed suit just over a month later.
This new update allows Virtual Desktop users to benefit from their Quest Pro's full range of tracking capabilities. The option to forward any hand tracking, eye tracking, face tracking, and body tracking from the headset to the PC via OpenXR is now available when using the VDXR runtime instead of SteamVR. Previously, Virtual Desktop only forwarded face and eye tracking to VRChat specifically.
Additionally, Meta's built-in Quest Link feature has also gained the ability to forward all tracking data to PC development tools in its v62 update. Previously, this feature was limited to forwarding tracking data to tools like the Unity editor.
Virtual Desktop Boosts Performance by Bypassing SteamVR
Virtual Desktop's latest update includes an optional OpenXR runtime that bypasses SteamVR, resulting in improved performance. This is particularly beneficial for PC VR game developers who wish to incorporate eye tracking and other capabilities, such as foveated rendering, into their games.
The update also introduces 500 Mbps H.264+ bitrate support on Quest 3, further enhancing the visual experience for Virtual Desktop users.
By bypassing SteamVR, Virtual Desktop expands its potential customer base to include any Quest Pro owning PC gamer who uses Quest Link or Virtual Desktop. While the Quest Pro only constitutes 0.52% of SteamVR usage, the only other headset on the Steam Hardware Survey with built-in eye tracking, the Varjo Aero, holds a mere 0.11% share. Therefore, the PC VR eye tracking market is now more than 5 times larger than it was last week.
Continued Updates and Improvements for Virtual Desktop
Despite competition from Steam Link and recent improvements to Quest Link, Virtual Desktop remains the preferred option for many Quest-owning PC VR gamers. Developer Guy Godin consistently updates the $20 alternative with new features and improvements, making it the go-to choice for users.
Aside from the addition of tongue tracking and the bypassing of SteamVR, the update also addresses compatibility bugs with UEVR and Assetto Corsa Competizone. Furthermore, the app's loading screen now features a passthrough background, enhancing the overall user experience.
Virtual Desktop's commitment to continuous updates ensures that Quest Pro owners have an exceptional VR gaming experience and access to cutting-edge features in the constantly evolving virtual reality landscape.
