Meta’s VR headset now has a new mainstay for anyone who wants to (re)discover their game library in virtual reality.
While the Meta Quest is a commercial hit, since it’s a proprietary headset, certain limitations can be bothersome. In this case, relative compatibility with Steam (the most popular PC gaming store) can be seen as a hindrance. Luckily, Steam Link is now compatible with Meta’s virtual reality headsets, including the recently released Meta Quest 3.
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What is Steam Link?
If the name of the application is not unfamiliar to you, that is only natural. Steam Link has been around for years and allows you to stream a game played on your PC to another device. For example: a smartphone, a tablet or a television. A solution that therefore seems ideal for streaming VR Steam games on your Meta Quest. And that’s a good thing, because the Steam Link application is currently available in the official store.
After installation, the application works very easily. You must ensure that you have the latest version of Steam and Steam VR on your computer and follow the pairing process between the computer and the headset via the Steam Link application. Once connected, the headset simply displays the Steam interface, which can be navigated just like on a computer.
Steam Link therefore opens up access to VR games from Steam (like the essential Half-Life Alyx), but also allows you to play any game from your game library in your VR headset (but in 2D, of course).
A good connection is essential
The more technically savvy viewers will recognize that this is nothing new. In fact, Meta has been running Air Link, an application that allows you to use your computer (and therefore Steam) wirelessly in your VR headset, for several years. As we said in the introduction, this is more of a new addition to the Meta Quest arc than a real novelty. In addition, tests will show whether one of the two protocols performs better than the other in games.
However, to reap the benefits in good conditions, it is better to ensure that you have both a powerful computer (an RTX 2070 and 16GB of RAM are recommended) and a solid internet connection. A fiber connection is mandatory and WiFi 6 or even 6th is recommended to get the most out of the experience. A poor connection may result in reduced graphics, glitches or latency. A devastating cocktail to break the immersion that virtual reality promises.