Two of the biggest PCVR releases are about to get a ton of backlash here. After a long period of hype, Doom VFR has become the first game to explicitly lock out the Oculus Rift Headset (and, it seems the Windows Mixed Reality Headset... and like the OSVR headset too if anyone can verify).
Currently, if one tries to start the game without a Vive headset, it'll make it to the intro and logos then hard crash and never load the actual game. While, going forward, this might be revealed to be a bug, it's worth noting that Bethesda has indicated this is actually a true Vive exclusive.
This is bullshit for a few reasons:
1) The game uses SteamVR for the API. SteamVR was created by valve and is a cross platform API. It is, essentially, what OpenGL and DirectX are for video cards, only for VR. The entire reason SteamVR was created was to make the process of making VR games for multiple headsets invisible to the end user. From a dev's perspective, SteamVR has a few components, namely a class called "VR Headset" and "Motion Controls" that you use to interact with both the VR headset and motion controllers. When you write code for SteamVR, you never specify whether or not you're working with the rift or the vive or whatever, you work through those classes. Deep below, at the driver level, beyond the grasp of the programmer, SteamVR automatically translates those calls for you to "just work" with other headsets. This is literally the point of SteamVR. The only way to actually block a headset is for the game to specifically check the headset that is running the game and crash. Which is what Doom VFR does.
2) Oculus tried this same bullshit early on with the rift and was met with immediate and heavy criticism. The criticism was so strong that, within a few weeks, they had completely gone backwards on their intentions. Bethesda deserves exactly the same. VR is a nascent industry and does not need artificial lockout bullshit like this.
These are the biggest titles to hit PCVR thus far, and this type of behavior cannot be tolerated. Do not support this type of bullshit, and be loud and vocal in the backlash against it.
Currently, if one tries to start the game without a Vive headset, it'll make it to the intro and logos then hard crash and never load the actual game. While, going forward, this might be revealed to be a bug, it's worth noting that Bethesda has indicated this is actually a true Vive exclusive.
This is bullshit for a few reasons:
1) The game uses SteamVR for the API. SteamVR was created by valve and is a cross platform API. It is, essentially, what OpenGL and DirectX are for video cards, only for VR. The entire reason SteamVR was created was to make the process of making VR games for multiple headsets invisible to the end user. From a dev's perspective, SteamVR has a few components, namely a class called "VR Headset" and "Motion Controls" that you use to interact with both the VR headset and motion controllers. When you write code for SteamVR, you never specify whether or not you're working with the rift or the vive or whatever, you work through those classes. Deep below, at the driver level, beyond the grasp of the programmer, SteamVR automatically translates those calls for you to "just work" with other headsets. This is literally the point of SteamVR. The only way to actually block a headset is for the game to specifically check the headset that is running the game and crash. Which is what Doom VFR does.
2) Oculus tried this same bullshit early on with the rift and was met with immediate and heavy criticism. The criticism was so strong that, within a few weeks, they had completely gone backwards on their intentions. Bethesda deserves exactly the same. VR is a nascent industry and does not need artificial lockout bullshit like this.
These are the biggest titles to hit PCVR thus far, and this type of behavior cannot be tolerated. Do not support this type of bullshit, and be loud and vocal in the backlash against it.
