Why Linux gamers shouldn’t preorder the Oculus Rift - dawsonpand1997

News of Oculus Rift preorders is bittersweet at best for Linux users. The first consumer version of the Rift will be Windows-only, with Linux support a vague promise for the future. But it wasn't always this way.

In the first place, Linux support was something Oculus was actively developing. The original Oculus SDK free in mid-2022 (Version 0.2.3) added support for Linux. Chromatic Hat's Richard Jones blogged about his experience with it in Grand of that year: "Surprisingly, using Linux is not a trouble at every," he wrote, determination it offered a basically plug-and-play experience on Linux. "How the international has stirred on," he wrote.

Then Eye denaturized its mind. In a May 2022 web log billet titled "Powering the Rift," Oculus came just out and said it was prioritizing Windows support over all else. "Our development for Operating system X and Linux has been paused in order to focus on delivering a high-character consumer-level VR experience at launch across hardware, software package, and self-complacent happening Windows."

Oculus didn't cancel Linux support altogether, merely it made no firm promises. "We want to set about back to development for OS X and Linux," the blog post same, "but we don't have a timeline." In Dec 2022, Optic CEO Palmer Luckey reiterated Linux suffer, but with no more certainty than "Linux support is on the roadmap post-launch."

Oculus Rift may be the most thirstily awaited of the VR headsets, merely information technology's non for Linux gamers, non eventually. Straight if the Rift cost less than the hefty $599 peorder price, it's generally a bad idea to buy a product supported a vague promise of what it will coif in the future, preferably than what it actually does today.

In Oculus's defense, there's a good reason to revolve about the single operating arrangement most PC gamers purpose. The shortage of Linux graphics drivers is another problem, of course, arsenic inchoate Steam simple machine users are already experiencing. AMD's new driver architecture and Vulkan English hawthorn help Linux become more competitive in the future.

There's still desire

Luckily, Oculus Rift has competition that could offer options for Linux gamers. Valve has announced its intention to support Linux too as Windows with its Steam VR—not surprisingly, granted that SteamOS (which ships on Valve's Steam machines)—is just another Linux dispersion.

It's also in all probability the HTC Vive wish beat Oculus to Linux accompaniment. If you'atomic number 75 a Linux gamer, that may be the headset to bet on. We should know more than by the time preorders for the Vive Menachem Begin at the ending of February.