Half-Life: Alyx hands-on reveals new details, Oculus Link compatibility

Source: Valve

What you need to know

• The Valve Index is the best manner to experience Half-Life: Alyx, simply other headsets piece of work but fine.
• The Oculus Link can be used to play Half-Life: Alyx with the Oculus Quest, so yous don't demand a separate HMD just for this game.
• New motility, aiming, and reloading mechanics showcase a more natural input style rather than being "videogamey".

Looking frontward to Half-Life: Alyx but not sure if your current VR headset of choice will piece of work out? While Valve plain designed the game with its own Index VR HMD in mind, they've been mindful to create an experience that works well on the gamut of headsets on the market, even including the Oculus Quest. While it'southward not a standalone Oculus Quest game, yous'll be able to utilize Oculus Link by connecting your Quest to a PC either with the official cablevision or another compatible 1.

Equally expected, Tested's hands-on of the game reveals that the game is experienced best with the Valve Alphabetize headset, as the display is the overall best amongst VR HMDs, the headset itself is the most comfortable for long periods of time, and the controllers and tracking are the most avant-garde on the market. Second best are one of Oculus'due south headsets which, surprisingly, includes both the Rift S and the Oculus Quest.

While the Rift S will provide a superior visual experience thank you to the RGB stripe brandish and dedicated DisplayPort cable, the Oculus Quest experience was "shockingly good" by the description in Tested's video. They noticed some obvious compression in the darker parts of the image or in smoke effects but, depending on how sensitive you are to lilliputian details like this, you lot may not even notice it.

The pentile display will also make text a bit harder to read, which was also a problem on the original Oculus Rift (CV1) and the HTC Vive, only doesn't interruption the game. While resolution or display clarity doesn't typically play a pivotal role in the game, the worry here was that information technology would negatively impact aiming in Half-Life: Alyx since there'southward no machine-aim in the game. In fact, unlike about games, Half-Life: Alyx encourages players to utilize the ironsights on the guns themselves.

Half-Life: Alyx: Everything you need to know

Despite this gameplay revelation, the clarity of each headset didn't seem to cause any issues with aiming, even with distant enemies. That's great news for players using an Oculus Quest via Oculus Link, or an older VR HMD. Another concern revolved around the type of tracking each of these headsets implements. The HTC Vive and Valve Index apply SteamVR's ultra-precise lighthouse tracking system, while most other headsets utilize inside-out tracking with cameras on the headset itself.

This is important because quite a few regularly used mechanics in Half-Life: Alyx rely on tracking working behind the histrion's caput or back, and with controllers touching each other. Reloading is washed by ejecting the clip from the gun, reaching behind the shoulder for a full clip and inserting it into the gun, and and so cocking the gun. Despite needing all this complicated tracking, none of the headsets in question seemed to accept problems.

Source: Valve

Virtually surprisingly, Windows Mixed Reality headsets (in this video a Samsung Odyssey) as well work extremely well and don't exhibit the usual issues with controller tracking while cocking the gun or holding it with 2 easily. Typically, on these systems, tracking isn't granular enough to use controllers confronting eachother without them visually glitching in the game. The Vive controllers were the virtually limited of the bunch because of their lack of inputs and less-friendly blueprint for in-game hand presence.

While the trailers and then far accept revealed quite a flake of the gameplay, some specific mechanics haven't been talked well-nigh much until now. Tested confirms the power of both teleporting and polish locomotion, with the option of using the right controller'south touchpad or joystick for quick-turning. As showcased in the initial trailer, lots of objects are able to exist interacted with and tin can be used as objects to throw and distract enemies.

Nigh ladders evidently use teleportation to go up or down rather than have players climb them, likely attributable to making this game attainable to more than people. Along the lines of accessibility is the ability to play the game standing or seated. This seated position worked surprisingly well according to Tested and is a perfectly feasible manner to experience Half-Life: Alyx for players who don't want or cannot correspond lengthy periods of time. Cheque out Tested'south video to see everything in action.

Affordable VR accessories you'll utilise every time

Analeptic rechargeable batteries ($xiv at Amazon)

Touch on and WMR controllers require AA batteries to operate and speaking from experience, you're going to desire to invest early in some rechargeable batteries to save money in the long run. This pack includes a wall charger that can handle iv AAs at once, and so you lot shouldn't take whatever downtime while waiting for a charge.

SecurOMax microfiber cloths ($vii at Amazon)

There's nix worse than foggy or dirty VR lenses. They obstruct your ability to focus on the action in the headset properly, and bluntly, they're simply gross. These cloths from SecurOMax won't scratch your headset's lenses, and yous'll be glad yous have them on mitt after a couple of sessions.

Hyperkin FreeStep ($22 at Amazon)

If you're tired of tripping over the cablevision running from your VR headset to your PC, you lot tin can get it up off the footing with this suspension system. Information technology has 6 retractable carabiners that stick to a ceiling and provide the right corporeality of slack to keep the cable at an platonic length.

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UH OH

An cyberspace connexion will soon exist required when setting up Windows 11 Pro

Microsoft has announced that later this year, users will exist required to connect to the internet and sign-in with a Microsoft Account during the out of box setup experience on Windows 11 Pro. Microsoft has already been enforcing this requirement on Windows 11 Habitation since launch terminal October, and Windows xi Pro is now expected to follow accommodate shortly.

Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/half-life-alyx-hands-reveals-new-details-oculus-link-compatibility

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