How To Play Steam Games on Your Oculus Quest 2
VR games are getting increasingly popular among gamers, especially with the dramatic technological advancements in the past few years, which made the VR experience more fun than ever. One device that helps gamers get the most out of their VR experience is the Oculus Quest 2.
And for those with a bunch of cool VR games on Steam, the Oculus Quest 2 can be connected to Steam for double the fun. So, if you want to know how to play Steam games on your Quest 2, keep reading!
How To Play Steam Games on Your Oculus Quest 2
Wired and wireless are two methods for setting up your Oculus Quest 2 to play a VR Steam game.
The Wired Way To Set Up The Oculus Quest 2
You need to do several things if you want to play Steam games on your Oculus Quest the traditional way, which is the wired way.
Prepare Your PC to Run VR Games
A lot of graphical and processing power is needed if you want to enjoy your VR games. But not all games require the same amount of power. You can need less or more power to run a certain VR game. So, it depends on the type of game you’re running.
It is possible to enjoy PC games on the Quest 2 thanks to the Oculus app, but it has some requirements that have to be met. The Oculus software can run with your PC and lets you play your favorite PC games on the Quest 2. This software is perfect for running VR games that you downloaded from Steam on the Quest 2. And the best part is that the app is available for free!
To check whether your system is compatible or not, visit the compatibility page of Quest 2 on Facebook Here.
Get a Cable
It is a necessity to have a cable to connect your VR set to the computer. You don’t need to get the official Oculus cable, but it would be great if you don’t mind spending extra cash. The official cable allows you to move around easily thanks to its 16-foot length. However, if it is too pricey for you, you can simply get a cheaper one that is compatible with your PC.
It is highly recommended that you purchase an Oculus Quest 2 cable with a length of 15-foot or more if you want to enjoy a VR experience without restrictions.
Download SteamVR
https://store.steampowered.com/app/250820/SteamVR/
It is also essential to download SteamVR to play Steam games on your Oculus Quest 2. All you have to do is head to the Steam Store and download SteamVR.
After everything’s set, follow these steps to play your Steam games on your Quest 2:
- Connect the Oculus Quest 2 to the computer through the cable
- Grant the permissions
- Select ‘Continue’ after selecting ‘Link (Cable).’
- Select ‘Continue’ again
- At this point, you can know whether your cable is connected or not by choosing ‘Test Connection.’ If you already know it is connected, head to the next step.
- Select ‘Continue’
- Select ‘Close.’
You’re almost there. Just follow these steps to successfully connect your Oculus Quest 2 to SteamVR:
- Open the Oculus app
- Select ‘Settings’
- Choose ‘General’
- Enable ‘Unknown Sources’
- Confirm your changes by clicking on ‘Allow.’
It’s now time to run the SteamVR:
- Log into your Steam account in the app
- Select ‘VR’
- Put the headset on
And voilà ! You can now enjoy exploring the VR world of Steam. If you can’t figure out how to run your Steam games, follow these steps:
- Select ‘Browse Steam’
- Choose ‘Library’ or ‘Store’
- Run the game by clicking ‘Play.’
- Select ‘Quit’ after tapping the Oculus button to leave SteamVR
- Enjoy your VR Steam game
The Wireless Way To Set Up The Oculus Quest 2
Flickr Image by Maximilian Prandstätter
While the wired method is much better due to the strong connection, you can still play your favorite VR Steam games wirelessly. The wired way is great since the headset is effortlessly charged while providing a lag-free gaming session. So, the first thing you want to have is a very strong internet connection. You also want to keep in mind that the battery life of your Quest 2 will be shorter if you opt for the wireless method.
You must enable Facebook Air Link separately on your Quest 2 and PC. Here’s how to do that on your PC:
- Open the Oculus app
- Select ‘Settings’
- Choose ‘Beta’
- Enable ‘Air Link’
Now follow these steps to enable it in your Quest 2:
- Select ‘Quick Settings’ found on your main menu
- Choose ‘Settings’
- Select ‘Experimental Features’
- Enable ‘Air Link’
You’ve successfully set your Quest 2 and PC for a wireless experience. Now, follow these steps to activate Air Link:
- Select ‘Quick Settings’ found on your main menu
- Choose ‘Oculus Air Link‘
- Select the name of your PC
- Choose ‘Pair’
- Select ‘Launch’
What is a Good Mbps To Play Online Steam Games on Your Oculus Quest?
To get the most out of your online gaming experience using your Oculus Quest 2, you must ensure sufficient Mbps to enjoy a lag-free experience. Because, as all gamers now, nothing’s more irritating than losing in an online game due to a sudden lag, especially if your opponent is an annoying, loud celebrator.
Now first is, what is Mbps? Megabits per second, or Mbps, is the unit of bandwidth. The internet connection depends on its megabits to function. Whether you use your internet to watch TV series and movies online or play many online games, your Mbps requirements depend on your online activities. A speed of 3 Mbps should be enough if you usually browse the internet slowly. However, you’ll need far more if you play online games more often.
You should know that gaming consoles are different from the recommended Mbps. So, you must check your system’s recommended download speed before anything else.
But generally speaking, a minimum speed of 3 Mbps is required by most consoles. This speed, however, is not suitable for all online games. You’ll probably need a fast internet connection if you want to play most games without lags and interruptions.
For example, the minimum download speed of both Nintendo Switch and Xbox One is 3 Mbps. On the other hand, a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps is required to play online games on PS5. but if you want to play games on your computer, you should have a speed of 3-6 Mbps. These consoles can run online games with an upload speed of 0.5-3 Mbps.
As previously said, each gaming console has its own Mbps requirements. Additionally, not all games require the same Mbps—some require higher speeds than others to run without interruptions. Generally, a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps is required for a great gaming experience. If you choose to go below that, expect that your opponent gets you at any moment due to an annoying lag.