Welcome to the oasis, my name is Mike. Today, I want to introduce you to something truly fascinating for virtual reality (VR) enthusiasts. As a follower of this channel, you know that I’m a big fan of the Oculus Quest. It’s an amazing device that has revolutionized the VR industry with its affordability, accessibility, and immersive capabilities. However, as much as I love the Oculus Quest, my heart truly lies with high-end PCVR experiences.
Before the emergence of the Oculus Quest, I started this channel to showcase the incredible potential of connecting headsets like the original Oculus Rift or HTC Vive to powerful gaming PCs. The rich and detailed environments, vast landscapes, lengthy campaigns, and realistic physics that are only possible with a high-end gaming PC have captivated me since day one.
Unfortunately, not everyone has access to a powerful gaming PC, which can be a significant barrier to entry for many aspiring VR enthusiasts. But what if I told you there is a way to enjoy high-end PCVR games without the need for an expensive gaming rig at home? What if all you needed was an affordable headset like the Oculus Quest or Quest 2, which could connect to a PC in the cloud, running these PCVR games remotely? It may sound like science fiction, straight out of “Ready Player One,” but this VR cloud gaming technology is available today.
In this article, I will delve into the recent advancements in cloud gaming for traditional games and introduce you to Shadow, the service I’ve been using to achieve this PCVR experience on my Oculus Quest 2. I’ll guide you through the setup process and explain how you can make this magic happen with your own Oculus Quest 2. Additionally, I’ll share my thoughts on whether this is a viable option for VR enthusiasts right now and discuss the potential future of VR cloud gaming.
Cloud gaming has experienced a significant shift in the gaming industry, with many companies now offering solutions that eliminate the need for hardware by processing games in the cloud. Companies like Google Stadia, NVIDIA, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation Now, Nintendo Cloud, Amazon Luna, and even Facebook have entered the cloud gaming market. However, unlike these closed platforms, Shadow sets itself apart by providing access to a fully remote PC.
With Shadow, you have complete control over the PC, allowing you to use it for various purposes like gaming, productivity, video editing, design work, and remote file storage. This unique feature opens up intriguing possibilities, including VR cloud gaming, which I will demonstrate in this article.
Shadow has been offering its service since 2017, providing hundreds of thousands of active users with remote access to their PC service from both Europe and the US. It’s important to note that Shadow has not sponsored this article; they have simply provided me with access to their service for testing purposes. I’m sharing this information because I believe the concept is genuinely cool and worth sharing with VR enthusiasts like you.
If you’re interested in experiencing Shadow for yourself, they offer different PC specifications to choose from based on your needs. The most affordable option, Shadow Boost, provides remote access to a PC equipped with a 3.4 GHz processor, a GTX 1080 graphics card (or equivalent), and 256 GB of storage space (with the option to add more storage if desired). The monthly price is quite reasonable, especially when compared to the cost of building a PC with similar specifications yourself.
For my testing, I used a Shadow Boost machine, which performed well during gameplay sessions. Setting up PCVR gaming on your Oculus Quest 2 with Shadow is quite straightforward. Starting with logging into the Shadow PC from your desktop or laptop, you’ll need to install SteamVR and the Oculus desktop app on the Shadow PC. Additionally, download the PCVR games you want to play onto the Shadow PC.
To stream PCVR content wirelessly to your Oculus Quest 2, you’ll need to install the versatile Virtual Desktop app from the Oculus Quest store. Virtual Desktop recognizes the Oculus Quest 2 as a streaming device, allowing you to sideload a required patch for playing VR content remotely. While Shadow is developing its own VR app for the Oculus Quest and Quest 2, Virtual Desktop remains the most reliable option at the moment.
Once everything is set up, you can begin your wireless PCVR gaming adventure on your Oculus Quest 2. Whether it’s playing Beat Saber, Half-Life: Alyx, or Star Wars: Squadrons, you can experience these high-end PCVR games remotely on your Oculus Quest 2. The gameplay footage shown in this article was captured directly from the Oculus Quest 2, providing an accurate representation of the graphics and performance.
Naturally, low latency is crucial for a smooth VR experience. During my testing, I observed latency between 50 and 90 milliseconds, which is impressive considering the distance between my location in London and the Shadow PC located over 300 miles away in Paris. Occasionally, I experienced latency spikes that momentarily affected controller tracking, but overall, the experience was enjoyable.
In conclusion, while the Shadow experience may not be perfect, it is certainly playable and offers the incredible advantage of wireless, remote PCVR gaming. Playing PCVR games remotely without the need for an expensive gaming PC is truly remarkable. Shadow’s service price is reasonable, and it opens up opportunities for VR enthusiasts to explore high-end PCVR experiences beyond what’s available in the Oculus Quest store.
Shadow does have some limitations, including availability, as demand is currently high, resulting in wait times for higher-end plans. Additionally, latency can be influenced by factors beyond your control, such as geographical location, distance from the nearest Shadow data center, internet stability, peak usage times, or bandwidth usage within your household. These factors can affect latency and potentially impact the overall VR experience.
However, if I didn’t already own a gaming PC, I would undoubtedly sign up for Shadow to remotely play PCVR content on my Oculus Quest. As technology and internet infrastructure continue to improve, I see a future where cloud gaming becomes even more accessible and VR enthusiasts can enjoy high-end experiences with just an affordable headset and a monthly subscription.
In conclusion, Shadow opens up a world of possibilities for VR enthusiasts by providing remote access to a full PC for VR gaming. While there are challenges such as latency and availability, the potential for VR cloud gaming is undeniable. While the exact timeline for its widespread adoption remains uncertain, the convergence of VR and cloud gaming seems inevitable as technology progresses.
I hope you found this article interesting and informative. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Shadow and VR cloud gaming. Are you interested in trying out Shadow? Have you encountered latency issues or do you believe cloud gaming is just a gimmick? Please share your thoughts in the comments below. If you enjoyed this article, please leave a like, and make sure to subscribe for more VR content. Cheers!
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