Valve has released a new update for SteamVR that focuses on improving stability, refining performance, and expanding OpenXR support. This release brings several bug fixes and usability enhancements across multiple components, including SteamVR Home, Steam Link, and Linux support. Users can expect smoother visuals, better controller performance, and reduced memory usage in this update.
In addition, Valve continues its transition toward OpenXR as the preferred API for future games and applications. The latest version enhances developer tools, improves debugging options, and introduces new render model simulations for controllers. The update also implements quality-of-life refinements to the interface, making the SteamVR experience more consistent with the broader Steam ecosystem.
Full Patch Notes
SteamVR
- Fixed a crash that could occur when the AMD GPU driver was installed but no AMD GPU was present.
- Fixed compatibility mode bindings showing as custom bindings when they are remapped default bindings.
- Automatically prefer installing the Oasis Driver for Windows Mixed Reality when running on a Windows version too new to support the Windows driver.
- Roomview is independently enabled for VR vs non-VR gameplay.
- Minor UX improvements to improve consistency with Steam (window reflectivity, colors, etc).
- Added a setting (General → Advanced) to disable IPD HUD.
- Reduced memory usage for user interface textures, improving performance.
- Fixed the Default/Custom binding toggle in the Settings UI not working properly in some cases.
- Fixed Recenter and Room View buttons not showing up in some cases.
- Fixed desktop settings showing a completely black screen under error reporting conditions.
- By default, Controller Compatibility Mode now shows users their physical controller render models but still returns simulated names to games.
- Added new options to Controller Compatibility Mode render model simulation.
- Fixed cases where controller input would break if a game or Steam had been moved.
- Fixed the Input Debugger not displaying some content correctly.
- Fixed issues with Pico controllers using Controller Compatibility Mode.
SteamVR Home
- Fixed crash when hosting or joining rooms.
Linux
- Fixed a rare crash when attempting to load render models.
- Fixed a crash when navigating to “Developer” in SteamVR Settings.
Steam Link
- Fixed excess CPU usage that could occur when the performance graph was never visible during a session.
- Introduced new frame pacing that improves “popping,” judder, and other smoothness or latency issues for controllers or animated content. This may affect VR timing on the host PC; users are encouraged to report new gameplay issues.
OpenXR
- Added support for XR_KHR_locate_spaces.
- Fixed a bug where apps that didn’t submit projection layers would see a 100ms wait on alternating frames with some drivers.
- When a requested time querying xrLocateSpace is outside reasonable bounds, it now returns XR_SUCCESS with an empty pose instead of XR_ERROR_TIME_INVALID.
- Added support for XR_META_recommended_layer_resolution.
- Registered SteamVR as an available runtime in the Windows Registry when defaulted to the active runtime.
Developer
- Improved UX architecture to enhance consistency with Steam, including library versions and error handling.
- Enhanced UX for mirrored device debug rendering.
SteamVR is a free software platform developed by Valve Corporation, designed to connect PCs running Windows 10 or later to a wide range of VR headsets, including Valve Index, HTC Vive, Meta Quest, and Windows Mixed Reality. It serves as the foundational ecosystem for VR gaming on Steam, first launched alongside the HTC Vive on April 5, 2016.
Have you noticed these changes? Share your thoughts in the comments!
