How To Run VR Games With Proton Without Steam On Monado

How To Run VR Games With Proton Without Steam On Monado #

There are only a handful of games that I know of VR that natively target Linux VR:

  • Basis
  • Gaia Sky
  • Minecraft XR
  • OpenSaber
  • Overte
  • QuakeVR
  • Quakespasm-OpenVR
  • (Please expand this list)

If you ever wanted to play more VR games without installing Steam and launching your game through that, your options were limited. Itch.io and GOG.com offer games DRM-free, but these are often only compiled for Windows. Now there is a way to run VR games from these sites.

Using umu-launcher together with a registry key edit, you can enable VR games for Windows to be launched through Proton.

First, you must install umu-launcher from your package manager. Then manually enter the registry key by starting regedit:

umu-run regedit.exe

Add these keys:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-652184699-4063250528-1000-1000\Software\Wine\VR]
"openvr_vulkan_instance_extensions"="VK_KHR_external_memory_capabilities VK_KHR_get_physical_device_properties2 VK_KHR_external_semaphore_capabilities"
"openxr_vulkan_device_extensions"="VK_KHR_external_memory VK_KHR_external_semaphore VK_KHR_dedicated_allocation VK_KHR_get_memory_requirements2 VK_KHR_external_memory_fd VK_KHR_external_semaphore_fd"
"openxr_vulkan_instance_extensions"="VK_KHR_external_memory_capabilities VK_KHR_get_physical_device_properties2 VK_KHR_external_semaphore_capabilities"
"PROTON_VR_RUNTIME"="/home/USER/.local/share/envision/06f753a9-f486-4925-8968-25f015bd71fa/xrizer/target/release"
"state"=dword:00000001

Please adjust PROTON_VR_RUNTIME path to your actual xrizer/OpenComposite path.

Next, simply run your game like this:

PRESSURE_VESSEL_IMPORT_OPENXR_1_RUNTIMES=1 umu-run YOUR_GAME.exe

Games That Work With This #

  • AnthroHeat
  • GORN (itch.io version)
  • Tea For God
  • (Please expand this list)

Games That DO NOT Work With This, Yet #

  • Adastra VR
  • Aki Bonbon
  • Ancient Dungeon VR
  • DUST VR
  • OpenSaber (Windows build)
  • Overte (Windows build)
  • Project SEVER
  • RATCHET AND CLANK VR
  • Return to Northbury Grove
  • Rock’n’Roller Coaster Tribute
  • RoxyVR
  • StarbaseSim (Unity version)
  • (Please expand this list)

With this, we have one fewer dependency on proprietary software, and we can run more games on a fully FOSS VR stack!

Notes #

  • Instead of Proton with umu-launcher, this idea may also work with Lutris, Heroic Games Launcher, or Wine.
  • You may be able to get more games to work by adding more OpenXR/OpenVR extensions to the registry keys. If you do get more games working this way, edit this page!