SteamVR finally gets a new, friendlier user interface in beta update
It’s been several years, but SteamVR’s awkward old UI has finally been replaced.
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What you need to know
If you’ve ever used SteamVR’s home screen interface, you’ll recall that it’s not the smoothest nor most friendly interface ever created. Valve has been working on a new interface for Steam forquite some time, and the updates it brought to the desktop Steam user interface back in December are now making their way into the virtual world with the latest SteamVR update. This big new interface ships with SteamVR beta 1.10.9. If you’re unfamiliar with how to do that, we’ve got a great guide on how to enroll in SteamVR betaright here.
Aside from significantly improved aesthetic changes, the new interface brings customizability front-and-center via a new tiled library that can be more easily sorted and grouped. It’s also easier to see what friends are up to and join games, and it’s now faster to get into a game via the updated quick launcher. The dashboard is also larger and will be automatically placed in the virtual world depending on where you stand, and automatically sized based on how close your face is to the lenses. This should help users who need to wear glasses, specifically.
Many users will be overjoyed at the performance improvements to the Compositor, which was a bit of a resource hog on less powerful machines in the past. Valve has also improved the battery life and responsiveness of Lighthouse controllers and trackers, which are able to go into standby even when the headset is still running. Trackers are also able to be placed on knees and elbows, which could enhance skeletal accuracy in games that support full-body tracking.
This update is just one of the many things Valve has done to improve Steam and SteamVR lately, as both products went for a significant period of time without meaningful changes or improvements. You’ll also find a few additional improvements to the desktop portion of SteamVR’s user interface, including new headset icons for Oculus users.
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Nick started with DOS and NES and uses those fond memories of floppy disks and cartridges to fuel his opinions on modern tech. Whether it’s VR, smart home gadgets, or something else that beeps and boops, he’s been writing about it since 2011. Reach him on Twitter or Instagram @Gwanatu
