Valve Adds Oculus Rift Support to Half-Life 2, Releases Linux Version

Valve Adds Oculus Rift Support to Half-Life 2, Releases Linux Version


hl2A new beta update for Half-Life 2 adds Oculus Rift support, Valve programmer Joe Ludwig announced on the device’s official forums.

Oculus Rift developer’s kit owners can get the update by setting the Half-Life 2’s command line to “-vr” in Steam, and opting-into the SteamPipe beta.

“This should ship to everybody in a few weeks,” Ludwig wrote.

Ludwig warns players that the update is “a bit more raw,” than when the company released Team Fortress 2 Oculus Rift support earlier this year, and is asking for feedback. The post mentions one of the known issues is a “dim and hard to read,” HUD.

Ludwig told Engadget in March that the Kirkland, Wash.-based company has been testing Oculus Rift support with its other games including Left 4 Dead. It’s likely that the zombie shooter will be the next game to receive Oculus Rift support.

A beta Linux version of Half-Life 2 was also released today, adding to a number of Valve-developed games with support for the operating system.

Valve’s own Steambox will run Linux when its released. The company is likely adding Linux versions of its games to support the hardware when it finally launches, which it has said will not be this year.

Source: Oculus Rift Developer Forums, Engadget