Virtual reality has truly revolutionized the gaming experience, taking players on immersive adventures like never before. One such game that has captured the hearts of many is Subnautica, an underwater exploration and survival game.
In this blog post, we’ll share our expert insights on how to play Subnautica in VR to enhance your gaming sessions. We’ll walk you through the setup process, discuss the compatible VR headsets, and offer tips to optimize your in-game experience.
Dive into the depths of the ocean with us and experience Subnautica like never before!
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How to Play Subnautica in VR Epic Games?
Diving into the underwater world of Subnautica can be an even more immersive experience when played in VR (Virtual Reality). Based on tests, observations, and user feedback, this guide will help you navigate the steps necessary to enjoy this gaming experience to the fullest.
Choosing a VR Headset for Subnautica
Before venturing into the depths of Subnautica in VR, you’ll need to choose the right VR headset. Several popular options are compatible with the game, including:
- Oculus Rift
- HTC Vive
- Valve Index
Setting Up SteamVR
Once you’ve selected a VR headset, you’ll need to configure SteamVR to play Subnautica. To do this, follow these steps:
- Install SteamVR from the Steam Store.
- Set up your VR headset and ensure it’s properly detected by SteamVR.
- Launch Subnautica through SteamVR.
Launching Subnautica in VR
Once you have SteamVR set up and your headset connected, you can launch Subnautica in VR. Simply follow these steps:
- Open your Steam library.
- Find Subnautica in your game list.
- Right-click on the game and select “Play in VR.”
Adjusting Game Settings for the Optimal VR Experience
To achieve the best possible VR experience in Subnautica, you may need to tweak some game settings. Based on research and user feedback, consider adjusting the following:
- Reducing graphical settings to maintain a stable frame rate
- Disabling motion blur and screen-space reflections to reduce visual artifacts
- Adjusting the field of view (FOV) to match your VR headset’s specifications
| In-Game Setting | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
| Graphics Quality | Medium to High |
| Motion Blur | Off |
| Screen-Space Reflections | Off |
| Field of View (FOV) | Match VR headset |
System Requirements for Subnautica in VR
To play Subnautica in VR, your system must meet the following minimum requirements:
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-4590 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 |
Remember that these requirements are subject to change, so always check for updated information before diving into the world of Subnautica in VR.
How to Launch Subnautica in VR?
Launching in Steam
To play Subnautica in VR, you need to download the Oculus Rift app from the App Store or Google Play store.
To get SteamVR running, you’ll first have to download and then run the SteamVR application. You can either search for it in the Steam store or click here to go directly to the SteamVR page.
After installing the SteamVR app, you must reboot your computer. This will complete the installation and make it ready to use.
With Steam VR installed, it is super easy to launch Subnautica. Find the game in your library and right-click the title. This will bring up a menu with the option to launch Subnautica in Steam VR mode.
Compatible VR Headsets
SteamVR is compatible with 22 different VR headsets from four different manufacturers. The compatible brand names are HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, and Windows Mixed Reality.
- Valve Index
- Oculus Rift
- HTC Vive
- Windows Mixed Reality.
Most of the 23 compatible headsets for Microsoft HoloLens 2 are Windows Mixed Reality headsets made by companies such as HP and Lenovo
The full list of compatible headsets is as follows:
- Valve Index
- Oculus Rift
- Oculus Rift S
- Oculus Quest 2
- HTC Vive
- HTC Vive Pro
- HTC Vive Cosmos
- Razor OSVR
- Pimax 4k
- Pimax 5K
- Pimax 5K Plus
- Pimax 8K
- Pimax 8K Plus
- Dell Visor
- Samsung Odyssey
- Samsung Odyssey +
- Acer AH101
- HP WMR
- Lenovo Explorer
- HP Reverb
- HP Reverb G2
- Varjo VR1
- Varjo VR 2
Launching in Epic Games
You can play Subnautica even if you don’t own it through Epic Games.
You’ll need either the Steam VR application or the Oculus application in addition to the game itself in case you want to actually use the headset.
If you’re playing Subnautica VR via Epic Games, then you probably already installed the Oculus app. \
So it makes sense that you would launch Subnautica VR by selecting the Oculus app from within the game itself.
If you’re using any other VR headsets, then you’ll need to install SteamVR. You can download the SteamVR app from here.
You just need to download the SteamVR application from the store. Once you’ve done so, you’ll be able to use it without having to install any additional applications.
You must first go into your Steam Library and then find Subnautica there.
Before you launch the Subnautica game, plug in your Oculus Rift or HTC Vive headset. It’s important because Subnautia is classified as a hybrid game. Hybrid games don’t have launch settings in the menu.
Once you’ve connected your VR headset, you can launch Subnautica normally. It should automatically start up the correct VR app. For example, if you’re using an Oculus Rift, it should start up the Oculus app.
If you’re having trouble running the app in VR, make sure that your apps and the app itself are up to date. The older version may not run properly in VR.
Launching in Oculus App
You can use the Oculus app to start playing games on your PC if you’ve already installed them on the Oculus Store. Simply search for the game and select “Play” from the menu.
One important point to keep in mind when using the Oculus Rift is that it has not been updated or fixed since its release. It is still on v1.0 which means there may be bugs.
Subnautica for the Oculus Store feels like an abandoned game, to be honest. It would be best if you used the Oculus Home App to play Subnautia on your Oculus.
The Oculus Home App has been updated and has gone through various bug fixes.
How to Play Subnautica in VR?
Subnautica in VR
As an open-ended exploration game, Subnautsia is great for VR gaming. It allows you to explore the beautiful and terrifying planet of 4546B completely free from any restrictions.
Some people have trouble playing Subnautica because they’re not accustomed to VR gaming. Even some VR veterans struggle with the motion.
Subnautica doesn’t really have good VR compatibility. We mentioned that the Rift version hasn’t been updated for quite some time now, but the other versions aren’t any better.
It feels like the VR mod was just a gimmick rather than an actual effort to make the game VR-compatible.
There are some bugs that make the gameplay a bit frustrating to use. Notable among them is the fact that the cursor is invisible when using a keyboard and a computer.
A game-breaking error occurs when you attempt to play using a gamepad or joystick. It may be impossible for you to start the Cyclops sub, which is a late-game submarine.
This makes it difficult for you to advance further in the game.
Even though there are some issues with the gameplay and the motion intensity, you should still launch Subnautica in virtual reality at least once.
You may not be able to play it for long periods of time, but it’s an immersive and unique gaming environment you won’t want to miss out on.
Spending some time playing with your mind in the world of video games will allow you to get deeper into the experience of these already amazing games.
If you’re interested in the future of virtual reality and where the technology is headed, our article on VR trends and predictions is a must-read.
How to Launch Epic Games Store Titles in VR?
If you play some games with VR features, they may offer additional launch choices depending on which headset you use.
You can get these extra launch choices by choosing “SteamVR” or “Oculus” instead of just “Launch”.
- Open the Epic Games Store app by clicking its icon on your desktop, taskbar, or Start menu.
- Click Library.
- Click the options button under the title. It resembles a gear.
- Select one of the launch options. (For Trover Saves the Univers, you can select either Steam VR, Oculus Rift, or OSVR.)
If you come across games that have VR support but don’t offer additional features like Subnautica, your best option is to connect your preferred VR headset before starting the game.
In our tests, with an Oculus Rift connected to the computer, Subnautica started up automatically and offered VR support without any extra setup.
If you’re using either a Vive or Windows Mixed Reality (WMR), SteamVR should start up automatically.
How to Launch Hybrid Games in Non-VR Mode?
If you’re playing a VR-enabled video card-based title, you may be able to prevent the SteamVR launcher from starting by following these simple instructions:
- Open the Epic Games Store app by clicking its icon on your desktop, taskbar, or start menu.
- Click Settings.
- Click the game at the bottom of the page to open a dropdown menu.
- Click the checkbox next to Additional Command Line Arguments so that a checkmark appears.
- Type -vrmode none and hit Enter on your keyboard.
Now that you’ve finished installing SteamVR, you can play the games without having to see the launch of VR apps every time you start up the app store for the first time after the installation has been completed successfully (step No 1).
To return to playing the games in VR mode, just repeat step No 2 again so that the “Show Launch UI” checkbox is unchecked (Step No 3). Proven PCVR
With the HTC Vive, you get a premium room-scaling VR system with near-perfect tracking, thanks to two separate external bases. Everything you need is already included in the box, along with a six-month subscription to Viveport Infinity for free.
Ready to dive into the world of virtual reality? Our step-by-step tutorial on setting up your VR headset will guide you through the process.
Conclusion
Subnautica is a fantastic example of how to make a great game even better when played in virtual reality.
The game offers lots of immersion and immersion-enhancing elements that make it feel more real than other titles. It also provides a lot of content for players who want to explore as much as possible.
While the game isn’t perfect, it does provide a good amount of value for the money.
We hope this guide helps you decide whether to buy Subnautica or not.
If you have any queries feel free to reach out in the comments section below.
Our experts have discussed about the latest technology including speakers, laptops and more so please make sure to check that out.