Crew Fortress 2 ‘native VR port’ might be coming to Steam after Valve releases supply code

A local VR mod for Crew Fortress 2 is within the works as a fan-made undertaking, with the sport now working and rendering via OpenXR. Whereas the mod isn’t absolutely accomplished but, developer @salad_vr over on X shared a brief preview showcasing mechanics like room-scale motion, movement controls, and guide interactions, hinting that the mod is certainly taking place. This sudden surge of curiosity in bringing the basic shooter into digital actuality comes after Valve launched TF2’s supply code, giving builders and modders deeper entry to the sport engine.

Apparently, this gained’t be the primary TF2 VR port. In reality, the sport had an official VR mode again in 2013, however that was fairly primary and experimental moderately than a correct VR expertise. This upcoming TF2 VR mod, then again, goals to go a lot additional. We may additionally doubtlessly see the 2 merge into one, however there isn’t any affirmation of Valve becoming a member of the undertaking for now.

TF2 VR will probably be just like Half-Life 2 VR

In line with the developer behind TF2 VR, the mod is designed to supply a full room-scale VR expertise just like what we noticed with Half-Life 2 VR. This implies we are able to anticipate options like movement controls, guide reloading, and full bodily interactions moderately than simply primary headset help. Nevertheless, the main focus is on trendy VR {hardware} such because the Oculus or the Valve Index, and the developer doesn’t plan so as to add help for older movement controllers just like the Razer Hydra.

Since each video games share the Supply engine, chances are you’ll be questioning whether or not something from the Half-Life 2 VR mod might be utilized in the identical manner. Nevertheless, not like HL2VR, which was constructed for a slower, single-player expertise, TF2’s fast-paced multiplayer gameplay would require adapting mechanics like movement controls, UI integration, and server-side interactions in a extra tailor-made manner.

We may doubtlessly see a Steam launch

The developer additionally mentions that the mod may get a free Steam launch, as Valve’s coverage permits mods primarily based on their video games to be distributed at no cost. Since TF2 VR is a fan-made undertaking utilizing Valve’s belongings, it have to be provided at no cost to adjust to their pointers. Utilizing OpenXR additionally means compatibility throughout a number of headsets with out requiring separate implementations for every system whereas providing higher efficiency and monitoring in comparison with older strategies like SteamVR’s legacy help.

With extra basic video games discovering new life via mods and improved {hardware} help like we not too long ago noticed with Xbox 360 video games getting native PC ports, TF2 VR is one more instance of how fan tasks proceed to help these older video games. Crew Fortress 2 has loved a wholesome fanbase for almost 20 years now, and VR offers us one other manner of taking part in it.