The Apple Vision Pro is making significant strides in the realm of virtual reality gaming, as Valve has recently announced the introduction of Steam Link for the device. This innovative app will enable users to wirelessly stream games from their PC or Mac directly to their Vision Pro headsets, offering an impressive streaming capability of up to 4K resolution. Additionally, the app features a panoramic mode with customizable screen curvature, enhancing the immersive experience.
However, there is a notable limitation: Steam Link will not support the streaming of VR games at this time. Consequently, popular titles such as Half-Life: Alyx and other VR or AR experiences will not be playable on the Vision Pro, at least for the foreseeable future.
Installing Steam Link on Your Apple Vision Pro
Currently, Steam Link for iOS is in its Beta phase. Here's how to access it easily:
Open the App Store on your Vision Pro and install TestFlight.
Ensure you have a game controller paired with your Vision Pro and a stable Wi-Fi connection.
On your Apple Vision Pro, click on the provided link to join the Beta.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
Current Gaming Landscape on the Apple Vision Pro
Upon its launch, the Apple Vision Pro had limited gaming options, but this scenario is rapidly evolving. Recently, Apple has announced support for NVIDIA CloudXR, alongside the new Steam integration, providing users with two viable gaming avenues. However, the ultimate goal of playing native PC VR games such as Skyrim VR and Boneworks is still not achievable without complex workarounds.
While no official statements have been made by Apple, the introduction of low-latency tools like CloudXR and the integration of Steam could be paving the way for future support of OpenVR and SteamVR. The Vision Pro's M5 chip possesses the capability to handle the high frame rates required for AAA VR gaming, and many users would appreciate the opportunity to engage with top-tier games on their devices.
