[FURTHER UPDATED MARCH 2021] I updated my original guide to using a cloud computer to play PCVR wirelessly on quest due to great continued updates to Virtual Desktop and Shadow PC. AS OF MARCH 2021 no need to sideload, yay!
Hope this helps someone out there.
Preliminary FAQ:
A] Do I need a gaming PC for this? No, any device that will run the ShadowPC client is sufficient - cheap laptop, google TV with chromecast, IPad, iPhone, Android Phone.
B] Do I need to use a cable to play while I am playing PCVR? No, this is for playing wirelessly. You don't need the link cable or a knock off.
C] This seems like a lot of steps is it really that hard? No, its actually pretty easy but I made this guide for people like me who like each step laid out rather than having to compile a bunch of pieces from different sources. It will probably take you an hour to purchase and download everything and have it all set up, ready to play.
D] I went to ShadowPC’s website and only gives the option to pre-order or says it won’t be for weeks or months till it starts? Yes. Start up time will vary. Don’t use a workaround even if you can, because you probably won’t have an optimal experience. Just wait the designated time. “Boost” tier works fine. Buy extra storage if it is available when you order.
E] IMPORTANT: If you have Comcast Xfinity there is an issue with Comcast erroneously identifying the Virtual Desktop/Shadow connection as a malicious attempt to use your network. Go to the XFi app, choose “more” then choose “my services” and disable Advanced Security. Also note that Comcast in the US may now implement data caps, which could severely impact Shadow use unless you sign up for the unlimited plan.
Instructions:
1] Make sure you have a dual band 5ghz or WiFi 6 router; plug just the device you will use to run Shadow into it via Ethernet cable or connect t 5ghz WiFi if your device does not have a cable you can use.
2] Test your internet here on your device plugged into Ethernet: //help.shadow.tech/hc/en-gb/articles/360011196119-How-to-Test-Your-Connection-to-Shadow
3] If internet test looks good, sign up for ShadowPC. You are probably looking for sub 25 ping and low jitter, though some folks are OK with higher.
You can use a referral code while ordering to save money on your order.
You may want to consider doing a one month no subscription first to really test it before subscribing for a year, since one month at the time of this writing is only $15, then you can get money off of that from the referral code too making it super affordable to try since no one can REALLY definitively tell you whether YOU will like the experience in advance of you actually trying it.
4] Buy Virtual Desktop via the QUEST Oculus Store and install it. Remember if you go through this and don’t like the experience you can refund the app with the same terms as any other Quest store app. DO NOT buy a different version of Virtual Desktop, you need the Quest one.
5] Once you hear your ShadowPC is activated, download the ShadowPC client for your computer and install it.
As of January 2021 there should no longer be a need to download the alpha desktop client; the stable PC and Mac desktop versions should no longer timeout while actively using VR- you may read older posts saying Shadow times out while playing in VR but this has been fixed.
6] Open the Shadow app once it is installed. Follow Shadow’s starter guide. Go into the gear wheel icon in Shadow's Launcher to set Shadow’s settings. Set the bandwidth to 5mb. This will leave maximum bandwidth for Virtual Desktop to stream the VR. Then click the button to start Shadow.
7] Now you should be at your computer looking at your ShadowPC running and it should look pretty much like any other PC. Search for and run all available Windows 10 updates on your ShadowPC, including the "Comprehensive 2004" update or H2 or whatever is the most recent update when you read this.
8] Now update your Nvidia Drivers on your ShadowPC. Go to //www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx on your ShadowPC and search for the type of GPU you have based on your plan. For instance, Boost customers will have a “Quadro P5000” GPU, so you will search for Product Type: Quadro; Product Series: Quadro Series; Product: QuadroP5000; Operating System: Windows 10 64 bit; Windows Driver Type: Standard; Download Type: Optimal Driver for Enterprise [ODE] and then click search. Download the link and then follow the standard install. You can also turn on an option in Shadow streamer App to automatically install driver updates if you want to in the future.
9] Now go to the Oculus website and download the Rift S desktop software on your ShadowPC. Link here: //www.oculus.com/rift/setup/?locale=en_US Stop at / skip the step in the process where it says to connect your headset. You won’t be connecting your headset because you don’t actually have a Rift S or Link cable. Nothing will fail because you haven’t connected a headset.
10] Restart your ShadowPC after the oculus software is installed. Once your ShadowPC has rebooted, go to Steam’s website on your ShadowPC, set up an account and download the Steam PC software onto your ShadowPC. After that is complete, search on Steam store for free “Steam VR” software and download that to your ShadowPC. Restart your shadowPC after installing the SteamVR software.
11] Now to test some games. You can search for whatever you want but here are a few free recommendations to download for testing: a] Steam: the Lab, Google Earth b] Oculus: Echo Arena, any game you have free on cross buy from buying on Quest.
12] Now go to Virtual Desktop’s website and download the windows streaming client on your ShadowPC. //www.vrdesktop.net/ If there is an option choose the 64 bit version because Shadow is a 64 bit windows PC. You will need your oculus user name at some point in this process and to enter into Virtual Desktop which you can get from clicking on your profile in the Oculus App.
13] Once the virtual desktop streaming client is installed on your ShadowPC, run it if it isn’t running already. You will see an orange looking computer screen in the tool tray if it is running. Right click on that icon to open the “Settings Menu.” Make sure you click the box to allow remote connections. Uncheck the box in settings for “Automatically set bit rate.” Check to the option to allow it to run whenever windows starts, as it will allow you to easily connect the quest whenever your Shadow is running.
14] Now put on your Quest headset. Open the Virtual Desktop app from your library. VD should load indicating it is connecting to your computer.
15] To run your games in the Oculus Store or SteamVR, you should start first and foremost with the Virtual Desktop “Games” tab in the headset. To get to that, double click the left controller menu button which will bring up the VD interface. On the left hand side you will see various tabs. First go to “VR streaming” settings and for your first testing purposes, set Quality to medium and Bit Rate options to around 40mbs or so. Turn on “sliced encoding.” Turn on “boost clock rate.” If you are on the Quest 2 you can also select 90 fps in these options.
Now go to the “Games” tab in the same column of tabs. There your games for Oculus Store and SteamVR should appear. Click there to start a game. If the game doesn’t start properly and it is SteamVR, close the game in the Games tab menu by hovering over it and clicking the X. Then instead click the button at the bottom left of the Virtual Desktop interface for “Start SteamVR,” and run the game from within SteamVR home. If the game is in the Oculus store or this option for a SteamVR game doesn’t work, check in with the Virtual Desktop Discord under “Shadow Streaming” channel and/or check the Virtual Desktop VR Compatibility List, //docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gRbhMw-8PDl1m2ujs_uWaxMeFxjWjihKtRjFGpd-nFY/edit#gid=2101885392 to see if there is a known issue. If the game starts but you don’t go straight into VR mode, click on “Enter VR” in the bottom left of the Virtual Desktop interface.
16] Take immersion up a notch in SteamVR games. I mean, you are already playing totally wireless PCVR and don’t even have a PC - how about jogging in place or rocking in place in real life to move in game to really blow your mind? Like using the open area in SkyrimVR, Fallout4VR, BorderlandsVR, Alyx, or No Man’s Sky to jog around in? Well try out this add on then for SteamVR and do just that: //store.steampowered.com/app/1143750/VRocker/. [Why get a VR treadmill if an app that is 1 percent of the price can get you 75% of the experience with software alone??]. There’s a free demo too, so why not try it and feel even more futuristic than you already do?
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FINAL THOUGHTS: Don’t go in expecting everything to work absolutely perfectly, all the time. It won’t. This is super futuristic stuff, you are on the cutting edge. Some people still think you can’t even play VR over wirelessly and here you are doing it in the cloud. But it’s really amazing, and can work really well most of the time, if you have the right mindset.
Now go forth and enjoy PCVR wirelessly for cheap!
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