Apple Vision Pro may soon get PC VR support — SteamVR games could work thanks to open-source ALVR

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The spatial headset could be able to get more virtual.

Apple Vision Pro
(Image credit: Apple)

A group of programmers have been working non-stop for the last month to get Apple Vision Pro working on Steam VR — but you’ll have to jump through some expensive hoops before you can experience it.

ALVR is an open-source software that allows users to stream PC VR games from a PC to a VR headset. It is often used with wireless headsets like the Meta Quest 3 for a much smoother cable-free play session, but recent advancements suggest an Apple Vision Pro program could be on the way soon. 

According to the GitHub project, it has seen 139 commits in the last month from 8 contributors. If you have a lot of technical knowledge, you could opt to check out the code for yourself but, for now, you are better off waiting until a stable release is announced. However, as it is a program to stream VR games, you need a good gaming PC to run them in the first place and current M3 MacBook Pros can’t run Steam VR. You will also have to own a Mac with Xcode to get the program on Apple’s headset in the first place, which is quite a bit of setup. 

A controller problem — iMore’s take

Once you have a good gaming PC and Apple Vision Pro, you might be able to finally run ALVR. Developer @ShinyQuaqsire has shown off impressive but “fiddly” hand-tracking support over on X. As it uses gestures to control menus and options, it can take a while to register, and latency problems mean that a traditional controller is a much better choice. Unfortunately, support isn’t there for Meta Quest controllers so the only way to get physical inputs is by using Valve Index’s controllers. 

This means that, to get the best experience of Steam VR on Apple Vision Pro, you need a good gaming PC (which could cost anywhere from $600 up to a few thousand dollars), Valve Index controllers (at $279), and Valve Index Base Stations, which cost $149 each. As of right now, this project is incredibly impressive but also very limited. Given you can plug a Meta Quest 2 straight into a PC with a USB-C cable for $249 (less than the price of the Valve Index controllers alone) and get a great experience, this is probably the best choice for most. 

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James Bentley
James Bentley

James is a staff writer and general Jack of all trades at iMore. With news, features, reviews, and guides under his belt, he has always liked Apple for its unique branding and distinctive style. Originally buying a Macbook for music and video production, he has since gone on to join the Apple ecosystem with as many devices as he can fit on his person. 

With a degree in Law and Media and being a little too young to move onto the next step of his law career, James started writing from his bedroom about games, movies, tech, and anything else he could think of. Within months, this turned into a fully-fledged career as a freelance journalist. Before joining iMore, he was a staff writer at Gfinity and saw himself published at sites like TechRadar, NME, and Eurogamer. 

As his extensive portfolio implies, James was predominantly a games journalist before joining iMore and brings with him a unique perspective on Apple itself. When not working, he is trying to catch up with the movies and albums of the year, as well as finally finishing the Yakuza series. If you like Midwest emo music or pretentious indie games that will make you cry, he’ll talk your ear off.