Valve is one of the most respected companies in the gaming industry, but as a games publisher, it is no longer the behemoth it once was. Valve’s output over the last decade has amounted to nothing more than a couple of live service games, a few tech demos, and a port or two. The only single-player game the company has released in the last few years is 2020’s Half-Life: Alyx, which, much to the dismay of some, was a VR exclusive.
Half-Life: Alyx wasn’t able to reach as wide an audience as previous Half-Life games did, but it is arguably the most significant VR-exclusive game ever made. The VR gaming space is kind of infamous for being cluttered with niche indie titles and mediocre tech demos. While some AAA games do support VR, almost no AAA title has been built from the ground up for this method of gaming. Half-Life: Alyx is the exception to that rule.
Half-Life: Alyx is VR Gaming’s Killer App
Unlike most VR titles, Half-Life: Alyx is a fairly lengthy game. It takes up to 12 hours to complete, much like a standard single-player FPS campaign. It also takes full advantage of VR’s capabilities, with interactive environments being a primary focus during gameplay.
Half-Life: Alyx was universally acclaimed when it first came out, but a lot of people have been unable to play it due to the fact that it requires a PC with rather powerful specs in order to run well. Following the release of Valve’s new Steam Machine, though, many have wondered if the company’s marquee VR title can perform sufficiently on its flagship hardware. Fortunately, the answer to that question appears to be a resounding “yes.”
Although Valve has technically stated that the Steam Machine doesn’t support VR yet, this isn’t entirely true. Sure, there is no dedicated VR app that comes pre-installed with the device, but given that it is still a PC at the end of the day, VR games can be played on it.
The Steam Machine Can Run Half-Life: Alyx Decently, With or Without a VR Headset
Many gamers have been able to connect non-Valve VR headsets, like the Meta Quest 2 and 3, to the Steam Machine using Steam Link rather than a cable. Simply by downloading Steam Link to a VR headset and linking it to the Steam Machine, you can play VR games just like you can on any other PC.
But what if you don’t have a VR headset? Well, worry not, because with the fan-made NoVR mod for Half-Life: Alyx, you can play through the entire game using only a mouse and keyboard. The experience of playing Half-Life: Alyx on a VR headset is considerably better than playing it on a flat-screen device, but experiencing it in this manner is better than not doing so at all.
The Steam Machine can absolutely do VR – Half-Life Alyx Tested
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According to a user on Reddit, you can get a solid 90 FPS in Half-Life: Alyx while playing it on the Steam Machine at the lowest possible settings. This may not be ideal for everyone, but considering that the Steam Machine isn’t that powerful, the performance is decent for what you’re getting.
