The biggest hurdle between the players and Half-Life: Alyx will be the purchase of a VR headset for many. Because that's mandatory for the new shooter from Valve. But the designer of the game Robin Walker is certain: in the future you will Half-Life: Play Alyx without a VR headset can. But not thanks to Valve.
In an interview with Polygon, Walker doesn't ask whether, but when modders remove the requirement. Because it guarantees: someone will already work on it and find a method, the game entirely classic with mouse and keyboard
»It's not so good without VR«
He is not worried about this. He believes that a corresponding mod will only show the players why they designed Half-Life: Alyx as a VR title. Because many aspects, such as simply reloading a weapon, are particularly fun in VR. In traditional shooters, on the other hand, it is a simple push of a button that most users hardly think about.
Indeed he likes to be convinced otherwise: According to Walker, it would be an important lesson for him if someone played Half-Life: Alyx without VR and then can claim that it is just as much fun as with. Valve himself has stated in the past that they are not planning a port for the mouse and keyboard.
35:29
»Announcing a half-life only for VR made us nervous« – video interview with Valve
The first methods already exist
Programs such as Riftcat already offer options to replace the headset with your smartphone. But not only is the low refresh rate of the mobile devices a problem, the control also does VR titles are difficult or not playable in this way
Because headsets like Valve's index allow you to manipulate the game world directly with your hands. With Riftcat, however, the three axes of each hand are mapped onto the sticks of a controller or the keyboard. Controlling the game like this is – benevolently expressed – cumbersome.
more on the subject
Half-Life: Alyx – The 3 most important pros and cons from the Plus test
The VR version of the title published on March 23, 2020 has so far not only convinced us, but the international press in general. It could even become the most played half-life title so far.