How to start DCS without Steam VR (open composite)

[Grondolf]

Hi there,

I installed open composite. It seems obvious to everybody else, but I cant see how to start DCS (steam version).
When i start in Steam it always opens steam vr (with the original open_api_dll).
When I copy the open_api_dll for open composite into the DCS folder it starts the game in NON-VR Mode (no matter if i hit "play in steam-VR" or "play DCS").
When I use the DCS.exe it starts in non-VR mode.
So where/how exactly do i start DCS, so that it runs with open composite?

Thanks for your help

[Gunfreak]

Unless you got steam vr running. You should be able to start it without steam vr.
If you use openxr. You go to options, VR and tick the VR box. The game restarts and goes into vr mode.

[Grondolf]

Thx for the answer. I just got it running, it seems steam vr is opening, but then closing again when the game is running. I can open the toolkit ingame (though i deleted the composite.ini file and have no option for the resolution setting in the toolkit).
Which "options" do you mean? I now got the problem, that it is running at 30fps (i´m at 60hz right now with my reverb g2). Motion reprojection is set to off. Its worse than before.
Do i need to set the resolution in the composite.ini-file? Or is it ok, when i set in in opencomposite-developer-tools?

[bignewy]

There is a community guide here that may help

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/295123-openxr-guide-for-wmr-headsets/

[Grondolf]

@bignewy...thx, but i read all this things. Finally i got it working:
I had to keep the old openvr_api_dll (guess i have it systemwide now), start DCS in Steam with "start in steam VR" BEFORE starting windows mixed reality for steam. When i restart the game in openxr i have to close windows mixed reality first.
Problem with the resolution is solved too and subjective feeling is, that it is a little better now (and opening faster), but still i need to go down to 40% resolution to get my 60FPS. Maybe i try a bit with resprojection and/or FSR settings to optimize it.

Thx so far for your answers (I know this topic has been discussed for ages now and there are tons of discussions in the net). I startet a thread latetly, if 60 FPS is achievable with my system:
radeon 6800xt
windows 10
ryzen 5 5600xt
32 gb 3400 mhz DDR4 ram

Edit: When the openfx openvr_api_dll is inserted it starts DCS in NON-VR mode, although in the options use VR is activated (so that was not the reason).

[Grondolf]

Edit: I restarted the pc and now it doesnt work again. It starts steam vr no matter what i do.
I am clueless. VR-Setup seems to be a matter of luck

And again: This time it worked by starting the dcs.exe in admin mode

[Xupicor]

I've used OpenComposite to switch to OpenXR and NOTHING from SteamVR ever starts when I run DCS with OpenXR. There's no complications, I just start DCS, "VR" is ticked in the options (though, I force VR or flat with shortcut properties) and that's it. If WMR wasn't running before, it'll switch on and DCS will load. Steam doesn't run SteamVR or WMR for SteamVR at all.

I think you did something wrong when setting everything up.

All I did was I installed OpenXR Tools, OpenXR Toolkit, OpenComposite, switched to OpenXR in OpenComposite (global, in my case) and... that's pretty much all. I don't touch SteamVR at all ever since.

I don't run DCS (or Steam) as admin either.

[Wolfred]

i have follow the guide on dcs homepage and have same problem like Grondolf, have reverb g2 gtx 2080 super, fitst time i started dcs.exe and have changed to open xr, it says its not supported after than dcs is starting without vr whit or whitout vr ticked in dcs setting

[ShaZe]

Yeah doing the 'manual' install is kind of misleading and doesn't work. I also had to use the special software to install it system-wide :/

For some reasons, I also thought that it was getting rid of mixed reality portal as well, so at first I kept tinkering around it thinking it was still not working due to mixed reality portal still opening. Unsure if it costs anything, otherise could still be neat to perhaps have something to replace it.