AMD today launched an updated version of their AMD Radeon Software suite which now includes the ability to stream SteamVR games to standalone and smartphone-based headsets, assuming you have a compatible AMD GPU. But until mobile headsets support the full head/hand 6DOF input that PC VR apps expect, it’s potential is quite niche.

Launching at an odd time (well before any full 6DOF mobile headsets are available to consumers) is AMD’s Radeon ReLive for VR feature which promises to stream SteamVR games from your PC to mobile headsets with high quality and low latency.

The feature is baked into the latest release of the increasingly wordy AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition, and is backed up by a Radeon ReLive for VR app available currently on Vive Focus and Daydream devices, though eventually coming to  Oculus Go and Samsung Gear too, according to an AMD spokesperson.

To use the VR streaming feature, you’ll need a modern AMD GPU (specifically RX 470, RX 570, RX 480, RX 580, RX 590 or RX Vega series). You’ll also need Windows 10 and an 802.11ac (5GHz) router.

Once you’ve downloaded the companion app and connected it to your PC, you’ll be able to use your headset to control SteamVR, at least the part of it which are compatible with the input devices you have on hand.

Screenshot by Tom’s Hardware

Since almost all SteamVR titles are built with the expectation of full 6DOF tracking on head and hands, it’s easy to see why you won’t be playing Beat SaberSuperhot VR, or Budget Cuts any time soon on your Vive Focus or Mirage Solo—both have 6DOF head tracking but currently only offer a single 3DOF controller. Both headsets have development kits which add support for a pair of 6DOF controllers, but neither are available to consumers at this point.

SEE ALSO
Sony Reportedly Pauses PSVR 2 Production Due to Low Sales

For Radeon ReLive for VR, that currently leaves only a handful of decent VR games which can be played with pure gamepad input (which can come through the PC or via Bluetooth through the headset), the likes of Project Cars 2 (2017), Elite Dangerous (2015), and other simulator-focused titles. But there’s also Skyrim VR (2018) which carries gamepad support over from the PSVR version, and a few other gamepad supported gems like Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (2015), Thumper (2016), and Vox Machinae (2018).

Kevin Carbotte from Tom’s Hardware went hands on with the Radeon ReLive for VR feature, testing it with the 2017 Daydream headset, Pixel 2 XL, and Radeon RX Vega 64. He found that the solution technically works, despite a few hitches in game initialization, and offers “sufficient” image quality at the default 50 Mbps bitrate without adding noticeable latency. When testing at 100 Mbps he found the resultant image sharp but too choppy for play. The 2 Mbps setting, on the other hand, was so low quality that Carbotte said it shouldn’t even have been included.

Carbotte summed up the current niche usefulness of ReLive for VR quite nicely:

If you’re one of the few people who [has everything else on this list but] doesn’t have a PC VR headset, already own a mobile VR headset, already possess a modern Radeon graphics card and have no interest in room-scale VR games, then ReLive for VR is perfect for you. If you don’t fit into the small box, you probably won’t have much use for this new Radeon feature.

Of course, assuming it works well, it’ll be more useful once there’s standalone headsets out there which have full 6DOF tracking on head and hands, which will unlock the ability to play a much broader number of VR titles with the feature. Oculus Quest, which includes full 6DOF tracking, is set to launch in early 2019 and will ostensibly be the first such device supported by Radeon ReLive for VR, though AMD hasn’t specifically confirmed support for it just yet.

Newsletter graphic

This article may contain affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product we may receive a small commission which helps support the publication. More information.


Ben is the world's most senior professional analyst solely dedicated to the XR industry, having founded Road to VR in 2011—a year before the Oculus Kickstarter sparked a resurgence that led to the modern XR landscape. He has authored more than 3,000 articles chronicling the evolution of the XR industry over more than a decade. With that unique perspective, Ben has been consistently recognized as one of the most influential voices in XR, giving keynotes and joining panel and podcast discussions at key industry events. He is a self-described "journalist and analyst, not evangelist."
  • If the Android version of the wireless Oculus Quest can end up playing PC Games via streaming then this will be a huge bonus to users. Lets hope that Oculus do not skimp on adding fast wifi to its HMD.

    • I could be wrong about this, but I think wifi is a component of the SOC. Since Quest will be running a SD835 (same as Solo and Focus), the X16 LTE modem in there should be plenty capable of handling a 50mbps stream. Theoretically it should be able to handle a lot more.

    • kontis

      As always with 5 GHz wifi’s limited bandwidth it will be a 60 ms lag experience vs 20 ms lag native gaming.

  • brandon9271

    I wonder if the choppiness they experienced at 100 Mbps was from the mobile device not having the horsepower to decode fast enough? I also wonder if they are using some sort of timewarping. I would assume that’s 100% necessary to avoid nausea.

  • I just watched a video by Linus Tech Tips about another video game streaming service that says they can get less then 10ms lag on high quality, high framerate video games. The video didn’t test out the possibility for VR, but I’d be VERY keen to find out if it’s workable. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BQ4bXNdEQI

    • This is one of those very bad sponsored video from Linus. He “tested” the latency at his office and he got very good latency. What he didn’t mention is he has a gigabit fiber connection to his office so it’s very non typical of the average home user. As far as I can tell Shadow hasn’t done anything new compared to Onlive and other streaming services. If thing’s have improved it’s that people’s internet on average have improved.
      Although if you are using anything that’s not fiber you’ll have latency since cable modems add at least ~8ms just for the cable loop part (Forget DSL, it’s unworkable). Then any latency from their data center to Shadow’s data center.

  • JACrazy

    So this is just amds version of TrinusVR?