Meta’s “Avalanche” PC VR Cloud Streaming System Revealed
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has unveiled its long-awaited “Avalanche” PC VR cloud streaming system. The French gaming outlet, GamerGen, provided a glimpse of the new feature on one of their Quest 3 headsets during a recent livestream. The “Activate Avalanche (Alpha)” option appeared in the Experimental settings, allowing users to launch cloud gaming sessions.
Although the description of the setting indicated the ability to play blockbuster games such as Lone Echo, an error message prevented GamerGen from launching the Avalanche session. This error suggests that the feature is still in development and encountering issues.
The existence of Avalanche was first discovered by Quest firmware dataminer, Samulia, back in April 2022. The code snippet “AVALANCHE_CLOUD_GAMING_INFRA_ENABLED” was found, indicating that development on Avalanche has been underway for at least four years since Quest firmware version 24.
Interestingly, this is not the first time the “Enable Avalanche (Alpha)” option has appeared. Two years ago, a redditor shared a screenshot showing a similar option on their Quest 2. They reported a brief period of decent gameplay before encountering some lag and an error message.
The potential of Avalanche is significant, as it could bring popular PC Oculus Rift games like Lone Echo and Asgard’s Wrath to Quest owners who do not have a gaming PC. However, the quality of the cloud streaming experience depends heavily on the user’s internet connection. High latency and judder can occur if the server is far away or if the connection quality is poor.
It is worth noting that Meta’s stance on cloud VR streaming has been controversial. They previously banned apps like Virtual Desktop and PlutoSphere from streaming PC VR games to Quest headsets. If Meta moves forward with its own cloud VR streaming feature, it may face accusations of anti-competitive practices.
In the meantime, VR enthusiasts eagerly await the official launch of Avalanche and hope for an improved cloud gaming experience on Quest headsets.
Additional facts about Meta’s “Avalanche” PC VR cloud streaming system:
1. Meta’s Avalanche system aims to bring high-quality PC VR gaming experiences to Quest headset owners without the need for a powerful gaming PC.
2. The system will utilize Meta’s cloud infrastructure to stream VR games to Quest headsets, allowing users to play graphically demanding games without the need for local hardware.
3. Avalanche is expected to offer a selection of popular PC VR games, including titles like Lone Echo and Asgard’s Wrath.
4. The success of the cloud streaming experience will depend on factors such as the user’s internet connection quality, latency, and proximity to the server location.
5. Avalanche has been in development for at least four years, as indicated by code snippets found in Quest firmware dating back to 2018.
6. Meta’s previous stance on cloud VR streaming has been controversial, with the company banning third-party apps that allowed PC VR streaming to Quest headsets.
7. The availability of Avalanche may raise concerns about anti-competitive practices, as Meta is both the platform provider and the game content owner.
8. VR enthusiasts have high hopes for Avalanche and anticipate an improved cloud gaming experience on Quest headsets with the official launch.
Key questions and answers regarding Meta’s “Avalanche” PC VR cloud streaming system:
Q: What is the purpose of Avalanche?
A: Avalanche aims to bring PC VR gaming experiences to Quest headset owners without the need for a gaming PC.
Q: How long has Avalanche been in development?
A: Development on Avalanche has been underway for at least four years, as indicated by code snippets found in Quest firmware dating back to 2018.
Q: What are the potential challenges with cloud streaming?
A: The quality of the cloud streaming experience depends heavily on the user’s internet connection. High latency and judder can occur if the server is far away or if the connection quality is poor.
Q: What concerns may arise due to Meta’s involvement in cloud VR streaming?
A: Meta’s previous ban on third-party apps for PC VR streaming raises concerns about anti-competitive practices if the company moves forward with its own cloud VR streaming feature.
Advantages of Meta’s “Avalanche” PC VR cloud streaming system:
1. Access to high-quality PC VR games without the need for a gaming PC.
2. Potential cost savings for Quest headset owners who would otherwise need to invest in expensive hardware.
3. Expanded gaming library for Quest users, with access to popular PC VR titles.
4. Flexibility to play graphically demanding games on lower-end hardware.
Disadvantages of Meta’s “Avalanche” PC VR cloud streaming system:
1. Dependence on a stable and high-speed internet connection.
2. Potential latency and judder issues if the server is far away or if the internet connection quality is poor.
3. Uncertain availability of games on the platform, as Meta has control over content distribution.
4. Concerns about anti-competitive practices due to Meta’s previous ban on third-party PC VR streaming apps.
Suggested related links:
– Meta VR
– Oculus website
– Quest 2 VR website
