OpenVR

OpenVR is a software development kit and application programming interface created by Valve Corporation to enable virtual reality hardware and software to communicate with the SteamVR runtime. It provides a hardware abstraction layer that allows applications to run on multiple VR headsets and input devices without device-specific code, enabling broader compatibility across the SteamVR ecosystem. The API is designed to be vendor- and device-agnostic, with drivers supplied by headset makers or the community.

OpenVR divides its functionality into a runtime and a set of drivers. The runtime exposes interfaces for tracking data, input from controllers, and rendering coordination. Drivers implement support for specific headsets and peripherals and communicate with the hardware. The SteamVR compositor merges per-eye renders, applies time warp and other latency-reduction techniques, and coordinates with the hardware to present frames to the user. Features commonly used with OpenVR include room-scale tracking, chaperone boundaries, and haptic feedback.

OpenVR-library and drivers are distributed as part of SteamVR. Developers can access OpenVR through supported engine bindings, such as Unity and Unreal Engine plugins, enabling access to pose data, input, and action mappings. The system is designed to accommodate a wide range of devices, including Valve’s own VR hardware and third-party headsets that provide OpenVR drivers.

Status and context: OpenVR predates the OpenXR standard and continues to be supported within SteamVR as a path for legacy and certain ecosystem devices, even as OpenXR-based workflows gain adoption for cross-platform VR development.