OpenVRenabled

OpenVRenabled is a configuration flag used within the Unity game engine to activate support for the OpenVR XR plugin. When set to true, Unity’s runtime loads the OpenVR plugin and enables the engine to communicate with OpenVR-compatible virtual reality hardware such as the HTC Vive, Valve Index, and other head‑mounted displays that implement the OpenVR API. The flag is typically found in the project’s XR plugin management settings or can be toggled programmatically via scripting.

The OpenVR plugin was introduced by SteamVR developers to provide a unified software layer that maps VR hardware interfaces to application code. By enabling OpenVRenabled, developers can build VR experiences that target multiple headsets without each requiring a separate SDK. Unity’s integration with OpenVR also exposes a set of runtime features, including spatial tracking, input handling, and rendering pipelines that are optimized for the target hardware.

Enabling OpenVRenabled in a Unity project automatically registers the OpenVR input and display subsystems with the XR Manager. Developers can then use standard XR components, such as the XR Interaction Toolkit, to create interactive virtual worlds. The configuration is persistently stored in the project's XR settings XML file and can be shared across team members.

Users often enable OpenVRenabled when targeting SteamVR-distributed content, as it provides a straightforward path to support a broad class of devices. However, developers must be aware of platform-specific shader and performance differences that may arise when switching between OpenVR and alternative XR backends such as Oculus or Windows Mixed Reality. Further, the OpenVR plugin is maintained by Valve, and its feature set may evolve independently of Unity’s release cycle. The OpenVRenabled flag thus represents a bridge between Unity’s abstraction layer and the open‑source VR runtime, facilitating cross‑hardware support while centralizing runtime management.