Summary

• A fan successfully recreated the City 17 scene from Half-Life: Alyx for the Meta Quest 3.
• The Meta Quest 3 has limitations when it comes to independently playing high-graphics VR games.
• Novikov made the Unity version available for other Quest 3 users.

In a remarkable achievement, a fan of Half-Life: Alyx has successfully adapted the iconic City 17 scene to function on the standalone Meta Quest 3. While the device can connect to a PC for higher fidelity VR experiences, it traditionally does not support graphically intensive games without such a connection.

The Meta Quest 3 is a powerful standalone device, but it struggles with graphically demanding VR games unless linked to a performing PC. This limitation does not deter committed fans, as demonstrated by Novikov’s innovative work with Valve’s acclaimed VR title.

Novikov utilized the game’s assets—like audio, physics interactions, and character models—and restructured them within Unity to create an operating version of the scene for the Quest 3. A demonstration video showcases his journey through City 17, with a few frame rate drops, yet reaching upwards of 72 FPS at times.

Could The Meta Quest 3 Play Half-Life Alyx Without a PC?

Inspired by advancements in technology since Half-Life: Alyx was first launched, Novikov speculated that the XR2 Gen 2 chipset in the Quest 3 had the potential to run the scene effectively, and it turns out he was right. Rumors also suggest that Valve may be working on a new standalone VR headset with capabilities similar to those of the Quest 3, potentially allowing players to experience demanding VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx without being tethered to a PC.

For those interested in testing out Novikov’s adaptation, he has shared the APK that contains the Unity version. However, only Quest 3 users can try it, as the earlier Quest versions lack the necessary power. This endeavor underscores the growing capabilities of mobile GPUs and hints at an optimistic future for VR.