Recently I came across my old Oculus DK2, my first HMD and although in that location ware no existent games for information technology, the device made me purchase a HTC Vive 🙂

The Oculus Evolution kit 2 (DK2) was released back in 2022. Long before Facebook even tough near putting its greedy fingers on Oculus, and long before the release of the Oculus rift and the HTC Vive.

The DK2 was alee of its fourth dimension with specs relatively close to the after released Oculus Rift and HTC Vive (2016).

Oculus DK2 Oculus Rift HTC VIVE
Resolution 960×1080 per eye
1920×1080 total		 1080×1200 per middle
2160 x 1200 full		 1080×1200 per eye
2160 x 1200 total
Display Type OLED OLED AMOLED
Refresh rate 75Hz 90Hz 90Hz
Room scale No Yes Aye
Controllers No Yes Yes

Although the DK2 lacks room scale and controller support information technology can even so be very useful for simulation type content such as Space/flying sims and race sims. in my example i wanted to try Aristocracy dangerous on it because my "normal" Vive setup is non ideal for playing siting games.

Although the DK2 is no longer supported officially, information technology still works with the regular Oculus software, there are however a number of "problems" because the DK2 does non support controllers

Lets start with downloading the Oculus software from there site: https://www.oculus.com/setup/. nosotros demand the version for the original Rift which is located at the bottom of the page.

During the installation the installer will download around half-dozen GB of data (information technology looks like a lot, merely steam VR is besides around 6GB). I won't show the installation (you tin can only click next anyway).

After the installation is complete you will have to configure the application:

First you will have to logon to the store, this can exist done with a Facebook account (I don't similar Facebook and don't have an business relationship so I used my old Oculus business relationship)
Subsequently signing in, the wizard asks for a location to download games to. If you plan on using the shop you will probably desire to select a location with lots of gratuitous space.
I did skip setting upwards a payment method (I only need the software for Steam VR).
Y'all will need to skip the headset selection window (the DK2 is not listed). Don't worry we will ready this later.
Directly after finishing the initial wizard the application will detect your DK2 (if its plugged in) and it volition inquire you to setup your "Rift".
Just select next
And select skip during the setup (the "Rift" will not be detected considering we don't have a Rift)
Yes we desire to skip the setup 😉
And in that location information technology is, the DK2 is fully detected (orange low-cal is a USB2 connection, an USB3 connection is recommended for the IR camera)

Dainty, the DK2 is detected and should piece of work (display image and track movement). Only nosotros are not there yet, we have a big "health and safety" notice in the middle of the screen. And nosotros won't be able to display SteamVR games on the DK2 because the Oculus application disables this by default (Cheers Facebook).

Navigate to the "settings" tab (on the left side of the screen) and select the "General" tab at the acme of the screen.
Now Enable the detect subsequently "Allow Unknown Sources" (SteamVR).

Yous will exist greeted by the following popup, select "Allow" to let SteamVR to display games on your DK2.

Next upward is the big "health and prophylactic" notice. disable the switch subsequently "Rift and Touch Rubber".

Select Play video at present on the popup.
Review the Video or skip it.
Acknowledge the health and prophylactic detect
Your settings screen should now look like this.
Now we demand to restart the Oculus software for the settings to take effect (or restart the reckoner if you similar). You can restart the Oculus software by clicking: "Settings"->"Beta"->"Restart Oculus".

Running Games 🙂

To run a Steam game on the DK2 yous will need to beginning the applications in the right order (otherwise it volition not be outputted to the DK2.

  • Start the Oculus software, and wait until the DK2 turns on and display's output;
  • Start SteamVR and wait until the DK2 shows the SteamVR output;
  • Commencement the Game;
  • Take fun playing games 🙂
SteamVR even has icons for the Rift/DK2 🙂

I hope this was helpful if you find yourself with a DK2.

Featured image from extremeTech