Publishing Your Game: Building for PCVR

Building for PCVR allows your game to run on SteamVR‑compatible headsets such as Valve Index, HTC Vive, Rift S, and Windows Mixed Reality.
PCVR builds are easier than Quest builds because they don’t require Android packaging — but they still need proper configuration for stability and performance.

This page walks you through preparing, building, and packaging your PCVR version for platforms like itch.io, SideQuest (PCVR section), or direct download.

1. Switch Platform to Windows

In Unity:

1. Open File → Build Settings

2. Select PC, Mac & Linux Standalone

3. Set Target Platform: Windows

4. Set Architecture: x86_64

5. Click Switch Platform

Windows builds must be 64‑bit.

2. Required Player Settings (Windows)

Inside Project Settings → Player → Windows:

A. Identification

• Company Name

• Product Name

• Version Number (e.g., 1.0.0)

B. Resolution & Presentation

• Fullscreen Mode: Fullscreen Window

• Default Resolution: 1920×1080

• Resizable Window: ON

• Run in Background: ON

C. Other Settings

• Scripting Backend: IL2CPP

• Api Compatibility Level: .NET Standard 2.1

• Graphics API: DirectX11 (recommended)

• Vulkan: OFF unless required

D. XR Settings

Inside XR Plug‑in Management:

Enable:

• OpenXR

Disable:

• Oculus (Legacy)

• MockHMD

• Any unused XR providers

Under OpenXR → Features, enable:

• SteamVR / Windows Mixed Reality support (Unity auto‑detects based on installed runtimes)

• Hand Tracking (optional)

3. Quality Settings for PCVR

PCVR can handle more than Quest, but optimization still matters.

Recommended:

• Anti‑Aliasing: 4x

• Shadows: Hard Shadows or Low Soft Shadows

• Texture Quality: Full Res

• Anisotropic Textures: Per Texture

• VSync: OFF (VR handles its own sync)

4. Scene Setup Requirements

Before building:

• Add all scenes to Build Settings

• Ensure Menu Scene is first

• Ensure Room Scene is included

• Ensure all maps are included

• Bake lighting if used

• Remove unused assets

• Fix all console errors

A clean console = a stable build.

5. Building the PCVR Version

In Build Settings:

1. Select PC, Mac & Linux Standalone

2. Set Target Platform: Windows

3. Set Architecture: x86_64

4. Click Build

5. Choose a folder

6. Unity generates a folder containing:

• YourGame.exe

• YourGame_Data folder

• Required DLLs

Do NOT zip the folder yet.
Some platforms require specific packaging.

6. Packaging for itch.io

itch.io accepts:

• ZIP files

• RAR files

• 7z files

Recommended:

1. Create a folder named:
   YourGame_v1.0.0_PCVR

2. Place the entire build inside

3. ZIP the folder

4. Upload to itch.io

5. Set the file as:

• Windows

• Executable

Add release notes and version numbers.

7. Packaging for SideQuest (PCVR Section)

SideQuest also accepts ZIP files.

1. ZIP your build folder

2. Upload to SideQuest

3. Add screenshots, description, and version number

SideQuest PCVR is optional but useful for visibility.

8. Testing Your PCVR Build

Before publishing, test:

• SteamVR launch

• Movement

• Multiplayer

• Region selection

• Room creation/join

• Player spawning

• Cosmetics syncing

• Map collisions

• Lighting

• Performance

• Audio levels

PCVR builds often reveal issues that don’t appear on Quest.

9. Common PCVR Build Issues

A. Game opens on monitor but not in VR

Usually caused by:

• OpenXR not enabled

• SteamVR runtime not set as active

• Wrong graphics API

B. Black screen on launch

Often caused by:

• Missing OpenXR features

• Incorrect resolution settings

• Corrupted build folder

C. Missing DLL errors

Caused by:

• Deleting required Unity files

• Incorrect packaging

D. VR controllers not tracking

Caused by:

• Wrong OpenXR interaction profiles

• Missing SteamVR runtime