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Score one for Team Red
🕑 Added 2025-05-25 17:19:38 +0000 UTC[Post 1 of 3 for R.E.A.L. VR release 20.1.0]
What's this? Where's Death Stranding? What's Luke been up to?
Okay. Let's start from the ending. I am going to publish a series of three different posts. The final one will be the release post for the game you saw in Brandon's teaser: Death Stranding Director's Cut.
But before that, you will get two surprise games that were not announced, which are going to be the subject of the next post I'm going to write.
So what is the current post for? What about Team Red?
As many of you know, I started my VR modding efforts a few years ago, and back then I was supporting NVIDIA and AMD video cards with more or less identical features.
However, as time went by and the number of modded titles grew, I was forced to leave AMD somewhat behind. The reasons for this were threefold: AMD cards stopped being competitive with NVIDIA, especially in VR where you need lots of raw power; the market share reflected that, with only 9% of my Patrons playing on AMD cards; and most importantly, the hardware and software capabilities exposed by AMD GPUs did not allow me to port my AER v2 and DL(S)SS implementations over, without undertaking a huge effort and time investment that would benefit few users and lead to mediocre results anyway.
Today, the situation has changed somewhat. NVIDIA is still king in terms of sheer performance, but a series of factors are making it a less and less attractive choice. Some of those, like the exponentially rising prices, scarce availability, huge power consumption/heat generation and so on, could still be tolerated within the boundaries of an enthusiast market. However, the increasing marketing/technology push toward the so-called "fake frames" trend (temporal upsampling that multiplies the perceived frame rate on a display monitor but is worthless in VR, due to restrictive implementation policies that make it unusable) is leading to a progressively worse price/performance ratio.
In the meantime, AMD's implementation (FidelityFX™ Super Resolution, or FSR for short) has gotten more and more competitive, to the point where even the guys at Digital Foundry are starting to be quite favorably impressed.
So these past few weeks I experimented with the Red side of the world (AMD, not China ^_^) and I am happy to announce that we now have a viable solution to get rid of the shimmering without the need for an NVIDIA card!
The solution is based on a third-party mod which is nothing short of amazing: OptiScaler by cdozdil. Thanks to that mod, in almost every game that supports DLSS upscaling, you can substitute AMD's FSR implementation and have it run effortlessly on AMD hardware. But from the game's point of view, the video buffers will still be produced in DLSS format, and that means that my R.E.A.L. VR mod can intercept them and fix the disocclusions by translating the calls to work in stereoscopic mode, thus getting rid of the shimmering around nearby objects and NPCs.
Unfortunately, these days companies move way slower than modders, so for AER v2 instead, where I need ROCm and HIP, I'm stuck waiting for AMD to extend support for their tech to Windows. Their current unofficial roadmap mentions Q3 2025 as a possible release window, but AMD has been known to delay their software stack implementations quite often. We'll see.
Nevertheless, even without AER v2, the improvements made possible by OptiScaler (enabling my DL(S)SS implementation) are quite dramatic. If you have an AMD card, try it in CP2077 when I publish the new release: the difference is night and day. (While you wait for the release, you can get a sneak peek by watching Brandon's video for the tech here: []-)
Instructions and caveats
To use DL(S)SS with your AMD GPU, first of all you will need to download Release 20.1.0 or later of the R.E.A.L. VR mod, which you'll find attached at the end of this post series. Remember that in order to update an existing installation of the mod, you need to run RealConfig again after extracting the archive and overwriting the old files. If you don't run RealConfig, the update won't work.
Launch the game in VR once, just to make sure that everything works correctly before complicating things with another mod installation.
Then, download the latest OptiScaler version from https://github.com/optiscaler/OptiScaler/releases and extract all the files in the exact same directory where you installed my mod, again overwriting older files in case of duplicates.
Be very careful with this next step: now you need to run "OptiScaler Setup.bat", and when it prompts you to choose a filename for OptiScaler, you'll want to select choice 8, "OptiScaler.asi". If you choose any other name, or just press Enter which will default to "dxgi.dll", my mod won't be able to find OptiScaler and patch it to enable VR support. Actually, if you choose the default option you will also get a file conflict because both mods will want to use dxgi.dll as the name of the injected library. So remember, at the first prompt you need to select OptiScaler.asi which is currently choice number 8.
For the remaining two prompts, namely GPU type and DLSS inputs, just select the default options instead (meaning that you'll use an AMD GPU, and that you will want DLSS inputs enabled).
NOTE: this whole procedure is only meant for AMD video card users. If your system is NVIDIA based, DL(S)SS is already supported natively by my mod and you don't need OptiScaler (installing it will probably only mess up your game configuration, unless you know what you're doing and have a specific purpose for it).
The next step is to run the game again and select DLSS as the upsampling technique. Most games will allow you to use DLSS without issues once OptiScaler is installed, although some of them may need additional tinkering. The current compatibility list can be found in the OptiScaler wiki. Do NOT activate frame generation of any kind, as it never works in VR and it will lead to crashes or freezes.
As I was saying above, AMD cards do not support my AER v2 technology yet, so make sure that the Render mode in the main page of the R.E.A.L. VR mod overlay is set to Legacy AER. Many games in my list implement the Camera rotation compensation, which means that turning the camera with the right controller stick will give you a smooth and fluid panning motion even with Legacy AER. Lateral movement (strafing for instance, or NPCs walking sideways in front of you) will still lead to some ghosting, visible as a left-right duplication of object edges. To get rid of that you'll need AER v2, which you can access today on NVIDIA systems, or hopefully in a few months from now if AMD keeps working on extending HIP/ROCm support to Windows and to their new cards.
Finally, an additional recommendation. On my system, if I use the NVIDIA GPU I get much better performance and fluidity by turning on HAGS (Hardware Accelerated GPU Scheduling) in the Graphics section of the Windows settings app. However, I was quite surprised to find out that the opposite holds for the AMD card: as soon as the GPU load increases toward 100%, my Quest 3 tracking gets all jittery if HAGS is turned on, while it remains perfectly stable when HAGS is off.
Do not take this as a general rule: it could very well be system-dependent. The important takeaway is that you might want to experiment turning HAGS on or off on your own system, and the results may vary if you swap in new hardware.
See you soon for the game posts!
Comments
Phil Medina
Wow don't ask me how but I got this working 70fps in cyberpunk on a 7600 xt with no ghosting and barley shimmering, thank you soon much luke. Performance isn't perfect but looks amazing and playable with my low end card with optiscaler.
wallcarpet40
A quick question about using Luke's VR mod with Optiscaler: can you guys activate both overlays, while your OpenXR runtime is running and the game is in VR-mode? I can only activate Luke's overlay and interact with it, but the Optiscaler one is not showing up in the headset or monitor. Once I disable my OpenXR runtime and run the game in monitor only, I can activate both overlays. Just wondering, if the Optiscaler is actually running, while I'm in VR-mode.
Brandon(Post Maester)
You would put the Optiscaler files in same game folder you put the REAL mod files in. Where the game's main .exe file is located.
Scott Thrustans
If you're not sure which folder the Optiscaler files are to go in... you Cut and/or Copy all the files inside the Optiscaler Folder that appears (once you've unzipped the downloaded file) into the x64 File then run the .bat
Brandon(Post Maester)
I'm looking at this now, but I don't have an AMD card, so I can't really test thoroughly. Can you use a previous release instead of using the newest one? So are you choosing to use DLSS inputs? It just seems to crash for me in Cyberpunk with an Nvidia GPU currently.
Gio Mamniashvili
I have installed Optiscaller (0.7.7-pre9) per instructions, but in game settings there is no DLSS available. Strangely though, FSR4 appeared (it wasn't there even after 2.3 patch). Selecting FSR4 doesn't fix the fuzzy edges and all the character's hair looks very fuzzy and pixelated too... I have noticed that optiscaller has this in description: "With this build and onwards, selecting Yes to DLSS Inputs (as AMD/Intel) no longer creates a nvngx.dll, since @FakeMichau managed to workaround that. Now only selecting No to DLSS Inputs should modify Optiscaler.ini and change Dxgi=auto to Dxgi=false) So, I was wondering as optiscaller doesn't use "dxgi.dll" file mentioned in this instruction, should I re-install it with default option? I guess Luke's VR mod doesn't detect it currently. What else should I try?
Brandon(Post Maester)
Link should be fixed. Maybe try the one in the post, just in case you were grabbing it from somewhere other than the Github or an outdated version or something like that. I'll try to take a look and see if the file names have changed or something.
Sean Schemelia
the link to optiscaler in this post is dead. when i went to just google OptiScaler and download it, upon opening windows setup, it prompted me that OptiScaler.dll was not found.
Brandon(Post Maester)
Still no AER V2 for AMD unfortunately. That would take a major effort to implement. I don't think Luke has the access he needs to AMD drivers to do that either, if I remember correctly. I remember him saying he would need to be in contact with someone from AMD if he was going to work on it. Not sure if that has changed or not.
Alex
So is the AER what smooths the camera panning and movement in the game? I’m on a 9070xt and I have got it looking really nice, the only problem left is the juddering movement when I turn using the controller or when things move past me.
Brandon(Post Maester)
The HUD is only head locked when you have a weapon out in Cyberpunk by default. You should be able to disable the headlock in the Cyberpunk tab of the REAL overlay if you really want to. I am glad to hear optiscaler is working well for you, that is a big positive for AMD users :)
xander
2nd time becoming a patreon trying to get this to work with meta quest 3 7800xt 5700x3d & link cable for CP2077. followed this post and definitely seem to get better frames 80-90 (way better than before) with the the opticscalor mod and dlss update for amd seemed to work (after i worked out i needed winrar to extract lol) - just cant get the HUD to follow head tracking for some reason now? anyone got any ideas? everyting has been reset to default
Brandon(Post Maester)
Can you look for the settings.cfg file in the game folder? It is in the main game folder for Steam version but I am wondering if it is in another folder for Game Pass.
tyler youngs
I notice in the post that it seems like it's required to have the game located in the c:xboxgames location, but mine is on d:. I don't have the space required to move this game to my C:. Is this still going to work for me? When i run the config it says it looks like it's never been run.
Brandon(Post Maester)
I don't have an AMD card unfortunately. I wonder if the DLSS version being super outdated matters at all. It is on DLSS 2.3 by default :)
Brandon(Post Maester)
lower the "reduce shaking" slider to 0 in the main tab of the REAL overlay. Other than that, lowering latency should help. If you are using AER V2 rendering mode latency should be pretty low unless you are not getting enough fps. You could also disable Hfov optimization in the overly main tab but that will cost you some performance. The game will then render beyond your horizontal fov, eating up some performance.
Adam McCarty 81
Hello I've got doom eternal running pretty good it's just a little shakey when I move my head around and I can see black edges coming from both sides of the headset I've tried using dlss and it only makes it worse or straight freezes the game any help with this I'm using a quest 3 with my graphics card is a nvidia 4060 ti?
Luis Peniche
Finally support for AMD, in gratitude I paid my subscription again, I couldn't activate DLSS with Optiscaler in DoomE, if someone could let me know how, in Cyberpunk I could do it and it improved a lot but still pass configurations to improve the image more
LukeRoss
No, that's not the case. OptiScaler supports everything from FSR 2 up
FRosty neON
Thanks...I have a 7900xtx and was already happy with your Mod....can't wait!!
Josh A
I heard Optiscaler only works with newer AMD RDNA4 cards so anything under 7000 will not work correct? Im running a 6900xt
JMSlider
This is all absolutely amazing. I'm on tenterhooks waiting for the SW Outlaws fix. ♥♥♥
Kprime23
It is trully amazing that you can support AMD as well, Luke, you never cease to surprise us. Welcome to all AMD users!!! On a side note, I was wondering if you could implement AERv2 with the 2d option, if that could be done plus some kind of "depth based 3D" like Superdepth3D it would be revolutionary. This would instantly duplicate performance (resolution) plus get rid of all the artifacts of RayReconstruction or the ones generated with the DLSS fix. I personally prefer the artifacts introduced by this technique (at double resolution) that the artifacts in real 3D generated by Ray Reconstruction or the DLSS fix, specially for 3rd person games. Keep up the amazing work Luke, you are by far the best VR solution available today (and UEVR is great, but REAL is in another level, specially if you don't have much time and want a plug-n-play solution)
Brandon(Post Maester)
Absolutely not.
VRCrazy
Im feeling an Oblivion Remaster moment happening, wheres my golf club?
Heart
Holy hell I've been waiting for this for my 7900 XTX. Thank you Luke. ♥
VRCrazy
Anyone who wants to upgrade Death Stranding to the directors cut, £3.60/$4.80 on Eneba
Brandon(Post Maester)
I can confirm there is lots of banging! My wife actually got mad at me for all the noise :(
JA
Nice! I find hags weird as some games it helps on but some cant even run with it on like Oblivion in uevr. Im excited again now cus i didnt really wanna play death stranding but wanted a new game with the AER tec as even with my 5060ti 16gb ubgrade UEVR struggles big time but i can run KCD2 cyberpunk and all your mods at way higher settings and still be stable so hoping for one of the two surprise games to be a banger lmao
Cercata
Seeing how well are selling the 9070XT, is the way to go !!!! Full support for Chi ... I mean, AMD
Brandon(Post Maester)
in person is really the only option in that time period 🤪
bpi
Got the mod 2 days ago and was disappointed in the AMD features, crazy timing
VRCrazy
I officially prefer VR modders over native VR games, I never thought Id say it but mobile VR games have killer native VR. The main focus is floaty hands, no body or no legs and N64 graphics. I just want to be teleported into the game, I dont need full body control, some games its nice but if I wanna couch play, Luke Ross is number 1, so many options unlike native VR, none of these crappy default comfort settings only for VR newbs. Death Stranding is a dream come true, probably the most imersive open world game Ive ever played, I go hiking and up mountains, its bloidy hard and slow just Like DS. Now youre telling me I get 2 more games aswell, my brain is about to explode.
Brandon(Post Maester)
It is much more than a walking sim! Just grab it on CDkeys for like $10-15. Worth checking out. Especially if you like Kojima's cinematic game style.
Brent McNeil
Yeah, HAGS is the new go-to first thing to toggle now anytime I'm having issues. Half the time it fixes them, either by being on or off. Hopefully with time hags will be more consistant. Until then it will stay as step one on my checklist. Since I know at least one main game I play -needs- it off, and a few -need- it on.
Joël Querci
Really Nice performance!!! You are a really great devgod!!! Now I am waiting for the three games like a Virgin in KCD2 wainting to see me in person (thanks to you) 😝😝😝
Brandon(Post Maester)
Thank you, for going the extra mile to support AMD!!
michael whatley
Not a amd user but fantastic work for users that are☺️ evet game so far is a hit for me but people say the game in teaser is just a walking sim so may hold of on £40 on that one will carry on supporting tho been worth it alone for all souls games fantastic work
