OpenXR or Native SDK: What Runs Your VR Apps?

What is OpenXR?

OpenXR is an open, royalty-free standard from the Khronos Group that defines a common application programming interface (API) for virtual reality and mixed reality platforms. It allows a VR app written once to run on any headset whose runtime supports OpenXR, without the developer having to rewrite code for each brand.

Many VR runtimes today are OpenXR-compatible. SteamVR, the platform behind the Valve Index and many PC VR headsets, is an OpenXR runtime. The Oculus runtime on Meta headsets also supports OpenXR. This means an app built with OpenXR can work on a Valve Index, a Meta Quest connected to a PC, or an HTC VIVE headset, as long as the runtime is present.

OpenXR does not replace a headset's own software; it sits between the app and the runtime, translating calls into the hardware-specific instructions. For more on how OpenXR relates to SteamVR, see the OpenXR vs SteamVR article. This makes it easier for developers to target multiple headsets and for buyers to have a wider selection of apps.

What is a Native SDK?

A native SDK (software development kit) is a set of tools, libraries, and documentation provided by a headset maker for building apps specifically for its hardware. Examples include Sony's PlayStation VR2 SDK, HTC's VIVE SDK, and Valve's own SteamVR SDK (though SteamVR also supports OpenXR).

Native SDKs give developers access to hardware-specific features that OpenXR may not expose in the same way, such as eye tracking, foveated rendering, haptics, or advanced controller inputs. An app written with a native SDK can be more tightly integrated with the headset, but it will only run on that brand's platform or on other headsets that implement the same SDK (which is rare).

For the buyer, a native SDK means the headset has its own app ecosystem. For example, PlayStation VR2 has its own library of games available through the PlayStation Store, and those games are built with Sony's SDK. They will not run on a PC VR headset unless the developer also releases a separate version.

How OpenXR and Native SDKs Compare

In practice, many developers use both: they write the core app with OpenXR for broad compatibility and add native SDK code for brand-specific features. This is common on headsets like the VIVE Focus Vision, which supports SteamVR (OpenXR) and also offers its own SDK for features like eye and face tracking.

What This Means for Your Choice

When you choose a VR headset, the question is not which API is better, but which apps you want to run and which features you need. If you plan to play a wide variety of PC VR games from Steam or other stores, a headset that supports OpenXR through SteamVR is a safe choice. The Valve Index, HTC VIVE headsets, and many Pimax models all use SteamVR, so they can run the same library of OpenXR-compatible apps.

If you are buying a PlayStation VR2, you are choosing a native ecosystem. The headset uses Sony's own SDK, and its games are exclusive to the PlayStation Store (unless the developer also releases a PC version via the PS VR2 PC adapter, which then runs through SteamVR). Similarly, a standalone headset like the VIVE Focus Vision can run apps from its own app store (native SDK) or connect to a PC for SteamVR apps (OpenXR).

For buyers who want to use advanced hardware features like eye tracking or full-body tracking, check whether those features are supported through OpenXR extensions or only through the native SDK. The VIVE Focus Vision, for example, offers eye tracking and face tracking that can be accessed via its native SDK and also through OpenXR extensions in some apps.

How to Check a Headset's Support

The easiest way to check is to look at the maker's product page for mentions of SteamVR, OpenXR, or the headset's own app store. For example:

The VIVE Focus Vision page states it works with SteamVR and has a DisplayPort mode for PC VR, which means it supports OpenXR through SteamVR. It also has its own standalone app ecosystem, which uses a native SDK.

The Valve Index page is built entirely around SteamVR, an OpenXR runtime. Every app on Steam that supports OpenXR will run on the Index.

The PlayStation VR2 page describes its own game library and the PS VR2 PC adapter, which lets it run SteamVR apps. That means it supports OpenXR when connected to a PC, but its native SDK is used for PlayStation Store games.

Pimax headsets are marketed for flight simulation and sim racing, and they work with SteamVR, so they are OpenXR-compatible as well.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Does OpenXR work on all VR headsets?

OpenXR works on any headset whose runtime supports it. Most modern PC VR headsets (Valve Index, HTC VIVE, Pimax, Meta Quest via PC link) have OpenXR runtimes. PlayStation VR2 supports OpenXR only when connected to a PC via the PS VR2 PC adapter. Standalone headsets may support OpenXR only when tethered to a PC.

Can I play SteamVR games on a PlayStation VR2?

Yes, if you use the PlayStation VR2 PC adapter. The adapter lets you connect the headset to a PC and run SteamVR apps, which are OpenXR-compatible. Without the adapter, PS VR2 only plays games from the PlayStation Store.

Is a native SDK better for performance than OpenXR?

A native SDK can offer better performance for brand-specific features because it is optimized for that hardware. However, OpenXR is designed to be efficient and many apps achieve similar performance. The difference is usually small and depends on how the developer implements the API.

How do I know if a headset supports OpenXR?

Check the maker's product page for mentions of SteamVR, OpenXR, or PC VR compatibility. For example, the VIVE Focus Vision page lists SteamVR support, which implies OpenXR. The Valve Index page is entirely SteamVR-based. If a headset works with SteamVR, it supports OpenXR.

Can a headset use both OpenXR and a native SDK at the same time?

Yes. Many headsets have a native SDK for their own app store and also support OpenXR for PC VR apps. The VIVE Focus Vision is an example: it runs standalone apps via its native SDK and PC VR apps via SteamVR (OpenXR).

What is the difference between SteamVR and OpenXR?

SteamVR is a runtime that implements OpenXR. OpenXR is the standard API; SteamVR is one of several runtimes that support it. When an app uses OpenXR, it can run on any runtime that supports OpenXR, including SteamVR, Oculus, and Windows Mixed Reality.