I know this can be a bit confusing, so here is a step-by-step guide for getting openxr and necksafer. This is for WMR headsets (i.e. reverbs). The fps boost is incredible for a lot of people and worth it. It will bypass steam and give you scaling and other options that are very worth it (i.e. shaking reduction, which will be explained below). If I miss anything, please let know. It took me a bit to figure this all out, and there didn't seem to be a step-by-step that I could find.
How to get openxr and the toolkit running:
1) Go tohttps://gitlab.com/znixian/OpenOVR/-/tree/openxrand download the open composite launcher- reference the pic- it is highlighted in blue. Just to be safe, also download the DLL for 32 or 64 bit (usually 64 bit is what you need), also highlighted in blue. Save them wherever you want on your PC.
2) Go tohttps://mbucchia.github.io/OpenXR-Toolkit/and download the openXR toolkit (the blue button that says "download the latest"). Save it wherever you want.
3) Unzip the OpenComposite folder you downloaded (openxr) and then run the program. It's a simple program that will let you switch between using OpenComposite or SteamVr. Switch to OpenComposite once the DLLs finish automatically downloading.
4) Just to be safe, you should take the openvr_api.dll that you also downloaded (in step 1) and paste it into Il-2's bin/game folder (usually C:\Steam\SteamApps\common\IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Stalingrad\bin\game). It will overwrite the openvr_api.dll that is already there, so back up the dll if you wish. You can now play Il-2 without SteamVR running. For me, the easiest way to do this is to go into steam, launch the game, and then select launch in VR. The game will launch in VR without SteamVR starting.
5) Run the OpenXR Toolkit setup file that you downloaded in step 2, and install the program. Open the program, and you will notice a white box at the bottom. It should be empty. Close the program.
6) Run Il-2. Go into Steam and hit play, and launch in VR when presented with the option. The game should launch in VR without SteamVR starting. Exit the game and open the OpenXR toolkit again. You should see something like "OpenComposite_Il-2(Il-2.exe)" in the white box at the bottom now, and you should make sure it is CHECKED. You can now use the OpenXR tools in game.
7) Launch Il-2 again in VR, and hit CTRL+F2 once the game loads. The toolkit menu should open up and you can now modify settings to your liking. By default, CTRL+F1 navigates left, CTRL+F2 navigates down, and CTRL+F3 Navigates right. Here are the settings that I think are important, but you should decide what is best for you.
Under SYSTEM:
-override the resolution (if using a G2) and set to 3176x (the same 100% resolution steamvr uses- this is important because when you adjust size/scaling it will base off this res)
-make sure all reprojection is off
Under PERFORMANCE:
-Upscaling NIS (NIS is better for ID'ing of planes than FSR, imo. This is subjective however.)
-size 75% (this is the scaling- so if you set it to 75% it will scale at 75% of the 3176x resolution you set)
-Sharpness 90% (Having this set to a high value really helps, and doesn't cause much shimmer at all imo)
-anamorphic off
-Mip map bias off
Under APPEARANCE:
-Change the world scale if desired. I think things look too small, so change it to 112%
-You have the option of turning post-processing ON and then altering values like contrasts, brightness, etc. I prefer the contrast to be bumped up just a hair, to 60.
Under INPUTS:
-Change "Shaking Reduction" to -40. This is HUGE imo. A big problem when zooming in while using VR is that the headset will pick up micro shaking in your HMD, and the planes will jitter all over the place, making the ID'ing of planes very difficult. This removes the jitter.
*You will have to restart the game for the changes to take effect. Enjoy your increase in FPS and easier ID'ing of planes.
*You do NOT have to open the toolkit and opencomposite launcher when starting the game anymore.
How to Get NeckSafer working:
-Download the file athttps://gitlab.com/NobiWan/xrnecksafer- it will be titledXRNeckSaferBeta2b.zip. Save it wherever you like.
-Unzip the folder once downloaded.
-Copy and paste ONLY the OpenXrApiLayer folder into your program files folder (usually c:\program files)
-Go to program files\OpenXrApiLayer folder and run "Install-XR_APILAYER_NOVENDOR_XRNeckSafer.ps1" as a PowerShell script (right click on it and select "Execute with PowerShell"). This will install the API Layer.
-Open the XRNeckSaferApp.exe. You now have necksafer and can modify the settings to your liking. Refer to the link for a description on how to set it up how you prefer.
Big thank you to the creators. These are amazing tools for Il-2 in VR imo!
