Modern VR foundation
- Upgraded the game to Unreal Engine 5.8.
- Migrated VR integration to OpenXR and updated supporting plugins.
- Updated controller mappings and grip handling for modern controller profiles.
- Adjusted the default BOP angle for new Quest 3 settings to 25%. Existing saved angle preferences are preserved.
Tested upgrades for Quest series headset but upgraded bindings and settings should work generically.
Performance and bug fixes
- Fixed a major scene-transition hitch that appeared when entering scenes containing large capital ships. Repeated headset tests confirmed the affected transitions were smooth after the fix.
- Added safeguards against a physical-animation timing issue encountered during migration.
- Fixed startup audio errors when an audio device is unavailable.
- Restored compatibility for legacy VR resolution and anti-aliasing settings in the upgraded engine.
Safer startup and Steam compatibility
Added a headset-neutral startup check. If a VR connection cannot be established, the game displays instructions and closes before entering gameplay.
Updated the Steam integration as it was 5 years old.