DCS Meta Quest3 Hand Tracking Tutorial

In this video we look into how to enable Meta Quest3 hand-tracking feature in DCS World. I also provide the hints on how to bypass current V63 Meta Link issue with Virtual Desktop app, and still have excellent quality, and hand tracking support.
You'll need to enable Developer Mode in your MetaQuest3, for this check tutorials online, for example this one: / k7odgqw
For the custom DCS.exe shortcut please use these parameters (substitute location of DCS folder with yours):
Target: "C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\bin-mt\DCS.exe" --force_enable_VR --force_OpenXR
Run in folder: "C:\Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\bin-mt"

[@heeder777]

I got this to work after a bit of head scratching. First make sure you have developer mode enabled. Otherwise you can’t find all the settings that are needed. I admit I’m a Virtual Dummy😂 I’ll need to play with the setting more but I could push buttons and use the gear handle. I used the F-16 module so I can confirm that it works with that. I have a Leap Frog 2 I’d like to try out since DCS has support for that. All in all it was a fun experiment. I also have to use virtual desktop. I have a 4070ti and have most of my settings set at default for ultra in VR desktop. Keep up the good work on this. I’m sure we can expect more for hand tracking improvements from DCS if it continues to gain more interest.

[@chaosmaxx5459]

Can you use hand tracking whit quest 3 whitout virtual desktop?

[@VRFlightSimGuy]

This is fantastic. Thanks for sharing, I've gotta give this a go soon. Great content :)

[@_zeranom]

AMAZING ! This is that for I was looking for. Thank you very much 🙏

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

Happy to help!

[@ParaglidingManiac]

Unique and modern tutorial. Thank you!

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

You welcome!

[@albertleinsoo]

Interesting. I,ll try it later. I just mannaged to enable click and scroll

[@3nn3m1]

Thank you very much for sharing. I fought almost an entire day before to succed...Why!? Because "Steam stand alone" must be used instead "DCS Steam" 😂

[@clement617]

Nice feature ! Thank you , I will try

[@AhSoul]

Thanks for this. I can see the Trackers option in the DCS settings but when I go in-cockpit I can't see my hands. I can see the Meta symbol so clearly my hands are being tracked. I'm using VD with the tracking options turned on and v64 Meta version.

[@AhSoul]

Turns out I needed to reinstall the VD app on the Q3 itself :)

[@chaosmaxx5459]

Can you do it whitout VD app, just on linck cable?

[@demdirtyboyz247]

Only on VD, can't use PCVR via Link and set this up?

[@justinallen2285]

How did you change your starting screen to that aircraft carrier. Mine is a mig 29 but yours is a f18 on a carrier @ 3:22

[@sickboypy]

yeah! please make a tutorial video on how to do that, it looks way cooler than the mig 29

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

I'm thinking on general tutorial on mods for DCS

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

This is a mod for starting screen

[@Famasification]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS could you give us the lua file of your starting screen please ? :) thank you in advance !

[@eontech64]

Thank you!!

[@Famasification]

Can you give us the link of the mod to be on the carrier when you are in the menu ? 😊 I love it !

[@christopherbrown1371]

i have two questions: 1)you able to pull the gun trigger with this set up?? of so how does it work? 2) do you loose tracking / hold on the flight stick when trying to look to the side or behind you with this set up??

[@tavilha9077]

Thank you very much for this video! However, I’ve done everything you described, except using Virtual Desktop now that the Quest fix is out, and in the DCS->options->VR menu I only have “controllers” and “disable” available. “Trackers” doesn’t show. Any idea on how to fix this? Thank you

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

Make sure you run it in OpenXR mode, also please check that your Quest has Developer features enabled. It's interesting why it doesn't work for you.

[@tavilha9077]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJfdoH-rqtedY6Msi=aSV0WdrxFcYPc798 I must be doing something wrong but can’t figure out what

[@tavilha9077]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJfdoH-rqtedY6Msi=74AfpxfyWVoaGAN_ I must be doing something wrong, just can’t figure out what

[@Digger513]

I've noticed the same thing as well.

[@minhocajaponesa]

Thx, i'll try.

[@dogsbd]

I've tried this a couple of times but my hands just don't show up in DCS.

[@DavieeSwavy]

Okay so I'm having a problem. I did everything and I turned it to hands. It doesn't say trackers for some reason. My hands appear for about 5 seconds then disappear. Help me

[@SuperYooper11]

I would love it if someone would post the "work around" for us Quest users that have the V63 bug. I am almost completely computer illiterate and need my hand held with these things.

[@supermilo]

DCS update, with the openXR fix is due out tomorrow.

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

I use Virtual Desktop as substitute at the moment

[@supermilo]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS yeah me too but I can't seem to get decent performance and good quality at the same time...

[@supermilo]

But, I now have HANDS! Thank you so much for that!

[@Myterriers]

So I tried this out with the a10c Warthog and whilst it worked OK the problem is you have no control of the stick buttons IE TMS, DMS, CMS and all the other critical flight stick options.The same for the Throttle control butttons. Also there is no force feedback on the flight stick or throttle. I currently use my HOTAS with muscle memory to overcome these issues. I’m hopeful for the future of VR in DCS. Thanks for your video it was both helpful and informative.

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

Thanks for checking! With hand tracking (no controllers, just hands) you can still use your HOTAS, this is what I do, fly with tactile stick and throttle, and use hands to click on up-front buttons.

[@nimitzg]

Excellent content! is it supported for the Kiowa module?

[@HuDz1966]

I definately need to give this a try, could replace my MFDs? Is there a binding to show/hide both hands? Not just left or right?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

I didn't found binding for both hands, as I use TM Hornet stick, I assigned to a small "zoom" knob next to the Recce button functions to toggle left/right hands on knob down/up, and toggle pilot body on knob press. Then just got used to it. It works ok with MFDs, but if you have physical ones I would keep them as a backup. At this moment I use hands as immersion improvement, which is practical but not particularly effective in any scenario. For example in combat I would use something more "quick", a panel or a mouse. And when setting up frequencies, tacans and autopilot while on cruise I would use hands.

[@solidsnakekillsu3783]

I’ve been wondering if this only works with the quest 3 or does it also work with the quest 2

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

Should work with Quest2, but I didn't tested, and don't know how well

[@solidsnakekillsu3783]

Also I’m on v63 on my quest 2 and it doesn’t crash dcs works just fine so I wonder if it’s something limited to the quest 3 or are any quest 2 users also having this problem

[@SuperYooper11]

Yeah, I am on V63 and I get crash to start screen. I am hoping that the update comes out tomorrow and that it fixes the quest bug!

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

The bug is not on v63 on Quest, it's with v63 of Oculus Link software on PC, so if Link software didn't update for you, it'll work just fine

[@StefanoV__]

what about shortcut for Steam edition? i’ve put the same string?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

Game itself is the same, just make a shortcut that points to DCS.exe in bin-mt folder of your installation

[@SJkopa]

quest 3 is god vr

[@a.common.American]

lmao,not even close my man. But it's the absolute best brokeboy hmd :)

[@newbieboka]

There are some X, Y and Z axis controls that I'd really like to know what do if anyone can elaborate on that

[@OldGuyDrummer]

Now if we could only turn knobs left and right without issues...

[@taxsimtaxsim458]

Do we need to use Virtual Desktop or can we use Meta cable link ? Is it working for all planes like M2000-C ? thank you for your work !

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

It works with Meta cable link, without Virtual Desktop, just skip the virtual desktop part of this tutorial. I can't check if it works with every plane, but what I noticed hands work with ED modules (F/A-18, F-16, AH-64), but not with Heatblur F-14 or Razbam F-15E

[@taxsimtaxsim458]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS thank you so much for your reply !!

[@DrNo-xo1xu]

​@@MnemonicFliesDCS on the airframes it doesn't work with hands, use your quest controllers. The implementation is excellent and very accurate, but takes a little getting used to. In time hand tracking hopefully will get to this level. I have a feeling that maybe putting a solid color board behind your joystick might help as your hands might be getting confused with the background with the amount of accuracy it takes to do more than hit buttons.

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

@@DrNo-xo1xu actually hand tracking of Quest3 itself feels more solid to me comparing to what we are getting in game, maybe some additional filtering or post processing going on that we don’t receive via API, I hope this gets to devs attention

[@DrNo-xo1xu]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS there is a DCS forum that BigNewy from ED is feeding back info for this quest 3 hand tracking. Might want to post something there if you have some good info to give them.

[@freedmt]

is there anyway to get track recorded with hands enabled during gameplay?

[@canigetuhhhhhhh-12]

Mine just opens and closes what do I do

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

This is a problem with current Quest Link software and DCS. Hope they will fix it soon. Currently to bypass it, either look how to rollback to previous Quest Link version, or use Virtual Desktop app instead of Quest Link. I use it currently as a substitute.

[@heeder777]

VR desktop is the only way I can get DCS to load as well in VR. I’ll still take it over Steam VR. DCS needs to address it which I’m sure they are aware due to the popularity of the quest 3.

[@canigetuhhhhhhh-12]

@@heeder777 what’s VR desktop?

[@antonbakx6613]

Thanks for your video! really helpfull. By the way, are you using the leapmotion connected to the quest 3 and also the vr connected to the pc?

[@CaptHalcyon]

Is yours working after this DCS patch? My option for “tracking” in the dropdown is no longer showing up

[@antonbakx6613]

@@CaptHalcyon hi there. Vr is coming on the way. Haven’t used it yet…just asking if you are using the leap motion and the Vr connected at the same time in order to figure it out if u r using some kind of splitter to have both things connected. By the way, what do u mean by ur last reply? Does the leap motion lost some of its functions due to the dcs patch? Big hug!

[@CaptHalcyon]

@@antonbakx6613 oh I don’t use leap motion, just the tracking built in to the oculus. But, after the most recent update I know longer get the option sadly

[@antonbakx6613]

@@CaptHalcyon copy that. thanks for your reply!

[@silvera-]

@@CaptHalcyon Try deleting "dbghelp.dll" file in your game folder. It's a workaround.

[@MemphisBelle291]

meta link app does not offer those options anymore in beta Tab below Demo mode, nor developer runtime featur es

[@bg.k.7000]

I have set this up and the settings are there for me. I have the latest apps.

[@dqzza]

does this work for quest 2?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

I think it should, but didn't tested it

[@gtjz]

are you able to use/grip the ingame aircraft joy-/sidestick and fly it that way?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

Yes for some aircraft, but it's very sub-optimal, no tactile feedback, no buttons. Much more convenient and practical to use HOTAS. Use hands only to interact with keyboards and screens.

[@currololo]

I can't find developer options inside Quest 3. :(

[@jayphi4095]

Same for me FW65

[@NvyZero]

Do you grab the hotas with your vr controller, then fly the controller?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

I don't use VR controllers in this video, just hands, like actual hands, tracked by Quest3 cameras. And yes I grab HOTAS with my actual hands when I need to fly :)

[@POOMASTR]

Can this only be used with the link cable? I have the developer mode turned on and the developer run time turned on. I deleted the help file in the folder but still only have disabled or controllers

[@Digger513]

Same here

[@MrArashikage]

Is it possible to get this to work with the link cable instead of virtual desktop?

[@ParaglidingManiac]

Just tried both methods. Works flawlessly with both VirtualDesktop and with Oculus Link directly.

[@MrArashikage]

@@ParaglidingManiac How did you do it? What settings did you enable in oculus software etc? In dcs vr settings, I only have hand controllers, no trackers.

[@ParaglidingManiac]

@@MrArashikage I haven't touched any settings in Oculus software. Only tested that it works both ways. I prefer wireless gameplay, the cable bothered me. All that I did, is enable hand tracking in Quest 3 headset itself + enabled developer mode. That's it. Everything else was done in DCS itself. Both controllers and my physical hands work in the game. I don't own any modules besides native Flaming Cliffs 3, so I can't test pressing buttons, but my physical hands are in the cockpit, all good.

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

After latest DCS update it works with Link cable again.

[@MrArashikage]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS Doesn't work here. I don't have hand controllers in DCS settings.

[@bg.k.7000]

Some help, please. I do not have the trackers option on the VR Tab, I just have disable and controllers. I have a quest 3, using link connection to connect. All apps are up to date. Thoughts?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

Try the fix proposed by @silvera- "Try deleting "dbghelp.dll" file in your game folder. It's a workaround." Back it up first. Also make sure you are running DCS in OpenXR mode, like I suggest in this tutorial, via custom shortcut with parameters.

[@bg.k.7000]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS Thanks, that worked. My hands are shaky though in the game. Any suggestions for that?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

@@bg.k.7000 what helped for me is to have more light on hands, also more FPS helps.

[@bg.k.7000]

@@MnemonicFliesDCS k, thanks. Does the quest 3 react to IR lights? By FPS, do you mean how it is setup in the oculus app?

[@aivazidis]

Seems no longer valid after 10th of April DCS update and Oculus v64. No Trackers option on DCS > Options > VR > Use Hand Trackers menu.

[@albertleinsoo]

It was working for me until meta update(

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

They seem to fixed it in latest DCS patch

[@silvera-]

Try deleting "dbghelp.dll" file in your game folder. It's a workaround.

[@aivazidis]

@@silvera- Thanx! Deleting the dbghelp.dll in bin-mt folder did restore the trackers option.

[@albertleinsoo]

​@@silvera- Confirmed. It helps)

[@LaserBeam_039]

man , i wish i had a vr...

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

I wish you will have it, at this point it's pretty great, and will only get better

[@jango71]

Does something similar exist for MSFS?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

I'm not aware of it unfortunately

[@Myterriers]

Does this work with the A10c warthog?

[@MnemonicFliesDCS]

I will check! Good idea...

[@user-mt4tb7dr4k]

how to launch game on win 11?

[@dawnfreedom2024]

what you describe does not exist in the menu....? there is no menu developer....???

[@ricerkes2446]

I agree. Did you figure it out?