Lord_Nikon

Altho this isnt terrible news, it isnt good. Key notes to understand here:

• a dev must actually implement this into thier games.

• this will likely cost devs to have access too.

• this will make offline games require internet to authorize. Essentially making the quest devices much like XboxOne and PS4, an online only device. (Which I question the legality of, but I am not a lawyer)

Hopefully these things will work in our favor until an exploit can be found. Read more about it here:

https://developer.oculus.com/blog/platform-integrity-attestation-api-meta-quest-developer

My recommendation is to block firmware updates. Check the sub here to find out how to do that. I personally wouldnt upgrade past firmware v55.

V56 have reports of notifications of unauthorized apps. Not sure if it means anything yet, but the choice is yours.

This is a simple guide to help users disable the Auto Firmware Updates on there Meta Quest 2 devices. (This method may work on other Quest devices, however I do not know for sure.)

========

Method 1

This method is for firmware BEFORE v51.

• Use the following link (base64) to download the Quest 2 Auto Update Toggler:

aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWdhLm56L2ZpbGUvQWYwM1NMd0QjZEtvN0tVa2JHc3h5VkFkd1VJV0M3WnA5SGRrempHbjdKRndSRkFsZ0owOA==

• Once downloaded extract somewhere onto your pc.

• Plug in your quest device to the pc and make sure to press "allow" in your headset

• Open the extracted folder and double click whatever bat file you wish to use. (Enable - Disable)

Done.

This method should work on new firmwares, HOWEVER, will have to be done everytime the headset is turned off.

========

Method 2

This method should work on ALL firmwares.

• Download the Amaze apk here

• Install Amaze onto your headset and open

• Grant Amaze needed permissions

• In the left side menu scroll down to "App Manager"

• At the top right, there will be 3 lines, to the right of the 3 lines will be an empty space with an invisible button, click here. (if confused, see video link below)

• Then click Show System Apps

• Scroll the list and look for "Oculus OS Updater"

• Select the 3 dots next to Oculus OS Updater and select Properties

• Select disable, then confirm disable.

Done.

Updates will no longer auto install until you enable this app the same way.

Here is a video guide (not mine) to help if your having trouble:

You Can Get Quest Updates Early & Block Them!

Happy sailing the high ©'s

This is just a quick post to help anyone who may be having this issue. The recent update to the quest 2 has caused the UI to take on a new look, confusing many as to where Unknown Sources went.

To make it easy, now you must select the top search bar, then you should have an option to select unknown sources app list.

If you have anything to add please feel free in the comments.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/post/18438

The original /r/piracy was purposefully gimped because Reddit received DMCAs for any random thing and didn't even bother to follow up. Since we're in new waters, I want things to be a bit more relaxed, but there's a limit on how relaxed we can be, without starting to get lawsuits, which I will not be able to fight off. I also host other communities and interests which might cause me headaches.

Remember, this is a hobby project (and none of you scurvy dogs are donating) :D

So here are some piracy-related ground rules for he whole of lemmy.dbzer0.com as of today

1. No direct links. This means anything which would make Nintendo or Disney light my ass on fire. I am not going to ban you for it (unless you start doing this on purpose), but I will ask admins and mods to remove them.
2. You can link to websites pages related to piracy. Linking to websites linking to your content (not with a 301 redirect, before you ask) is OK. In general try to keep one degree of separation between our collective groins and your links.
3. Magnet Links and links to Torrent files are OK, unless we start getting into trouble for it.
4. /c/piracy has its own, more restrictive rules. Follow them first when they differ from what I post here! /c/piracy is for generic discussion, I don't want it to turn into a link repository full of beggars, got it?
5. These rules apply to all pirate communities in lemmy.dbzer0.com. Unless that community has more restrictive rules from its own mods. I can easily get a lawsuit because you start making a nintendo ROM link repository.
6. You can still post direct links elsewhere: If you want a place to post direct links, I suggest you use a community on a server setup to handle this. This requires some significant investment in anonymity and hosting provider (these providers are 3x as expensive, yo!). You can still subscribe and share from those communities with your account in lemmy.dbzer0.com, which can serve as your "port of safety" as those lemmies could be taken down due to those links. If that happens, this safer community will still be up.

All in all, this lemmy is supposed to be Pirate-allied, but not a direct link repository. I literally cannot handle that legal risk at the moment. I hope you all understand the realities of our situation. As much as we can argue that a link to a file is not infringing, the Cartel's legal fund is bottomless, and all I have is a tinsy-tiny treasure chest under my birdbath.

If any pirate communites need to migrate after this, I understand. I would still suggest you keep them around as the "safe" community, and post your link aggregation on a lemmy instance which can handle the eye of sauron. This way you get both a stable community and account, and your links via fediverse. Win-win.

Last updated June 25, 2023

This guide will show you how to download and sideload pirated games on the Oculus Quest, Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro.

This is NOT a guide for Pico headsets.

Please read EVERYTHING as to not mess up the process or miss an important bit of know-how. This may seem wordy, but it's necessary to know this stuff. Everything on this guide is and will always be working and up to date. Do not be deceived by the date it was posted.

===== [PRE-GUIDE INFO] =====

- WILL I BE BANNED/BRICKED FOR PIRATING GAMES?

No.

None of this will get you banned from using Meta devices and none of this will brick (?) your headset

As of this revision of the guide not a single person has been banned or punished in any way for piracy on the Quest 1, 2 or Quest Pro. You're safe to pirate as much as you want, all while connected to wifi, and all on your main Meta account.

Migrating from a Facebook account to a Meta account will NOT get you banned.

When it comes to bricking, you can only brick your headset by being stupid, deleting system files and such. It is IMPOSSIBLE for Meta to remotely brick your headset and even in the event of a brick they are easily recoverable by sideloading a fresh install of the Quest firmware.

The only real known way you can get banned from Meta services is by breaking their terms of use. For example, breaking the code of conduct on Horizon Worlds or having a Facebook account linked and saying bad stuff on Facebook. (we recommend unlinking if you haven't already)

===== FREE TRIALS =====

If you haven't already, do NOT use free trials of games on the Meta store you intend to pirate.

This is not to be confused with game demos, which will have separate listings on the store. A free trial shows on the store listing of a full game, with a button saying "Get free trial" next to the buy button.

==== DEMO VS FREE TRIAL ====

Demo (SAFE)

Free Trial (UNSAFE)

If you start a free trial and use it up, the expired trial entitlement will remain on your account, causing sideloaded (pirated) versions to not work. They are picked up as an unofficial version on the main library screen (same way as if you modded a legit copy of Beat Saber) and you will still be blocked from opening it, met with this error if you attempt to open it:

"Your free trial has expired. If you'd like to continue using this app, you can purchase it from the Oculus Store."

Even if you don't fully use up a trial and install a pirated version, the pirated version will only be playable for the duration of the free trial, so if you still start one, you're screwed.

To get out of this you will either have to buy the game OR factory reset your headset and set a new admin account on your headset without the trial entitlement claimed to be able to access a pirated version.

==== WHAT GAMES CAN I GET? ====

Everything.

Except for:

• a few app lab titles due to a combination of obscurity and possible lack of community file donations.

• Everything on this list

These games contain their own piracy protection measures that are currently not cracked such as unique online authentication and Patreon logins. So the only way to play them is by purchasing them.

=== PLANNING TO BUY A HEADSET? ===

Meta has a referral system where if you accept a referral on your account before logging into a Quest, you can earn $30 in Oculus store credit for games when you set up the headset.

This also grants the referrer $30 in store credit. And if you use the link below, you can support the piracy community by funding new games to be bought with store credit and cracked for other people without the need for community donation!

DEVICE REFERAL

Ensure that:

You accept a referral BEFORE logging into a headset.

The headset is NEW. Doesn't matter which retailer you purchased it from, but it cannot be refurbished/used.

===== MULTIPLAYER =====

Some Quest games have multiplayer that works even if you pirate the game, you can find out which ones here:

https://wiki.vrpirates.club/general_information/Quest-multiplayer-games

There is no dedicated list for PCVR games.

===== YOU WILL NEED: =====

Oculus ADB Drivers - Installation instructions are on this website alongside the download (NOT REQUIRED FOR MAC, LINUX OR ANDROID)

An Oculus developer account with the Quest in developer mode (TUTORIAL - Watch until the end of step 4)

As of October 21st 2021 you are required to verify by adding a phone number or a credit card to enable developer mode. You can verify here.

Any device capable of sideloading to an Oculus Quest/Quest 2/Quest Pro. This guide provides options for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android phones.

A USB Type C cable routing from your device to the Quest. You can use any cable such as A to C as long as it provides a data connection (which most cables do)

Once you've got all of these prerequisites set up, you're good to proceed beyond this point!

=== PIRACY GROUPS INTRODUCTION ===

VR piracy has become pretty large with the growth of VR itself. Meaning there are now multiple groups that provide different resources to choose from. While the current options are quite similar and sit as alternatives to one another, I'm going to go through all that are available. If you're wondering which one to choose, just choose one, they're not that different.

===== GROUP #1 - VRP =====

Telegram

Discord

Wiki

All information and tutorials on pirating games from VRP are located on the VRP Wiki.

===== GROUP #2 - ARMGDDN =====

Telegram

ARMGDDN is a PCVR group. They do NOT provide Quest games.

===== GROUP #3 - FFA =====

FFA has SHUT DOWN as of 27th November 2022. It will not be returning. Please use VRP & ARMGDDN instead.

=== !!!!!!!!! [EXTRA INFO] !!!!!!!!! ===

========= Quest =========

• V51 and up If you have been away from your headset for a while and where on an older firware than v51, your headset will likely update to the latest firmware. This will cause all of your pirated content to crash. Simply update your pirated content to the latest version available in Rookies to fix this issue.

- New UI missing Unknown Sources v55+ The New firmware has cause a UI change. This has also changed the home of the Unknown Sources tab. Simply click the search bar at the top to access Unknown Sources.

========= PCVR =========

• ARMGDDN (Free) Group dedicated to provide PCVR games free of charge.

• VRP's Sponsored Mirrors (Paid) also provide downloads for PCVR games with added perks. Please see info on wiki

Reminder: THE PCVR GAMES ARE TO BE DOWNLOADED AND PLAYED ON A VR READY GAMING PC WITH A TETHERED HMD OR A QUEST CONNECTED TO A PC WITH QUEST LINK/VIRTUAL DESKTOP/ALVR.

YOU CANNOT SIDELOAD PCVR GAMES ONTO A QUEST 1, 2 OR PRO AND PLAY THEM STANDALONE.

==== PLAYING PIRATED PCVR GAMES ====

When launching a pirated PCVR game directly from the file explorer, it can result in the game not starting in VR mode despite your headset being connected

Game shortcuts on SteamVR force these games to run in VR mode.

If you've downloaded a repack, most of them should come with functional desktop shortcuts to make your game start up properly. If not, try this:

If you're on an Oculus headset (Quest Link, Rift) enable unknown sources in the settings for the Oculus PC software so you can run SteamVR.

Find the executable (.exe) for the game you've just downloaded and installed/extracted (you may have to look around in the game directory depending on what game) and add it as a Non-Steam game shortcut within Steam.

Then go to properties for the shortcut you have just created within Steam and enable "Include in VR Library"

Then when running SteamVR on launch you'll be presented with your VR library where your shortcuts should appear and you can just launch the games from there and enjoy.

========= CONCLUSION =========

I hope this helps those who want to try before they buy or the many clueless people who just want free games on their shiny new VR headsets.

But remember, please support developers and their work by buying their games on legit marketplaces, maybe wait for a sale or something and buy their games if you enjoy them. They absolutely slave away to bring us these incredible experiences and we are responsible for making sure they can afford a tin of sardines to ration for the week and maybe buy more models off the asset store for their next game.

I know this is coming from the redditor who just taught you how to pirate almost every single VR game but I still like to support developers by buying their games if I enjoy them and it goes way further than you think when you buy a game.

Except for Bethesda and Rockstar, please pirate their games to your hearts content as they are shitty corporations releasing low effort VR ports for a quick buck from the small but growing amount of VR enthusiasts and gamers.

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Please be sure to read all the rules and follow them.

‼️ FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A BAN. ‼️
This is not Reddit.

No links to illegal content

No links to illegal content No links to pirated material/content

Redundant question

These include (but are not limited to): When or Can X game be cracked?, Where can I find X game?, How do I get started?, Will I get banned?. When will X game get added to my favorite sideloader (including "wondering" posts that try to skirt this rule). This also includes Common questions which can be easily Googled or searched in the subreddit.

Off-topic posts and discussion

Submissions must be related to the discussion of Quest Piracy.

Requests

Do not make a post "When will X game be added to Rookies/Loader" or "Where can I find X game?" - this community is for support and discussion. You can find sites and tools of pirated games in the stickied post & Wiki.

Posts in any style of looking for a game, or asking when it will be added will be removed (unless discussed with the moderators, in exceptional cases).

Spam & Promotion

Do not spam or promote.

If you have made a website or are releasing a tool/guide that can enable piracy, message the moderators first.

HELPFUL LINKS

FAQ

VRP Wiki / Downloads

VRP Telegram

VRP File Feed

VRP Discord (New)

ARMGDDN Telegram (PCVR)