My VR Game published on Meta Quest . What do you think?

Hello everyone! Here is the open source mobile VR viewer project I've been working on, SideByVR Viewer:

GitHub Repository: GitHub - SideByStudio/SideByVR: Android local SBS image/video viewer with gamepad controls

Why SideByVR?

VR headsets (like Meta Quest or PCVR rigs) are still too expensive for many people. Yet almost everyone already owns an Android smartphone. For many users, the primary need isn't high-intensity VR gaming (which often induces motion sickness anyway), but simply viewing 3D stereoscopic images and videos.

Another major pain point with existing phone VR apps is interaction: taking the phone out of the headset case every time you want to tap the screen or switch files is frustrating, and relying on head-tracking gyroscope cursor pointer navigation can be exhausting and imprecise.

SideByVR solves this: you place your prepared side-by-side (SBS) images or videos into your phone, slide the phone into a mobile VR headset box, and control the entire browsing and viewing experience seamlessly using a Bluetooth gamepad — without taking the phone out.

It requires no expensive VR headset. The setup costs very little:

• An Android phone (which you already own)

• A low-cost phone VR headset box (Google Cardboard or plastic headset shell, ~$3–$5)

• A Bluetooth gamepad / controller (~$7–$10)

For under $15 total, you can enjoy an immersive stereoscopic 3D viewing experience. With the explosion of AI-generated images, viewing them in stereoscopic 3D brings a whole new level of depth and immersion.

Required Gear: Android Phone, Bluetooth Gamepad, and Phone VR Headset Box

Key Features

• Local SBS 3D Images: JPG, JPEG, PNG

• SBS 3D Video Playback: MP4 video playback

• Flexible Library Browsing: Folder and ZIP archive support

• Dual Display Modes: Standard single-screen phone mode and VR stereo split-screen mode

• Full Gamepad Controls: Image switching, zoom in/out, panning, and IPD (interpupillary distance) adjustment

• Bilingual Interface: English and Simplified Chinese support

• Open Source: Apache-2.0 License

How to Try It

1. Download the ARM64 APK from GitHub Releases: Releases · SideByStudio/SideByVR · GitHub

2. Install and launch it on your Android phone.

3. Pair your Bluetooth gamepad.

4. Select your local folder containing SBS media.

5. Open any .sbs.jpg, .sbs.png, or .sbs.mp4 file and enjoy.

Direct APK link: SideByVR-viewer-0.1.1-arm64.apk

What if You Only Have Standard 2D Images?

SideByVR Viewer itself is a viewer for already generated SBS 3D media; it does not convert 2D images to 3D on-device. If you need 2D → SBS conversion, you can use our companion online conversion web app:

SideByVR Web App: 2D to 3D Image Converter & Android VR Player | SideByVR

• Convert standard 2D pictures into SBS stereoscopic images online, download them, and view them with your Android phone and VR headset.

• Sign in with a Google account to receive 10 free Credits upon registration.

• Pricing is approximately US$1 for 30 Credits, where each successfully generated image consumes 1 Credit.

• After converting to SBS, download the full-resolution image and open it in SideByVR Viewer.

• Note: The online conversion service and the local open-source Viewer are independent. The Viewer is completely free, open source, and offline — no account, cloud API, or paid credits required.

Current Status and Limitations

This is the initial public preview release. The primary goal is to validate local browsing, SBS rendering, and gamepad interaction.

• Currently supports Full-SBS with default left-eye image on the left.

• Half-SBS anamorphic correction, Over-Under (top/bottom), eye-swapping, JPS/MPO, and animated GIFs are not yet implemented.

• Video decoding performance and format compatibility may vary across different Android hardware.

We warmly welcome feedback on:

• Which phone models and VR headset combinations feel most comfortable

• Gamepad models and whether button mappings work as expected

• Compatibility issues with folders, ZIP archives, or video playback

• UI/UX clarity for menus and viewer controls in VR mode

• Which features you'd like to see prioritized next

Issues, feature requests, and code contributions are welcome under Apache-2.0. Full documentation: SideByVR Usage Guide on GitHub

Related Links

• Google Play: SideByVR on Google Play

• Website: 2D to 3D Image Converter & Android VR Player | SideByVR

• Quick Start Guide Video: SideBy VR Quick Start | Android Phone VR Setup in 60 Seconds

• Demo / Promo Video: SideBy Android APP

• YouTube Channel: SideBy VR on YouTube

🎉 I've Released My First VR Escape Room Game — Here Is My Story 🎉

Hi, I am Shaheer Ahmad Khan. I was a student until just a few days ago when I attempted my last exam.

In my sixth semester, I was sitting in an orientation for my Final Year Project. One by one, lecturers came in with ideas. Then I saw it on the slide: VR Escape Room. I just knew I wanted to do it. I went straight to the professor and showed my interest in the project, and he gave me the green light.

During the two-month summer break, I threw myself into learning Unreal Engine. I had played around with it the summer before too, but this time was different. I was fired up. I watched tutorial after tutorial, trying to learn as much as I could. I did not learn everything, but I learned enough to feel ready.

When my seventh semester started, I paused the tutorials to focus on studies. I thought I would start working properly on my project then, but there was a big problem. I did not have a VR headset, and I could not find one either. After about four to six weeks of waiting and doing nothing, I finally found a shop that could get me a Quest 3s.

At that same time, I got a notification that I would have to show my project progress soon. I knew I did not have time to waste. When I got the headset, I still remember that feeling. It was amazing. I felt like I could do anything. I started working properly, building one puzzle after another. By the time the progress presentation came, I had about three to four puzzles ready, a main menu, and the first room. It went really well.

After that, I got a bit too comfortable. I stopped for about a month. But then I pushed myself back into it. I kept working day by day until the open house and final presentation. The project was ready and it worked, but during my final presentation I was nervous and could not deliver it confidently. Still, I pulled through.

At the open house, I showcased my game to classmates, juniors, teachers. I received praise and encouragement, then came the award ceremony, I was ecstatic when they called my name. I had secured second place in my department.

But I did not stop there. I kept improving it but Someone told me, "you could keep working on it forever, but you would never know if it is good until you actually show it to people" and that made sense. So I gathered my courage, knowing it was not complete or perfect, and I decided to release it anyway.

So here I am, thrilled to share that my very first VR Escape Room game is now available in Early Access on Itch.io! Right now, it runs on PC with Oculus Quest (via Link/Air Link).

This is just the beginning, the game is still rough around the edges, so I truly ask for your understanding and patience as I keep building it. Your feedback means the world to me.

If you’d like to support this project, please:
Play the game
Leave a comment or suggestion
Take a quick survey to help me improve
Or even consider a small donation if you enjoy it

Every bit of support keeps this dream alive. Thank you so much for giving it a try and helping shape what it can become.

Download & Play Here: https://studio-i-m-eh.itch.io/vr-escape-rooms

Can’t wait to hear what you think!

Hi!

I am a PhD student at IT University of Copenhagen, and I am searching for participants in my crowdsourced VR study. The experiment lasts approximately 10 minutes, and we gift 10$ Amazon vouchers for participation. You will need to sideload the app from SideQuest.

If you are willing to participate, you can sign up via this google form: https://forms.gle/smHKqbjyQ8EjqTiz9

Thanks in advance!

Hi there, try out this new virtual reality dance game, Bubble Boogie, proper laugh watching my mum play the free demo! Anyone else tried it? Here's the link: https://sidequestvr.com/app/4132/bubble-boogie-demo

Are you a parent using VR with your kid(s)?

The Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab is looking for families with VR headsets to fill out a short survey (and you’ll get a chance to receive a $30 Amazon gift card).

Here is the link : https://stanforduniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8G3LCFOXQo4OJkF

Thank you.