ALL PIMAX and VR Users, Dear REIZA – It’s Enough! Time to Fix VR Performance Issues NOW!

Hello fellow sim racers,
It’s time we address a critical issue for all Pimax users playing Automobilista 2. For years, Reiza Studios has ignored the V-shaped display configuration used by Pimax headsets like the Pimax 8KX, forcing us to use the Parallel Projection Compatibility mode. While this makes the game playable, the performance penalty is massive.

In a Nutshell:
Pimax VR users face a 25-40% performance loss in Automobilista 2 due to the required Parallel Projection mode. This issue has been raised 55 times over 5 years, yet remains unresolved, despite other games like iRacing fixing it easily.

Reiza, fixing this would unlock the full potential of Pimax headsets and attract more VR players. Please consider addressing this issue—whether for free or as part of a paid VR optimization DLC.


Let me put this into perspective of numbers:
• In Normal FOV, my RTX 4090 delivers only 67 FPS with Parallel Projection enabled. Without it, I could achieve 90 FPS, which is the native refresh rate of the headset.

• This means Reiza is effectively robbing us of 23 FPS due to a lack of support!

• In Large FOV, the performance gap widens even further, making the game nearly unplayable for those who want to take full advantage of their headset’s capabilities without reducing the resolution.


This isn’t just about raw numbers. In VR, maintaining the native refresh rate is critical for immersion and comfort. Racing at 67 FPS instead of 90 FPS introduces stutter and compromises the incredible experience that Automobilista 2 otherwise offers.


Why Hasn’t This Been Fixed?
The issue boils down to camera positioning for VR displays, something other developers like iRacing and Assetto Corsa Competizione have already solved. According to discussions in various VR forums, this is not an overly complex problem—it’s a matter of adjusting the camera positions to align with the headset’s display configuration.


The frustrating part? The community has been asking for this for years:

• August 2, 2023: Pimax parallèl projection

• November 27, 2022: VR Discussions, Questions & Feedback

• April 26, 2020: VR Discussions, Questions & Feedback

There are 55 threads about this topic!


Despite multiple requests and years of feedback, Reiza has done nothing to address this issue.


Why This Matters
Yes, I know VR is a niche—only 1.99% of Steam users use VR headsets, and just 0.49% use Pimax devices (around 12,871 users worldwide). But Pimax headsets are a favorite among sim racers for their ultra-wide FOV, which is unmatched for racing games.


Automobilista 2 is one of the best VR racing games out there, but this oversight limits its potential. I believe more players would consider Pimax headsets if this issue were resolved, unlocking the full potential of VR in this game.


A Message to Reiza
Let me be clear: I love Automobilista 2. I’ve been a loyal supporter since day one, buying every DLC to support the amazing work Reiza has done. The game is stunning in VR, but it’s heartbreaking to see this issue ignored for so long.


If development resources are the issue, I would even pay for a dedicated DLC to fix this. A “VR Optimization Pack” priced at €50 would be worth it if it means proper Pimax support? Reiza, this could be a way to make this feature financially viable—and I bet I’m not the only one willing to pay for it.

But maybe Reiza will have a heart and fix it for free, making Automobilista 2 the best VR racing experience possible. After all, it’s Christmas time!



Call to Action
If you’re a Pimax user (or someone who wants better VR support in the future, or you simply love this game a I do), please drop a +1 below this post. Let’s show Reiza how many of us are affected and want this change.


And for everyone else: Imagine how incredible this game already is in VR, and how much better it could be for Pimax users if Reiza finally addressed this issue. Let’s make some noise and push for the fix we deserve!

Thanks,
Your loyal sim racer, havok2


Mathematical Problem:
Pimax headsets use V-shaped displays, but without native support, games assume parallel displays. This forces the GPU to render a much larger image, including unnecessary pixels.

After rendering, the image must be distorted and aligned to fit the angled displays, simulating what the game engine should do natively. This extra processing introduces a bottleneck, leading to a 25%+ performance loss due to the increased pixel count and additional warping workload.

Native support would eliminate this distortion step by directly rendering for the V-shaped configuration, saving performance.


The image illustrates the additional rendering required when using Parallel Projection with Pimax headsets:

• Gray Area: Represents the actual image displayed to the user.

• Red Area: Indicates portions rendered by the GPU that are never utilized, leading to wasted computational resources.

• Green Area: Denotes extra rendered regions necessary for image correction, contributing to increased GPU load.

Additionally, the reprojection can introduce artifacts and reduce image sharpness and extra latency, necessitating even higher pixel counts to maintain adequate visual quality.


Implementing native support for canted displays would streamline rendering, eliminate the need for such corrections, and enhance overall performance.

 

Wrong spot mate and also demanding stuff might not make them do something

 

Thanks for your input! I posted here because this is a technical issue that’s been ignored for years, not just a personal request. If the thread belongs elsewhere, I’m happy for it to be moved.

As for being demanding, it’s more about raising awareness and offering solutions, like a paid DLC, to make this viable for Reiza. Let’s keep it constructive, I mean its xmas time <3

 

I’m not saying you shouldn’t post it in the forum, but you posted an AMS2 related demand in the AMS1 part of the forum

 

Apologies, that was an obvious mistake on my part. Is there a way to move or relocate the thread to the correct AMS2 section, or should I repost it there? Thanks for pointing it out!

 

I reported them to please move it so let’s see

 

Thank you!

 

I have no problems with my index

 

By default steamvr is configured to apply parallel projection to accommodate the index's canted display. It can be switched off in steamvr.vrsettings by: "steamvr" : { "renderCameraMode" : "raw" }`
But the angle is much smaller in index compared to pimax, so it does not require as much additional performance. So may it would benefit too, but not that much.

Here is a forum that took a clooser look into it:
Closer look at Pimax parallel projection

 

I believe this issue still hasn’t truly reached the devs as a genuine problem. Otherwise, I can’t imagine why they would ignore 55 threads over the past 5 years. Should I repost it in the correct forum, or could someone move it there? Many Thanks!