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 ====
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:
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!
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 =====
All information and tutorials on pirating games from VRP are located on the VRP Wiki.
===== GROUP #2 - ARMGDDN =====
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!