Mastering Hogwarts Legacy with UEVR

In our previous blog post, "7 Must-Play Games with UEVR," we briefly touched on the magical potential of experiencing Hogwarts Legacy in virtual reality. Today, we're diving deeper into the enchanting world of Hogwarts, providing you with a comprehensive guide on how to get Hogwarts Legacy working with the UEVR mod. Whether you're a seasoned VR enthusiast or new to the world of modding, hopefully this guide will help you transform your Hogwarts experience into a VR adventure.

What is Hogwarts Legacy?
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. As a student at Hogwarts during the 1800s, you'll embark on a journey through familiar and new locations, discovering magical beasts, crafting potions, mastering spells, and ultimately shaping the fate of the wizarding world.

Getting Started with UEVR:
To get started, simply download the latest release from the official UEVR GitHub repository. Then follow these steps:

1. Launch SteamVR and start Hogwarts Legacy (and let it fully load).
2. Open UEVR as an administrator (right-click > Run as administrator) and select "Hogwarts Legacy" from the drop-down menu. Make sure the game is installed and running, or it may not show up here.
3. Choose your preferred runtime (OpenVR or OpenXR) and configure any pre-injection settings as needed.
   • OpenVR is generally more compatible with a wider range of games and offers a seamless experience with SteamVR.
   • OpenXR is a newer, more standardized API that can provide better performance and compatibility with native OpenXR runtimes, especially for headsets like the Oculus Quest.
   • If you're using a Quest or a headset with a native OpenXR runtime, opting for OpenXR may lead to a smoother experience with reduced latency.
   • If compatibility is your top priority, OpenVR is a tried-and-true option that works well with most VR games and setups.
4. Click the "Inject" button and put on your VR headset. You'll be transported into the magical world of Hogwarts!

Once you're in the game, you can access the UEVR overlay menu by pressing both thumbstick buttons simultaneously on your controller or by using the designated hotkey on your keyboard (Insert by default). From here, you can tweak various settings, adjust your camera position, and even attach your wand to your motion controllers for a more immersive experience.

Rendering Methods:
UEVR offers three main rendering methods:

1. Native Stereo: Provides the best visuals and performance when compatible.
2. Synchronized Sequential: Helps fix rendering bugs that may occur with Native Stereo.
3. Alternate Frame Rendering (AFR): Available as a last resort option for games that don't play well with the other two modes.

For Hogwarts Legacy, we recommend starting with Synchronized Sequential rendering.

There are a couple of ways you can enhance your Hogwarts Legacy experience for VR, using either mods, pre-made profiles, or a combination of both.

Installing First-Person Mode:
For an even more immersive experience, you can install the first-person mode. Here's a step-by-step guide:

1. Download the latest release of UE4SS-RE from https://github.com/UE4SS-RE/RE-UE4SS/releases and extract it into Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64.
2. Download the Blueprint Apparate Modloader from https://www.nexusmods.com/hogwartslegacy/mods/56.
3. Create a new folder: Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Content\Paks~mods and extract the downloaded mod into it.
4. Download the First Person mod from https://www.nexusmods.com/hogwartslegacy/mods/869 and install it into your Hogwarts Legacy folder.
5. Save the main.lua file (provided here) into Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64\Mods\TestCameraOffset\scripts.
6. In-game, press F8, type "CameraUI" and press enter to activate the camera mod.
7. Press F6, click on the left arrow to enter first-person mode.

(Credit to jepster from the Flat2VR Discord for these instructions)

(Screenshot from Beardo Benjo's video)

Available Profiles for Hogwarts Legacy
UEVR profiles are pre-configured settings and tweaks created by community members to optimize the VR experience for specific games. These profiles can include adjustments to rendering methods, camera positions, control schemes, and various other settings that enhance gameplay in VR. Using a profile can save you significant time and effort in configuring UEVR for the best possible experience.

Here are some user made profiles available for Hogwarts Legacy:

1. Iliketostayanonymous's 1st person mode with persistent wand motion control (6DOF) This profile offers a first-person perspective with full 6 degrees of freedom (6DOF) motion control for your wand, enhancing immersion and gameplay.
2. Trooby's profile using the Nexus First Person Mod and DLSS to FSR 3 mod (6DOF) Combining first-person gameplay with advanced graphics optimization, this profile aims to improve both immersion and performance.
3. Eisen's Immersive Hogwarts Legacy Profile provides a deeply immersive first-person experience with 6DOF wand controls.

Let's take a closer look at Eisen's profile as an example and show you how to use it effectively.

1. Download the Profile: First, download Eisen's profile from the Flat2VR Discord as well as the attached .ini files from the same post.
2. Install the Profile:
   • Open UEVR and click 'Import Config'
   • Select the .zip file you downloaded
   • The file directory will pop up after import to confirm successful installation.
3. Prepare the Game:
   • Replace the ini files in C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\LocalLow\Hogwarts Legacy\Saved\Config with the ones provided in Eisen's profile. This step deactivates fog for better performance and clearer visuals. Note that this will reset your graphics settings, so you'll need to reconfigure them in-game.
   • In the game settings, set:
     • Follow Camera Speed = 0
     • Camera-related Targeting = Off
4. UEVR Settings:
   • If you notice ghosting or flickering edges after injection, enable the "Ghosting Fix" in UEVR.
   • For HUD customization, consider using the mod from https://www.nexusmods.com/hogwartslegacy/mods/1477 to hide individual HUD elements.
5. In-Game Controls:
   • Aiming: Briefly walk in the target's direction using the left stick for automatic targeting. Hold the right controller towards the target or use the right stick to fine-tune your aim.
   • Dash: Now on the left trigger for easier access (originally bound to "B").
   • Spell Casting: "Levioso" (or the spell on RT+B) is now cast with RT+LT.
   • Menu Navigation: Return to the game from menus using LT instead of B.

Remember, if you prefer the original control scheme, you can always restore default bindings in UEVR > Runtime > Bindings.

(Screenshot from NotAGameAddict's video)

Optimizing Performance and Visual Quality:
While profiles can provide a great starting point, there are other ways to further optimize your experience. Here are some additional tips for enhancing performance and visual quality:

1. Rendering Method: Use synced sequential rendering next to VR_RenderingMethod and set VR_SyncedSequentialMethod to "skip draw". This configuration helps prevent most visual glitches and game-breaking issues, such as NPC pathing problems. While you might notice minor effects like slower particle movements, these are generally preferable to more serious gameplay disruptions.
2. Graphics Settings:

   • Make the following adjustments in the Hogwarts Legacy in-game settings menu:

     • Disable HDR: Can cause brightness issues in VR and may impact performance.
     • Disable VSync: VR headsets handle synchronization differently, making this unnecessary.
     • Disable Motion Blur: Can cause discomfort in VR and impacts performance.
     • Disable Chromatic Aberration: Often causes visual artifacts in VR.
     • Enable NVIDIA Reflex and set it to "On + Boost" mode (if available on your GPU): Reduces input lag, improving responsiveness.
     • Set DLSS to "Quality" mode (if you have an NVIDIA RTX GPU): Improves performance with minimal impact on visual quality.

     In the UEVR overlay menu:

     • Enable the "Ghost Fix" option under VR > Graphics: Helps reduce ghosting artifacts that can occur in VR.
3. Fog Removal: For improved performance and sharper visuals, you can use the provided ini files here to remove fog. Note that this may affect distant objects' appearance.
4. DLSS Update: Consider updating your DLSS version for improved performance and quality. DLSS 3.5.0 has been reported to work well.

Additional Mods and Enhancements:
The general modding community has created various additional tools to further enhance and customize your magical adventure. These mods can work particularly well with the UEVR version and adds new features, improves existing mechanics, or tailors the game to your personal preferences.

1. Voice Commands: Use mods like https://www.nexusmods.com/hogwartslegacy/mods/1126/ for voice-activated spell casting.
2. Always Visible Wand: Install the mod from https://www.nexusmods.com/hogwartslegacy/mods/69 for a consistently visible wand.
3. HUD Customization: Use the Toggle HUD Elements mod (https://www.nexusmods.com/hogwartslegacy/mods/1477) to customize your in-game HUD.
4. Unforgivable Spells: Use the mod from https://www.nexusmods.com/hogwartslegacy/mods/1316 to prevent camera shifts when using unforgivable spells.

(Screenshot from Headset-VR's video)

Troubleshooting and Optimization:
Whether you're using Virtual Desktop or encountering other issues, here are some tips to help you optimize your experience and troubleshoot common problems:

Virtual Desktop Users:

1. Use OpenXR runtime to prevent lag when rotating your head.
2. Enable the Virtual Desktop fix under the Runtime settings in UEVR.
3. Disable r.OneFrameThreadLag under Console/CVars (advanced view must be enabled).
4. Adjust Frame Delay Compensation under Debug (advanced view must be enabled).
5. If controllers aren't working, try this sequence: inject VR, activate gamepad emulation in VD, then disable it, go to the pause menu, and unpause. This should enable motion controllers.

General Troubleshooting:

1. OpenXR Toolkit: If experiencing issues, try disabling OpenXR Toolkit as it can cause conflicts with UEVR.
2. Crashes: If the game is unstable, try disabling any overlays or additional software running in the background.
3. Performance Issues: Ensure you're using the recommended rendering settings (Synchronized Sequential with Skip Draw) and consider lowering in-game graphics settings if needed.
4. Visual Artifacts: Enable the "Ghost Fix" option in UEVR if you notice ghosting or flickering edges.

Remember, UEVR is a community-created mod, so some trial and error may be necessary to find the perfect settings for your system. Don't hesitate to seek help from the Flat2VR Discord community if you encounter persistent issues.

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With UEVR, Hogwarts Legacy transforms into an incredibly immersive VR experience, allowing you to truly feel like a student at Hogwarts. While setting up and optimizing the game for VR may require some effort, the result is a magical adventure that brings the wizarding world to life like never before.

Remember that UEVR is a community-created mod, so some experimentation may be necessary to achieve the best experience. Don't hesitate to join the Flat2VR Discord community for the latest profiles, updates, and support from fellow UEVR enthusiasts.

So grab your wand (or VR controllers), don your favorite house colors, and prepare to experience the magic of Hogwarts in a whole new dimension! Whether you're battling dark wizards, brewing potions, or simply exploring the vast, enchanted castle, Hogwarts Legacy in VR is an experience you won't soon forget.

Happy spellcasting, and enjoy your magical VR adventure at Hogwarts!