Owlchemy Labs shares how it optimized Vacation Simulator for the Oculus Quest

Oculus Quest closeup on table
Oculus Quest closeup on table (Image credit: Windows Central)

Oculus Quest closeup on table

Source: Android Central (Image credit: Source: Android Central)

What you need to know

  • Owlchemy Labs used several techniques to optimize Vacation Simulator for the Oculus Quest.
  • The game turns items on and off depending on what a player can see within the game.
  • Vacation Simulator arrives on the Oculus Quest on December 12, 2019, and is available for pre-order for $30.

Vacation Simulator arrives on the Oculus Quest later this week, and the creators of the game shared some secrets on how they optimized the game for the Oculus Quest. The Oculus Quest runs on an older mobile processor, so Owlchemy Labs used some clever techniques to make the game run as smoothly as possible. Owlchemy Labs explains the techniques in this Twitter thread.

Owlchemy Labs made it so Vacation Simulator turns elements on and off depending on where a player is and what that player can actually see. For example, bushes, objects, colliders, snow, and bot animations can be turned off to reduce the strain on system resources.

Vacation Simulator will also reduce the resolution of areas on your screen in certain situations. When using a handheld camera, a player will most likely look through the lens, so the game lowers the resolution of the screen outside of the camera view.

Owlchemy Labs also explains that sandcastle creations are dynamically reduced to have few colliders in real-time.

According to Owlchemy Labs, these techniques add up and allow Vacation Simulator to "run beautifully."

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.