Connect with top gaming leaders in Los Angeles at GamesBeat Summit 2023 this May 22-23. Register here.


Virtual reality is a strange place where anything can happen, and this has led Valve to come up with a fun way to acclimate people to the new technology.

Valve, the company that operates the Steam digital-distribution platform for PC games, has updated its SteamVR software that powers the upcoming Vive headset from HTC. One of the latest additions to suite of tools that Valve is bundling with its VR interface is a tutorial that shows people how to walk around in a room-scale VR environment and how to use the Vive’s motion controllers. As with most things Valve is doing with VR, this introduction uses the universe from its Portal puzzle games. One of the familiar robot spheres from that series runs you through everything, and it’s a quick, humorous way to understand the possibilities of a VR market that tech adviser Digi-Capital thinks will generate $30 billion by 2020.

I recorded the tutorial so that you can see what it’s like. Check it out:

GamesBeat's creed when covering the game industry is "where passion meets business." What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you -- not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.