Have standard joystick locomotion as an option in settings (with strafing)
I’d love to see the capability to control using the left stick for movement and the right stick for turning, as opposed to teleport locomotion. I understand that some users may experience motion sickness this way however, so perhaps an option in the settings?

Hey all – we’re marking this idea as started, as joystick locomotion was implemented in a previous software update. However, from the comments, it is clear that this idea has morphed a bit to include the specific request of strafing being included in the control scheme. I’ve updated the idea title to include the request for strafing controls. Thanks!
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Rob Vanden Heuvel commented
One possible control scheme that deals with the strafing vs turning problem.
1. Fwd/back works exactly as expected.
2. While moving forward/backward, left/right on the joystick strafes.
3. If not moving forward/backward, left/right rotates your view.An alternative:
Click on the joystick to toggle the left/right control between strafing and turning.I prefer the first option but either is better than having to choose one scheme or the other by going through the Settings menu.
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Christian Bernt commented
Devs be like: If I get motion sick and cant stand free locomotion, then nobody gets free locomotion.
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Yoda commented
hey guys you have white flashes?
https://oculus.uservoice.com/forums/918556-oculus-rift-s-and-rift/suggestions/37852864-fix-static-flashes -
Barz Attacks commented
Strafing, like every other comment says. The current electric wheel chair controls are awful. Standard FPS controls should be an option, with the ability to turn your head without changing the forward direction
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STZ commented
Strafing, like every other comment says. The current electric wheel chair controls are awful. Standard FPS controls should be an option, with the ability to turn your head without changing the forward direction
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Anonymous commented
Strafe please, thanks.
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Macman commented
Get it done ffs!
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Poke commented
Strafe STRAFE Strafe!
Please PLEASE Please! -
Poke commented
Please PLEASE Please! It is quite frustrating moving around in Oculus Home! I was at first frustrated that I could not move freely (I think that should be the FIRST thing the tutorial explains, is how to change your movement options, rather than changing your Avatar.. it's quite frustrating trying to teleport to the perfect location in front of the mirror. Since most RIFT users are gamers, who are used to joystick controls, NOT having the ability to set the joysticks to the usual movement options is down right infuriating at times. These are my recommended control options (I understand these won't work for EVERYONE, but at least give us the option):
One joystick for moving forward, backwards, left (STRAFE), and right (STRAFE).
Other joystick for looking up, down, left (turn), and right (turn).
Just like almost every dual analog controlled first person game.
Thanks! -
Bob commented
So oculus home smooth locomotion needs an option to run like every other smooth locomotion game (see onward for an example), have it be able to be based on controller direction (not face), and it needs movement on one controller, not both, with the option for strafing (not just forward and back).
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Jamie Williams commented
Can we please have strafing? It feels so wrong how it is currently.
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Brian Stone commented
The way movement currently works, you walk in the direction that you look. This is contrary to how we move in real life, of course, and is both confusing and difficult to work with, resulting in awkward and inaccurate control.
We must have realistic movement control of our avatar as an option.
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Brian Stone commented
I totally agree with this. I want full 3DOF free movement.
1) Strafing while walking forward.
2) De-couple the look-direction with the walking-direction.
3) Flying mode. -
Anonymous commented
Both joysticks are used to rotate while using 'direct rotation'. Strafing only works with rotation set to off. It would be useful to do both at once. One joystick to strafe(left stick) and the other rotate(right stick). I often find myself having to inch back and forth in able to position myself at a target location.
The rotation is also very slow. Rotation speed settings would be handy.
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Brian Stone commented
Thanks for the free movement in the new version, but it's only half of a solution.
1) Moving in the direction that you're looking is bad.
2) Strafing without the ability to turn is bad.I don't know who likes the current free movement modes, but I'm not one of those people. I want to move in the direction that I'm pushing the joystick, which is independent of the direction that I'm looking. I want to think of the joystick as a steering wheel, and think of the avatar as a car or a hovercraft, and I'm the driver.
I also want to strafe while turning and moving. The current movement mode that allows strafing is restrictive and, frankly, very frustrating to use.
In short, if Home is going to be a preeminent VR launch platform, then it needs to allow users to take full control of their avatars with absolute precision and no restrictions. Without full control, what could be an amazing experience in Home just turns into a frustrating exercise.
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John Nunez commented
"The new free movement is a huge improvement, but needs refinement. I'm sorely lacking a way to strafe from side to side (with an option to select which stick to use for that) and a sensitivity slider for the smooth turning. Other than that, it is perfect!"
This. Thank you for finally providing smooth locomotion. OTOH, have you guys ever played an FPS? Are you being deliberately obtuse? Rotation rate is currently far too slow, why not provide a slider to vary it? And please provide a strafing option.
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Lulu Vi Britannia commented
Hey there,
Thank you for implementing the natural walking in Home. But as it is today, the system is unpractical, unnatural, and unusual. Here's the list of all the problems :- This is not the usual method for character controlling. Everyone using gamepads is used to having one stick for translations, one stick for rotations. Even those who use keyboard&mouse are used to assymetric controls (for example, WASD for translations and the mouse for rotations). This is how EVERY SOFTWARE is designed, there is no point in making it otherwise. This just goes against any intuition.
- There are no side steps. This motion is important in many cases (playing basketball, for example) and not being able to do it is just not natural and not practical.
- The main argument for this motion system is "it is equal for right-handed AND left-handed". If this equality is really a concern, there is a way to intervert the sticks for translation and rotation with the usual method. Just put an option to intervert the two sticks, and the problem is solved.
There is no denying that in terms of software ergonomics, the current system isn't good and is far worse than the usual method. Please consider modifying this. Right now, the Home character walking is robotic. It has to change. Thank you for considering it.
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Kasper Olesen commented
Oh, and another thing, it could be made possible to use teleport and locomotion at the same time... that would also help a lot.
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Kasper Olesen commented
Sure is nice this finally got added... somewhat.
It sure lacks the option to make it possible to turn faster and move faster, and even more importantly, that one of the controllers should move you sideways (sometimes called strafing) as its the way you would expect to be able to move. Right now, turning so slow and not being able to strafe makes the current joystick locomotion option almost useless sadly.
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Tommy Back Pedersen commented
The new free movement is a huge improvement, but needs refinement. I'm sorely lacking a way to strafe from side to side (with an option to select which stick to use for that) and a sensitivity slider for the smooth turning. Other than that, it is perfect!