Because "just launch it in SteamVR" has never once worked on the first try.
SSSM is a wizard-style Windows app that generates proper VR launch shortcuts for your Steam games — right runtime, right flags, no digging through launch options at midnight because your headset decided it's an Oculus device today.
You pick a game folder. SSSM figures out the app ID, looks up the VR launch config from a shared community database, asks which headset you're using, and spits out .lnk shortcut files you can use from inside your headset to launch your game correctly!
That's it. No config files to hand-edit. No launch option archaeology. No "why does this only work in Desktop mode" spirals.
Supports:
- SteamVR - as both a program and a headset type
- Oculus / Meta (native runtime)
- Virtual Desktop (generates a
.batlauncher for VD Streamer) - OpenXR (where applicable)
Does Not Support:
- Steam Link (DUH! It doesn't work for anything, more like Steam Link doesnt support this app, or anything else. Shit app.)
- Download
SmartSteamShortcutMaker.exefrom the latest release — no install needed, just run it. - Point it at tthe
parent directoryof the game you need shortcuts for. - Pick the exe if there's more than one (there's always more than one). Most VR games work best with the shipping exe if one exists. If there is a folder named after the game with no
_dataor similar at the end it is very likely that there is going to be a shipping exe. - Choose your headset type. Oculus or SteamVR?
- Review the launch options — The community DB probably already has your game. If not, you can paste the config from SteamDB and be a good Mr. Do Bee and contribute it back.
- Generate. Use the resulting shortcut
.lnkto launch from inside your headset. - Profit. Actually play the game.
SSSM pulls VR launch configs from a shared JSON file in this repo. If your game isn't in there yet, the app will:
- Open the SteamDB config page for your game.
- Ask you to paste the launch config info.
- Parse it and let you review it.
- Offer to contribute it back so the next person doesn't have to do this.
It's opt-in, takes about 30 seconds, and makes the tool better for everyone. We accept contributions via GitHub Issues — the app fills out the form for you, you just submit it.
- Windows 10 or 11
- Steam installed (obviously)
- A VR headset and its runtime (SteamVR, Oculus app, or Virtual Desktop)
- A game that is, in theory, VR-capable
pip install pyinstaller customtkinter pillow requests
python build.py
# → dist/SmartSteamShortcutMaker.exePython 3.11+ recommended.
If you've got VR games with known-good launch configs, open an issue using the Config Submission template. Or just run the app, launch a game, and hit the Contribute button. The app formats everything for you automatically.
Single submissions help. Bulk submissions are HUGE.
SSSM includes a Steam library scanner that can compare your installed VR games against the community database and only submit configs that dont already exist. That means one person with a large VR library can instantly fill dozens or even hundreds of missing entries.
As a new project, bulk contributions are extremely important right now.
The faster the database grows, the faster this tool becomes genuinely useful for everyone:
- fewer people manually digging through SteamDB
- fewer broken launch attempts
- fewer random Reddit threads from 2017 needed just to start a game
- more plug-and-play VR launches that "just work"
If you or someone you know owns a massive VR library, PLEASE consider running the scanner and contributing configs back. Those large submissions do more for the project than almost anything else right now.
Q: Why does this exist when Steam has launch options?
A: Steam's launch options are per-user, per-machine, not portable, and finding the right ones requires reading 47 ourdated Reddit threads or checking SteamDB manually. This is portable, shareable, and sane. Also once the community repo gets large enough it should save a lot of time for people that dont know how to find the arguments or make these shortcuts themselves. Also this wont require steam if the game is using an emulator.
Q: My game isn't in the community database.
A: Use the SteamDB paste fallback in the app, or check the SteamDB config page manually. Either way, please contribute it back.
Q: Does this modify my Steam installation?
A: No. It writes .lnk files to a folder you choose. Steam never knows it existed.
Q: Virtual Desktop support?
A: Yes. It generates a .bat file that calls VD Streamer with the right game arguments. You'll need to point SSSM at your VirtualDesktop.Streamer.exe once.
Q: Will this brick my PC / headset / relationship?
A: It writes shortcut files. The blast radius is extremely limited.
MIT License. Made for VR players who just want the thing to work.
You’re already here. You’ve already scrolled.
Just hit the ⭐ and we both win.
⭐ Star this repo please
