You see SimHub overlays in VR with the help of a second tool, because SimHub does not draw overlays inside a VR headset by itself. The SimHub developer confirms this on the official forum. Tools such as OVRdrop, OVR Toolkit or Desktop+ for SteamVR, and OpenKneeboard for OpenXR games, capture the SimHub window and place it as a floating panel in your headset. Set it up once and your fuel, delta and tyre data float right where you want them.
In 2026 more drivers race in VR than ever, and a clean overlay is the missing piece for many of them. This guide shows how the setup works, where to place the panels and how to keep your frame rate high.
Why do SimHub overlays not show up in VR?
To fix the problem, it helps to understand how a SimHub overlay works.
A SimHub overlay is a transparent window on your Windows desktop. On a flat screen it sits on top of the game. A VR headset, however, shows only the image that the game renders for your eyes. Your desktop and every window on it stay outside the headset. So the overlay is there, you just cannot see it.
The good news: everything else in SimHub keeps working in VR. Bass shakers, LEDs, wind fans and motion run on hardware, not on a screen. Only the visual part needs a bridge.
Which tool brings overlays into your headset?
The right tool depends on the VR runtime your sim uses.
SteamVR games
When your sim runs through SteamVR, a desktop overlay app does the job. OVRdrop is the tool the SimHub developer names himself. OVR Toolkit and Desktop+ work in a similar way. You pick the SimHub overlay window, and the app shows it as a panel that you attach to your view or to a fixed spot in the cockpit.
OpenXR games
Many sims now run on OpenXR, which often gives better performance. Here OpenKneeboard is a popular choice. It shows windows in your headset as a kneeboard panel, and you can add the SimHub overlay window to it. Our ACC VR settings guide explains how OpenXR works for one of the most popular VR sims.
SIMGASM | Pro Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
How do you set up a VR overlay step by step?
Build the overlay on your flat screen first, then move it into VR.
Make the overlay small
SimHub limits a single overlay to 480,000 pixels, for example 800 x 600. Transparent areas count as well. So build several small overlays, such as one for delta and one for fuel, instead of one large panel. Small panels are also easier to place in VR.
Run the game in a window
Start the sim in windowed or borderless windowed mode on your desktop. Then the overlay window stays active and the VR tool can capture it. Next, open your VR tool, select the SimHub window and give the panel a size and a position. Save the layout, so it loads every session.
Test on track
Drive five laps and check one thing at a time. Is the text sharp? Does the panel block a mirror? Do you read the delta without moving your head? Adjust and save again. Our SimHub overlays guide lists which numbers are worth showing in the first place.
Where should overlays sit in your view?
In VR, placement matters more than on a monitor, because you look through the panel all the time.
Put overlays near the top or at the lower edge of your view, never in the centre. A good trick is to attach the panel to the virtual dashboard of the car, so it moves with the cockpit like a real display. Use large fonts, high contrast and a little transparency. A panel at 70 to 80 percent opacity stays readable but does not hide the track behind it.
Your physical seating position plays a part too. When you sit the same way every session, the panels stay in the same spot. A rigid cockpit helps here. The SIMGASM Sport and Pro tiers both have a rated braking load of 300 kg at the pedal deck, and the Pro adds heavy duty steel reinforcement at critical mounting points. So your body and your view stay put under hard braking.
SIMGASM | Keyboard swivel mount - Black
Does a VR overlay cost frame rate?
Yes, a little, so plan some headroom.
VR asks a lot from your GPU, and every extra panel adds work. Keep the game below about 90 percent GPU load before you add overlays, and use a frame rate limiter. Close dashboards you do not use. If SimHub feels slow, try its HTML rendering mode, which you set per overlay. Do you still need help deciding on a rig for VR? Read do you need a sim rig for VR racing in 2026.
In VR you cannot see your keyboard or mouse. So place them where your hands find them without looking. SIMGASM designs its accessories around real use. Johan Akkerman, a former esports world champion who won the 2019 Project CARS 2 world team championship with VP Gaming, leads that product development himself. Want a phone dash next to your VR setup for the people watching? See how to use a phone as a SimHub dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
These answers cover the most common VR overlay questions.
Does SimHub support VR natively?
No. SimHub overlays need a third party tool, such as OVRdrop or OpenKneeboard, to appear in a headset.
Do bass shakers and LEDs work in VR?
Yes. They run on hardware, so they work the same with or without a headset.
Why is my overlay blurry in VR?
The panel is often too small or too far away. Make it larger, move it closer and use bigger fonts in the dash itself.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
