Editing Deep Linking

Deep linking is any way to link someone to a specific part of an app, so in Echo VR, that's a generally specific match.


On PC deeplinking already works by using command line arguments when launching the game. You can launch the game directly into a private match (or public as a spectator) using spark:// links, which passes the match id as a command line argument, or you can launch a new private match in a specific region or map. Spark is just using the command line arguments when launching the game to make that happen from the UI.


Since the command line arguments don't work on Quest to launch the game, that form of deeplinking doesn't work on the Quest version.


The recently proposed API changes will allow programs to send a match id to the game through the network, after which you will switch to the new match. If that's implemented in a way that uses a clickable link (like spark:// links will) that is also a form of deeplinking, but this will work for both Quest and PC versions of the game.


The mythical official "deeplinking support" that was announced years ago will work a bit differently. It doesn't require a 3rd party program to send the command directly across your local network to the game. After clicking the link, which takes you to an Oculus site, the data will be sent to your Quest in the background, and the game can automatically switch to the new match. The plan for the official deeplinking support is also more detailed than just joining matches, and is promised to include stuff like creating a password-protected private match in a specific region with specific game rules already applied.

All of those things are possible using existing API methods and 3rd party programs, but this way is much more accessible and requires no prior setup.