https://github.com/itsloopyo/skyrim-special-edition-headtracking
An OpenTrack compatible head tracking mod for Skyrim Special Edition
https://github.com/itsloopyo/skyrim-special-edition-headtracking
Last synced: 29 days ago
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An OpenTrack compatible head tracking mod for Skyrim Special Edition
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/itsloopyo/skyrim-special-edition-headtracking
- Owner: itsloopyo
- License: other
- Created: 2026-04-23T18:18:05.000Z (2 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-05-24T01:17:49.000Z (about 1 month ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-05-24T03:19:09.897Z (about 1 month ago)
- Language: C++
- Size: 53.6 MB
- Stars: 1
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Changelog: CHANGELOG.md
- License: LICENSE
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README
# Skyrim SE Head Tracking
An unofficial head tracking mod for Skyrim Special Edition. Look around naturally with your head while your mouse and keyboard/controller still handle aim, no VR headset required.
## Features
- **Decoupled look and aim** - head tracking moves the view; the game's aim stays on your mouse or controller
- **6DOF positional tracking** - lean and peek with head position
## Requirements
- [The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/489830/) (Steam, Anniversary Edition 1.6.x)
- [OpenTrack](https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack) or a compatible head tracking app (smartphone, webcam, or dedicated hardware)
- Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit)
## Installation
1. Download the latest `SkyrimSEHeadTracking-v-installer.zip` from the [Releases page](https://github.com/itsloopyo/skyrim-special-edition-headtracking/releases)
2. Extract the ZIP anywhere
3. Double-click `install.cmd`
4. Configure OpenTrack to output UDP to `127.0.0.1:4242`
5. Launch the game
The installer finds your Skyrim SE install via Steam registry. If it can't find the game:
- Set the `SKYRIM_SE_PATH` environment variable to your game folder, or
- Run from a command prompt: `install.cmd "D:\Games\Skyrim Special Edition"`
### Manual Installation
For users on Nexus Mods or anyone who prefers to drop files in by hand:
**Step 1: Install Ultimate ASI Loader**
1. Download `Ultimate-ASI-Loader_x64.zip` from [ThirteenAG's releases](https://github.com/ThirteenAG/Ultimate-ASI-Loader/releases)
2. Extract `dinput8.dll` into your Skyrim SE directory (the folder containing `SkyrimSE.exe`)
**Step 2: Install the mod**
1. Grab the `-nexus.zip` variant from the Releases page
2. Copy the contents of the `Root/` folder (`SkyrimSEHeadTracking.asi`) into your Skyrim SE directory, next to `SkyrimSE.exe`
`HeadTracking.ini` is written automatically next to `SkyrimSE.exe` on first launch - there's no need to copy it in, and it isn't bundled so updates never overwrite your settings.
**Mod Organizer 2:** install the `-nexus.zip` as a normal mod. The `Root/` folder is handled by the Root Builder plugin, which deploys it to the game root. Without Root Builder, install manually as above - MO2's virtual file system only covers `Data/`, not the game root where `.asi` files must live.
## Setting Up OpenTrack
1. Download and install [OpenTrack](https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack/releases)
2. Configure your tracker as input
3. Set output to **UDP over network**
4. Host: `127.0.0.1`, Port: `4242`
5. Start tracking before launching the game
### Webcam Setup
No special hardware needed. OpenTrack's built-in **neuralnet tracker** uses any webcam for 6DOF face tracking.
1. In OpenTrack, set the input to **neuralnet tracker**
2. Select your webcam in the tracker settings
3. Set output to **UDP over network** (`127.0.0.1:4242`)
4. Start tracking before launching the game
5. Recenter in OpenTrack via its hotkey, and press **Home** in-game to recenter the mod as needed
### Phone App Setup
This mod includes built-in smoothing for network jitter, so if your tracking app already sends a filtered signal you can point the phone straight at port 4242 without routing through OpenTrack on the PC.
1. Install an OpenTrack-compatible head tracking app from your phone's app store
2. Configure the phone app to send to your PC's IP address on port 4242 (run `ipconfig` on the PC to find it, e.g. `192.168.1.100`)
3. Set the protocol to OpenTrack/UDP
4. Start tracking
**With OpenTrack (optional):** If you want curve mapping or a visual preview, route through OpenTrack. Set OpenTrack's input to "UDP over network" on a different port (e.g. 5252), point the phone app at that port, and set OpenTrack's output to `127.0.0.1:4242`. Make sure your firewall allows incoming UDP on the input port.
## Controls
Two equivalent binding sets - use whichever your keyboard has:
| Action | Nav-cluster | Chord |
|---------------------|-------------|-----------------|
| Recenter | `Home` | `Ctrl+Shift+T` |
| Toggle tracking | `End` | `Ctrl+Shift+Y` |
| Cycle tracking mode | `Page Up` | `Ctrl+Shift+G` |
| Toggle yaw mode | `Page Down` | `Ctrl+Shift+H` |
`Page Up` / `Ctrl+Shift+G` cycles tracking mode:
1. Normal head-tracked gameplay
2. Positional tracking disabled, rotational tracking enabled
3. Rotational tracking disabled, positional tracking enabled
4. Back to normal
`Page Down` / `Ctrl+Shift+H` switches between horizon-locked yaw (default) and camera-local yaw.
## Configuration
The mod writes `HeadTracking.ini` next to `SkyrimSE.exe` on first launch. Edit it to customize:
```ini
[Network]
UDPPort=4242 ; UDP port for tracker data (1024-65535)
[Sensitivity]
YawMultiplier=1.0 ; Horizontal rotation sensitivity (0.1-5.0)
PitchMultiplier=1.0 ; Vertical rotation sensitivity (0.1-5.0)
RollMultiplier=1.0 ; Head tilt sensitivity (0.0-2.0)
[Position]
SensitivityX=1.0 ; Lateral position sensitivity (0.1-10.0)
SensitivityY=1.0 ; Vertical position sensitivity (0.1-10.0)
SensitivityZ=1.0 ; Depth position sensitivity (0.1-10.0)
LimitX=0.30 ; Max lateral offset in meters
LimitY=0.20 ; Max vertical offset in meters
LimitZ=0.40 ; Max forward offset in meters
LimitZBack=0.10 ; Max backward offset (prevents camera clipping)
Smoothing=0.15 ; Position smoothing (0.0-0.99)
InvertX=true ; Invert lateral axis
InvertY=false ; Invert vertical axis
InvertZ=true ; Invert depth axis
Enabled=true ; Enable 6DOF (set false for rotation-only 3DOF)
[Hotkeys]
ToggleKey=0x23 ; End key (virtual key code in hex)
RecenterKey=0x24 ; Home key
PositionToggleKey=0x21 ; Page Up key
YawModeKey=0x22 ; Page Down key - toggle world/local yaw
[General]
AutoEnable=true ; Start tracking when the game launches
ShowNotifications=true ; Write status messages to HeadTracking.log
WorldSpaceYaw=true ; true = horizon-locked yaw (default), false = camera-local
```
Delete the file to reset to defaults.
## Troubleshooting
**Mod not loading:**
- Verify `dinput8.dll` (ASI Loader) is in your Skyrim SE directory alongside `SkyrimSE.exe`
- Check that `SkyrimSEHeadTracking.asi` is in the same directory
- Check `HeadTracking.log` in the game folder for error messages
**No tracking response:**
- Ensure your tracker is running and outputting data
- Verify the UDP port matches in both tracker and `HeadTracking.ini`
- Press **End** to enable tracking if `AutoEnable` is off
- Press **Home** to recenter if the view is offset
- Check that your firewall isn't blocking UDP port 4242
**Jittery or unstable tracking:**
- Increase filtering in your tracker software, or raise `Smoothing` in `HeadTracking.ini`
- Reduce sensitivity multipliers in `HeadTracking.ini`
- Improve lighting for webcam-based tracking
- If you're streaming from a phone over WiFi, some jitter is expected; send via a wired hotspot or switch to webcam tracking for the smoothest signal
**Wrong rotation axis (head rotates the view the wrong way):**
- Invert the position axis in the `[Position]` section (`InvertX`, `InvertY`, `InvertZ`)
- For rotation axes, flip the sign on the sensitivity multiplier (e.g. `PitchMultiplier=-1.0`)
- Press **Home** after changing signs so the new orientation is taken as the neutral pose
**Yaw feels wrong when looking up or down at extreme angles:**
- Try toggling between world-locked and camera-local yaw with `Page Down`. World-locked (default) is horizon-stable; camera-local follows the camera's current up-axis.
## Updating
Download the new release and run `install.cmd` again. Your config is preserved.
## Uninstalling
Run `uninstall.cmd` from the release folder. This removes the mod DLLs. Ultimate ASI Loader (`dinput8.dll`) is only removed if the installer originally put it there. To remove it anyway:
```
uninstall.cmd /force
```
To remove manually, delete these files from your Skyrim SE directory:
- `SkyrimSEHeadTracking.asi`
- `HeadTracking.ini`
- `HeadTracking.log` (if present)
- `dinput8.dll` (only if you also want to remove the ASI Loader)
## Building from Source
### Prerequisites
- [Visual Studio 2022](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/) with the C++ desktop development workload
- [CMake 3.20+](https://cmake.org/)
- [pixi](https://pixi.sh) task runner
### Build
```bash
git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/itsloopyo/skyrim-special-edition-headtracking.git
cd skyrim-special-edition-headtracking
# Build and install to game
pixi run install
# Build only
pixi run build-release
# Package for release
pixi run package
```
**Manual CMake:**
```bash
cmake -B build -G "Visual Studio 17 2022" -A x64
cmake --build build --config Release
```
Output: `bin/Release/SkyrimSEHeadTracking.asi`
## License
MIT. See [LICENSE](LICENSE).
## Credits
- [Bethesda Game Studios](https://bethesdagamestudios.com/) - Skyrim Special Edition
- [OpenTrack](https://github.com/opentrack/opentrack) - Head tracking protocol and software
- [Ultimate ASI Loader](https://github.com/ThirteenAG/Ultimate-ASI-Loader) - ASI plugin loading
- [MinHook](https://github.com/TsudaKageyu/minhook) - API hooking library
- [inih](https://github.com/benhoyt/inih) - INI file parser