Hey there! Let me break this down clearly based on what kind of GPU you’re running—since the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all:

• If you have an NVIDIA GPU: Yes, you absolutely need to install the official proprietary NVIDIA drivers (not the open-source Nouveau drivers that come pre-installed by default). The Nouveau drivers lack the performance and low-level feature support required for SteamVR to run properly—you’ll likely hit crashes, stuttering frame rates, or even be unable to launch VR apps at all.
  To install the right drivers easily, you can run this terminal command:
  sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall
  Or open Ubuntu’s "Software & Updates" app, navigate to the "Additional Drivers" tab, and select the recommended NVIDIA driver from the list.

• If you have an AMD GPU: No, you don’t need proprietary AMD drivers. Ubuntu’s pre-installed open-source Mesa drivers have solid, reliable support for SteamVR these days. Just make sure your system and Mesa drivers are up to date by running:
  sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
  This ensures you get the latest compatibility fixes for VR workloads.

• If you’re using integrated graphics (like Intel UHD): Even with the correct drivers installed, most integrated GPUs don’t have enough processing power to run SteamVR smoothly. You’ll probably run into severe performance issues or find that VR apps refuse to launch entirely. For a usable VR experience, you’ll want to upgrade to a dedicated NVIDIA or AMD GPU.

One quick final tip: Always make sure Steam and SteamVR are fully updated before troubleshooting—many compatibility bugs get fixed in the latest versions.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者4happyP