Oculus is an unofficial fork of Iris, and both are Java Edition shader loaders, not VR headsets.
Iris and Oculus at a glance
| Fact | Iris | Oculus |
|---|---|---|
| Loaders with a build | Fabric, NeoForge, Quilt | Forge, NeoForge |
| Newest Minecraft version with a build | 26.3 on Fabric and NeoForge; 1.21.11 on Quilt | 1.20.1 on Forge and NeoForge |
| Newest build date | 30 September 2026 (Fabric and NeoForge) | 24 December 2024 |
| Required rendering mod in the newest build | Sodium | Rubidium in the newest Forge file (1.19.2-1.6.9a); Embeddium in the 1.20.1-1.8.0 build |
| Side | Client required, server unsupported | Client required, server unsupported |
| Licence files in the repository | LGPL-3.0, with a dependency note about glsl-transformer (AGPL-3.0) | LGPL-3.0 |
| Maintainer on Modrinth | coderbot (owner) with IMS (lead developer) | Asek3 (owner) |
| Modrinth downloads | 185,748,137 | 37,409,976 |
Both pages say they load existing OptiFine shader packs. Neither runs on Bedrock Edition.
Which loader each one targets
Iris Shaders
@coderbot · Java Mod
Checked Source and install notes
Iris is the original project. Its listing shows Fabric and NeoForge builds that reach 26.3, plus a Quilt line that ends at 1.21.11. Its Modrinth summary calls it a shader pack loader intended to be compatible with existing OptiFine packs. Its author wrote it as an open-source alternative to OptiFine, which he describes as restrictively licensed and incompatible with Sodium.
Oculus
@Asek3 · Java Mod
Checked Source and install notes
Oculus describes itself as an unofficial fork of Iris, made to work with Forge Mod Loader. Its listing also carries NeoForge files, but only for 1.20.1. Its README says it is not and never will be compatible with OptiFine, and asks players not to report Oculus problems to Iris's own GitHub. For the loaders themselves, see Fabric vs Forge vs NeoForge.
Supported Minecraft versions
Iris on Fabric spans 1.16.5 to 26.3, with 1.11.7+26.3 as the newest file, dated 30 September 2026. On NeoForge it spans 1.21 to 26.3 with the same newest file. On Quilt it spans 1.16.5 to 1.21.11, and the newest Quilt file is 1.10.6+1.21.11, dated 23 February 2026. Its listing was last updated on 30 September 2026.
Oculus on Forge spans 1.16.5 to 1.20.1, and on NeoForge it covers 1.20.1 only. The newest builds on both loaders date from 24 December 2024, and the listing has not been updated since. No Oculus build for a Minecraft version after 1.20.1 appears in our sources. To check which versions suit mods in general, see which Java version suits mods.
How each relates to Sodium and Embeddium
Iris needs Sodium in its newest builds on all three loaders. Its Fabric builds for 1.16.5 to 1.21.1 include 48 that list no required dependency, so older files differ. On NeoForge, seven builds for 1.21 to 26.1.2 list none. Sodium is a separate mod you install alongside Iris.
Oculus follows the Forge-side rendering mods. Its README says it requires Rubidium, made by Asek3, and its newest Forge file lists Rubidium. Five Forge builds for 1.20.1 and the newest NeoForge build, 1.20.1-1.8.0, list Embeddium instead. One NeoForge file still lists Rubidium. Check the dependency on the exact file you pick. For how Embeddium relates to Sodium, read Sodium vs Embeddium.
When your loader already decides
On Fabric or Quilt, Oculus has no build, so the choice is Iris. On NeoForge for 1.21 or newer, only Iris has a build. On Forge, Iris lists no build, so Oculus is the only one of the two, and only up to 1.20.1. On NeoForge 1.20.1, Oculus has files; Iris starts at 1.21 there.
A modpack that already ships one of them settles it. Both are required on the client and unsupported on a server, so a server needs neither. See client-side and server-side mods.
Trade-offs and which one to install
Iris has the wider and more recent range, but it needs Sodium and, on Quilt, stops at 1.21.11. Its repository also carries a dependency licence note: glsl-transformer is under the AGPL-3.0, which the note says may affect distributing Iris. We give no speed comparison because none is sourced.
If you can choose your loader and Minecraft version, Iris on Fabric or NeoForge matches the most recent builds in our sources. If you are staying on Forge 1.20.1 or older for a modpack, Oculus is the one that loads there. Install steps live in how to install shaders, installing Fabric and installing Forge or NeoForge. If packs fail to load, try fixing shaders that do not work.