diff --git a/Assets/SteamVR/Scripts/SteamVR.cs b/Assets/SteamVR/Scripts/SteamVR.cs
index e82bd305..56da30cb 100644
--- a/Assets/SteamVR/Scripts/SteamVR.cs
+++ b/Assets/SteamVR/Scripts/SteamVR.cs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public static bool enabled
         {
             get
             {
-                if (!XRSettings.enabled)
+                if (!XRSettings.enabled && !isStandalone)
                     enabled = false;
                 return _enabled;
             }
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ public enum InitializedStates
 
         public static InitializedStates initializedState = InitializedStates.None;
 
+        public static bool isStandalone { get; private set; } = false;
+
         public static void Initialize(bool forceUnityVRMode = false)
         {
             if (forceUnityVRMode)
@@ -105,6 +107,24 @@ public static void Initialize(bool forceUnityVRMode = false)
                 SteamVR_Behaviour.Initialize(forceUnityVRMode);
         }
 
+        /**
+         * Initializes SteamVR in standalone mode without 
+         * This mode is intended for overlays that do not use Unity's XR rendering.
+         */
+        public static void InitializeStandalone(EVRApplicationType applicationType, string pchStartupInfo = "")
+        {
+            var error = EVRInitError.None;
+            OpenVR.Init(ref error, applicationType, pchStartupInfo);
+            if (error != EVRInitError.None)
+            {
+                ReportError(error);
+            }
+
+            isStandalone = true;
+
+            Initialize(false);
+        }
+
         public static bool usingNativeSupport
         {
             get { return XRDevice.GetNativePtr() != System.IntPtr.Zero; }
@@ -116,21 +136,24 @@ private static void ReportGeneralErrors()
         {
             string errorLog = "<b>[SteamVR]</b> Initialization failed. ";
 
-            if (XRSettings.enabled == false)
-                errorLog += "VR may be disabled in player settings. Go to player settings in the editor and check the 'Virtual Reality Supported' checkbox'. ";
-            if (XRSettings.supportedDevices != null && XRSettings.supportedDevices.Length > 0)
-            {
-                if (XRSettings.supportedDevices.Contains("OpenVR") == false)
-                    errorLog += "OpenVR is not in your list of supported virtual reality SDKs. Add it to the list in player settings. ";
-                else if (XRSettings.supportedDevices.First().Contains("OpenVR") == false)
-                    errorLog += "OpenVR is not first in your list of supported virtual reality SDKs. <b>This is okay, but if you have an Oculus device plugged in, and Oculus above OpenVR in this list, it will try and use the Oculus SDK instead of OpenVR.</b> ";
-            }
-            else
+            if (!isStandalone)
             {
-                errorLog += "You have no SDKs in your Player Settings list of supported virtual reality SDKs. Add OpenVR to it. ";
-            }
+                if (XRSettings.enabled == false)
+                    errorLog += "VR may be disabled in player settings. Go to player settings in the editor and check the 'Virtual Reality Supported' checkbox'. ";
+                if (XRSettings.supportedDevices != null && XRSettings.supportedDevices.Length > 0)
+                {
+                    if (XRSettings.supportedDevices.Contains("OpenVR") == false)
+                        errorLog += "OpenVR is not in your list of supported virtual reality SDKs. Add it to the list in player settings. ";
+                    else if (XRSettings.supportedDevices.First().Contains("OpenVR") == false)
+                        errorLog += "OpenVR is not first in your list of supported virtual reality SDKs. <b>This is okay, but if you have an Oculus device plugged in, and Oculus above OpenVR in this list, it will try and use the Oculus SDK instead of OpenVR.</b> ";
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    errorLog += "You have no SDKs in your Player Settings list of supported virtual reality SDKs. Add OpenVR to it. ";
+                }
 
-            errorLog += "To force OpenVR initialization call SteamVR.Initialize(true). ";
+                errorLog += "To force OpenVR initialization call SteamVR.Initialize(true). ";
+            }
 
             Debug.LogWarning(errorLog);
         }
@@ -142,7 +165,7 @@ private static SteamVR CreateInstance()
             try
             {
                 var error = EVRInitError.None;
-                if (!SteamVR.usingNativeSupport)
+                if (!SteamVR.usingNativeSupport && !isStandalone)
                 {
                     ReportGeneralErrors();
                     initializedState = InitializedStates.InitializeFailure;