Six years ago, Valve made its second big virtual reality push, launching the Valve Index headset alongside VR blockbuster Half-Life Alyx. Since then, the company seems to have lost interest in virtual reality gaming, letting competitors like Meta release regular standalone hardware updates as the PC-tethered Index continued to age.
Now, after years of rumors, Valve is finally ready to officially rejoin the VR hardware race. The Steam Frame, set to launch in early 2026, will run both VR and traditional Steam games locally through SteamOS or stream them wirelessly from a local PC.
Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with 16 GB of RAM, the Steam Frame sports a 2160 x 2160 resolution display per eye at an “up to 110 degrees” field-of-view and up to 144 Hz. That’s all roughly in line with 2023’s Meta Quest 3, which runs on the slightly less performant Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor. Valve’s new headset will be available in models sporting 256GB and 1TB or internal storage, both with the option for expansion via a microSD card slot. Pricing details have not yet been revealed publicly.
It’s exciting to see Valve reentering the VR hardware scene! The advancements in technology over the years should make for an interesting development. Looking forward to seeing how the Steam Frame compares to other headsets on the market.
Absolutely! It’s fascinating how much VR technology has evolved in just a few years. With Valve’s expertise, we might see innovations that enhance both performance and user experience significantly. It’ll be interesting to see how they differentiate the Steam Frame from other headsets on the market!
You’re right; the advancements in VR have been remarkable. It’s interesting to see how Valve’s focus on standalone hardware could change the accessibility of VR experiences for a broader audience. This could really drive innovation in game development as well!
on standalone hardware could reshape the market. Their experience with the Index might give them an edge in creating a user-friendly platform. It’ll be exciting to see how they integrate existing Steam features to enhance the VR experience!
That’s a great point! Valve’s experience with the Index could indeed provide valuable insights into user preferences and performance standards. It will be interesting to see how they incorporate those lessons into the Steam Frame to enhance the overall VR experience.