Valve has officially announced its long-anticipated VR headset — the Steam Frame — marking the company’s major return to virtual reality. The device, once codenamed “Deckard,” will launch in early 2026, alongside a new Steam Controller and Steam Machine PC.
While pricing and exact release dates remain under wraps, Valve confirmed that developer kits for the Steam Frame are already available, setting the stage for a big year in PC and VR gaming.
A Wireless, Streaming-First Headset
The Steam Frame is designed as a “streaming-first” headset that connects wirelessly to your PC or Steam Machine through a plug-and-play 6GHz adapter. It features a dual-radio setup — one channel dedicated to visuals and audio, and the other to Wi-Fi — ensuring low latency and smooth gameplay.
However, gamers won’t need a PC to dive into VR. Much like Meta’s Quest lineup, the Steam Frame can operate as a standalone device, powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. It also supports Android games, opening the door for a wider variety of VR experiences.
Designed for Comfort and Clarity
Valve packed the headset with dual 2160×2160 LCD panels running up to 144Hz, and custom pancake lenses that promise edge-to-edge clarity. It also supports eye-tracking for its new Foveated Streaming technology — optimizing image quality wherever you look, while reducing bandwidth usage.
The 21.6Wh battery is built into the rear of the headstrap for balanced weight distribution, and the entire unit weighs just 440 grams. Users can also swap the headstrap for third-party options, including those with larger batteries.
Immersive Audio and Smart Tracking
Audio quality has also received special attention. Dual stereo speakers on each side deliver high-fidelity sound, with vibration-canceling placement for clearer output.
For motion tracking, the Steam Frame uses four high-resolution monochrome cameras with inside-out tracking and infrared LEDs for dark environments. The headset also includes monochrome passthrough support for real-world awareness.
Steam Frame Controllers
The headset ships with Steam Frame controllers, offering 6-DOF tracking, capacitive finger sensing, and a split gamepad layout featuring thumbsticks, triggers, bumpers, and ABXY buttons. Each controller runs on AA batteries that last up to 40 hours.
Alternatively, users can pair the headset with Valve’s newly announced Steam Controller, expanding compatibility with traditional games.
A Big Leap for Valve in VR
The Steam Frame follows the legacy of the Valve Index (2019) and the HTC Vive, with the company now aiming to rival Meta’s Quest series. With SteamOS integration, standalone functionality, and the full Steam library at its core, Valve could finally have the all-in-one device to make VR mainstream.
Whether it can capture the same success as the Steam Deck remains to be seen, but Valve’s bold entry into standalone VR could reshape the landscape once again.