Valve finally reveals key details about new VR headset steam rack. The company revealed how much the device will cost, offered options with different amounts of memory, and told how the first wave of sales will be organized. Those who want to purchase the headset will first have to enter a special queue, and Valve intends to further limit reseller possibilities.
Steam Frame becomes third new device valvepresented as part of an expansion of Steam’s own hardware ecosystem. Previously, the company detailed the steam engines and steam controllers already on sale. The VR headset remains the last major element of the series, with no concrete information available for a long time.
For Valve, the release of a new VR device is not the first foray in this field. As early as the 2010s, the company was involved in creating HTC Vive Partnered with HTC and released its own headphones in 2019 valve index. Steam Frame should be the next stage of development in this direction.
The new model has many differences from the company’s previous devices. Valve is betting not only on more modern hardware, but also on the ability to use the headset without a permanent physical connection to a computer. In addition, the device supports inside-out motion tracking, meaning no external base station is required.
First sale prices and terms
Steam Frame comes in two configurations. The base model with 256 GB of RAM is priced at $1059 (about 89,300 rubles at the current exchange rate), while the version with a 1 TB hard drive will cost $1299 (approximately 109,600 rubles).
Currently, not everyone can buy headphones directly. Valve has opened registration for a special waiting list that will last until September 1710:00 a.m. Pacific Time. At this point, applications will stop being accepted, after which the company will randomly select the first users who are able to pre-order the device.
On the same day, Valve shall send a letter containing the results of the selection to the participant. Some users will be placed in the reservation queue, while the rest will remain on the waiting list. The first selected customers will place orders from September 18th.
Additionally, as Valve is able to release larger batches of Steam Frames, new users will be able to purchase them. In this case, buyers who receive invitations will have a limited time to place orders. You have 72 hours from the date of notification to make your purchase. If an order is not placed within this time, the opportunity will be passed to the next one in line.
Valve once again tries to block resellers
As is the case with Steam Machine, the company is actively taking steps to prevent devices from being purchased in bulk for subsequent resale. You can only sign up for one of the two versions of Steam Frame – you can’t qualify for both the 256 GB model and the 1 TB version.
In addition, each household can only own one headset at this stage. Valve not only checks account data, but also things like shipping addresses and payment details. This will make it difficult to try to place multiple orders through different accounts.
Transferring or selling queue booking opportunities to others is also prohibited. Of course, these restrictions don’t guarantee that speculators will disappear completely, but they should at least reduce the scale of buying equipment in bulk and subsequently reselling it at inflated prices.
What accessories will Valve offer?
In addition to the headset, the company also announced a list of additional accessories for the Steam Frame.
The Steam Deck already comes with a charger that’s compatible with the new VR headsets. In addition, the Steam Frame can be charged via any 45W USB-C adapter. If you do need a separate power supply, Valve sells it for $29.
For just $59, you can purchase the ergonomic kit. It will include two straps for the controllers, an extra top strap for the headset itself, and an extended light-proof case.
Additionally, Valve will offer a set of replacement components—gaskets, pads, and light shields—for $49. At the same time, the company emphasizes that the listed accessories will be available exclusively to Steam Frame users, so it’s not possible to purchase them in advance or create inventory without the headset itself.
For users who have difficulty wearing regular glasses, special diopter lens plug-ins are available. You can order these headphones through Zenni and use them without glasses.
Finally, Valve mentions the camera Arcturus Vision. With its help, Steam Frame users will be able to use 5K HDR resolution color transfer and create spatial movies.
For now, the main question remains open: whether Steam Frame can appeal to a broad audience and give Valve a foothold in the VR market again. The price of the device looks very high compared to its main competitors (mainly the Meta Quest series), so final demand remains difficult to predict.
More objective conclusions will emerge after the first wave of pre-orders begins. It will then become clear just how much real interest players have in Valve’s new VR device, and whether they are willing to spend thousands of dollars on a headset that is tightly connected to the Steam ecosystem.
