VR content creator VooDooDE briefly gained access to a pre-production model of Valve's upcoming "Steam Frame" headset, but had to take the relevant posts offline after intervention from Valve. Could this be the last hope for VR fans?
In the now-deleted posts on X and YouTube, the reviewer showed himself with the hardware and praised the headset's "premium comfort." According to him, it was not his personal property, but a borrowed device.
After being asked to do so by Valve, he removed the material (still found on RedditHowever, they clarified that the tested model was not the final retail version. The evidence strongly suggests that it was a so-called developer kit or an early test sample, and not final review units intended for press coverage at launch.
Where does Valve stand in the VR market?
Historically, Valve has pursued an extremely restrictive information policy regarding hardware releases. While the Valve Index, released in 2019, is still considered a benchmark for tracking and ergonomics in the PC VR community, its LCD displays and wired connection have long since rendered it technically surpassed by standalone competitors like the MetaQuest 3.
The review of the “Steam Frame” prototype provides important strategic insights:
- Stage of development: The fact that working hardware is appearing outside of Valve's headquarters at the homes of content creators shows that the basic hardware design is in place.
- No imminent release: Since this is reportedly a development kit, the final release is not expected for the next few weeks. Game developers first need the opportunity to adapt their software to the new hardware.
- Focus on ergonomics: The explicit mention of comfort suggests that Valve has optimized the often-criticized weight and balance of VR headsets – a crucial factor for longer gaming sessions.
For VR enthusiasts, this sighting is a concrete sign that Valve hasn't given up on the high-end VR market. However, those waiting for a direct successor to the Valve Index shouldn't set aside any money just yet. The leak shows that the project exists and is functional, but the circumstances surrounding its deletion also illustrate that Valve isn't ready for a wider audience. Gamers should be prepared for months to pass before an official announcement and the actual launch.
The unauthorized preview of the Steam Frame removes the purely speculative element from the rumor mill: the hardware exists in an advanced stage of development. However, since it appears to be a developer kit, hopes for an immediate release are premature. Valve remains firmly in control. Nevertheless, the headset remains the most important source of hope for the struggling PC VR market.
I'd love to buy it on day one, BUT I'm fed up with devices that have built-in batteries if it's not absolutely necessary... I have a Quest 3, and it already has a built-in battery. If the Steam Frame at least allowed for wired operation without a battery, it would be the perfect secondary device for me and also suitable as a permanent solution when the Quest eventually dies. As it is, I'll have two devices that are slowly "dying," and I'll have to decide whether to sell them or painstakingly mod, open them up, repair them, etc.
The thing mainly runs via Wi-Fi or radio. So you have the battery attached to your head and it's constantly transmitting to the router and the PC. I really don't want that. Bluetooth is okay, but all that 2,4 GHz stuff and higher... constantly. Unfortunately, that's not entirely safe for your health and has already shown bad results in animal studies. Having it right next to your head and then receiving all the data from the PC plus the data being sent back... no thanks.
Then I'll stick with my quest and play wirelessly with battery power and without Wi-Fi, with games installed on the device, or with a cable and link to the PC.
Too bad, Steam… I would have loved to see an Index 2.0 with a cable, no battery, and controllers that have a battery compartment like the Quest 3 controllers. I would have bought that immediately. As it is, it offers hardly any advantages over the Quest 3, yet you still pay a huge premium.