Valve launches Steam Frame VR headset

gamingSep 14, 2026571,186

Valve opened reservations for the Steam Frame standalone wireless VR headset, offering a randomized reservation system for the first batch with sign-ups open through September 17 at 10 a.m. PT and purchase invitations expected to go out September 18. The headset runs SteamOS on Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 hardware and can play supported games locally or stream more demanding VR and flat-screen titles from a PC using a included dedicated wireless adapter. Two storage configurations are available: 256 GB for $1,059 and 1 TB for $1,299; both ship with the headset, controllers, and a native version of Half-Life: Alyx. Key hardware specs include 16 GB of RAM, pancake optics, 2,160 by 2,160 resolution per eye, refresh rates up to 120 Hz, eye tracking, Wi-Fi 7, and a microSD slot for expanded storage. Valve is offering accessories such as an ergonomic kit, replacement parts, and a USB-C power supply now, and says more upgrades will follow. The company positions Steam Frame for gamers who want untethered VR that can still tap a PC library, though the initial randomized reservation and four-figure starting price will determine how many customers actually receive the first units.

SchokoPLUS

@schokoplus.bsky.social

Skipping on a Steam Frame to view my waifu in proper resolution

16125d ago

Chris Person

@papapishu.bsky.social

I do like the number of people who saw the Steam Frame price and said "400 bucks is worth not having to deal with Meta"

16525d ago

Chris Person90

People talk about the "Microsoft tax" but Meta is lower than dirt lol.

Schuhji 🤰 🐳5

I think it can't be under appreciated how much people despise meta. I have many friends that have quests and they want a Frame because the quest also breaks constantly in new and interesting ways. I have had multiple friends cancel VRChat hangouts because of some weird update that broke everything.

Friendly Neighborhood Transsexual1

I mean for me personally if Meta gave me a Quest for free I'd still use a Frame instead, I had a Rift and every Facebook integration that got added made me feel gross

mansterzs

@mansterzs.bsky.social

the steam frame is going to leave us like .... #steamframe #steam #vrchat

10925d ago

Winter2

I’m in this picture and I don’t like it

Ami - BUY MY BOOK 🏳️‍⚧️📚💙

@amithero.bot

gamer nexus has the best review on the steam frame because the front-end of the video shows you why the quest is $600 compared to steam frame's $1k. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcer...

11125d ago

Quoting this

Ami - BUY MY BOOK 🏳️‍⚧️📚💙1461

No really this whole privacy section is incredible and every review should have one.

〽️ax krieger enters phase 2

@maxkriegervg.bsky.social

chris nailed it. i talked abt this on stream last night - the steambox and steam frame are "trojan horses" for valve, carrying a One More Thing w them that are the /real/ master plan w steambox, valve made steamos a public distro w steam frame, valve leverages FEX to bring steamos to arm64 devices

6925d ago

〽️ax krieger enters phase 220

what's an arm64 device? arm chips are what power both iphone and android phones, as well as the current fleet of snapdragon-powered laptops, and - most importantly - high powered handhelds like Ayn ODIN and Ayn THOR coming out of china right now. these are cheaper than a switch 2 w great specs!

Justin Stanley2

and I ain't even mad.

big_throwaway (仮)2

I'm so out of the loop on vr headsets I jumped in with the first Vive and first Rift but then Facebook went and put out a whole bunch of meta quests that I don't know anything about besides the vague hunch that they might have been standalone devices

James Youngman1

Thinking a little further out, if Valve is happy with FEX performance on Android handhelds, I wonder if that creates the possibility of Steam Deck 2 being an ARM device. If they can mostly match x86 perf and cut down energy use, that could mean a sleeker and cheaper system.

sadie | looking for gigs1

big win for open computing and mobile pc gaming, kind of a new reality on the horizon sorta deal but let’s see these hardware prices get normal again first lol

eevee

@eev.ee

steam frame my ass. that thing clearly runs on electricity

6825d ago

Toaster1

Well yeah but to this day boiling water is the number 1 way to generate power!

Phobia

@phobia.bsky.social

Hopefully able to grab a steam frame, really want to use it as a screen for drawing. My eyes are at the point i have to go hyper goblin posture to draw and it's destroying me.

5725d ago

GoopyArts Comms Open

@goopyarts.bsky.social

God steam frame so priceyyyyy I wish all this ram shit wasn't going on cause I would have loved to try VR and get a big old Audino model but it was simply not meant to be

5625d ago

IGN

@ign.com

The Steam Frame starts at $1,059, but it was probably supposed to cost about $750, as the RAM crisis continues to raise prices. https://bit.ly/4cIw3zI

2625d ago

Jumpingaround4

they can choke on their AI RAM…

2-Way_Intersection3

Wow those controllers are bigger than i thought. Don't look too big but big

cirogalli77.bsky.social1

For that price and they even sell you a broken controller?

VonVivianov

@vonvivianov.bsky.social

⛧ Steam Frame launch celebration!! ⛧ Become a shortstack cow! or goblin! or kobold!! 💙 linktr.ee/VonVivianov

1625d ago

Bruno Dias

@brunodias.dev

the steam frame is going to be the only way to play pico-8 games in standalone vr, so really you have to say everything else is obsolete now

2125d ago

Microsoft Zune

@microsoftzune.bsky.social

yes, you will be able to play Hexic on the Steam Frame.

1325d ago

winter

@madoka.systems

factorio is steam frame verified... it's actually over for me

1725d ago

Vylraz!

@vulpethere.bsky.social

A lot of incredulity about the Steam Frame would either disappear (or get worse for some) if ppl just accepted that in this specific context Valve is functioning as an Apple-like. You're paying extra for ecosystem integration, design, and to not have another subsidized wiretap in your house.

1625d ago

Azure ❄2

Also worth consideration: Yeah people the economy is fucking DIRE right now and we’re not even in the middle stage of the economic ramifications of *gestures around*

Backpack

@silkmerchant.bsky.social

The Steam frame looks like it belongs on a cute girl who loves video games and is vulnerable to hypnosis and becoming a Drone. (Potentially a Aperture Science themed Drone)

1025d ago

Backpack9

dumb edit i made after talking with @fimbulwinterfrost.bsky.social I can't make it so tried to get as close as possible with editing stuff.

MintHellebore4

I think we should find some cute girls to test this theory!

Vivi, Spiraling Sheep3

now that's a gamer girl...

3 sources

articlweblog.comValve’s Steam Frame is finally here, bringing wireless VR and Steam gaming in one headset root-nation.comValve Unveils the Steam Frame VR Headset: Prices and Reservation Details Revealed hardwarebrief.comValve Launches Steam Frame VR Headset Reservations

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Valve launches Steam Frame VR headset

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