Valve is re-entering the virtual reality hardware market with the Steam Frame, a standalone headset powered by SteamOS. Set for launch in early 2026, it supports local gaming and wireless PC streaming, competing directly with devices like the Meta Quest 3.
Six years after releasing the Valve Index headset alongside Half-Life: Alyx, Valve has announced its return to VR hardware. The Steam Frame, revealed on November 12, 2025, will run VR and traditional Steam games locally through SteamOS or stream them wirelessly from a PC.
The headset features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and 16 GB of RAM, with displays offering 2160 x 2160 resolution per eye, up to 110 degrees field of view, and up to 144 Hz refresh rate. These specifications align closely with the 2023 Meta Quest 3, which uses a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2. Storage options include 256 GB or 1 TB models, expandable via microSD card, though pricing remains undisclosed.
Inside-out tracking eliminates the need for external base stations used in prior SteamVR headsets like the Index. The included Steam Frame controllers provide hand movement tracking, haptic feedback, and input equivalent to a traditional gamepad with buttons and sticks. Older SteamVR controllers are incompatible.
For PC streaming, the headset uses a 6 GHz Wi-Fi 6E adapter and foveated rendering technology, which optimizes video quality based on eye focus tracked by internal cameras. Valve describes this as establishing a "fast, direct, low-latency link," but has not specified exact latency figures. A 21.6 Wh battery powers the device, with standalone life varying by game and settings, according to Valve Engineer Jeremy Selan and Designer Lawrence Yang.
The Steam Frame weighs 440 grams overall, with a modular 185-gram core containing key components like lenses, displays, and processor. This design allows potential third-party modifications, such as custom batteries or headstraps, via a front Gen 4 PCIe expansion port for monochrome passthrough cameras. No wired PC connection is supported, as Valve prioritizes wireless efficiency.
This launch targets dedicated VR gamers amid a shifting market, where competitors like Meta and Apple focus on mixed reality.