After years of speculation and rumors, Valve has finally revealed its new VR headset, the Steam Frame. The upcoming virtual reality headset may give the Meta Quest a direct competitor, as the Steam Frame offers similar features to the standalone device.
As Valve tends to do, the game company surprised its fans when it suddenly unveiled not one, but three different pieces of hardware that players can look forward to. In addition to the new Steam Frame VR headset, Valve also revealed a new Steam Controller and a new Steam Machine.
Valve’s New VR Headset is Now a Reality
Valve’s new Steam Frame VR headset looks like it will have a lot to offer when it launches in early 2026. Much like the Meta Quest and PSVR 2, the new Steam Frame has built-in inside-out camera tracking, so no base stations are needed, and the device is wireless, so players don’t have to worry about tethering themselves to something while immersed in VR. The Steam Frame is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 series processor and 16 GB of RAM, which Valve says allows it to play a “growing number” of VR and non-VR games completely standalone. Non-VR games will be displayed on a large movie-like screen in front of the player. However, the device is first and foremost intended to be a streaming headset, which utilizes the power of a gamer’s own PC to play more technically demanding games.
Unlike the Meta Quest, the Steam Frame doesn’t try to send and receive all the data it needs through a user’s Wi-Fi connection. Instead, the Steam Frame comes with a 6GHz wireless adapter dongle that plugs into a PC and makes a direct wireless connection with the headset. Dual radios allow one to focus entirely on streaming audio and visuals from the game, while the other connects to Wi-Fi, reducing strain on a user’s Wi-Fi bandwidth.
In terms of display, the Steam Frame features two 2160 x 2160 LCDs, custom pancake lenses, and a 72-144Hz refresh rate. FOV is up to 110 degrees, with a 60-70mm IPD range. The device also utilizes eye tracking to provide Foveated Streaming, which improves the quality of pixels where the user is actively looking. The built-in speakers feature dual drivers per ear, with a dual microphone array included for transmitting the user’s voice. Importantly, the Steam Frame is only 440 grams with the head strap, putting it at 75 grams lighter than the weight of the Meta Quest 3. While 75 grams may not seem like much, taking pressure and strain off the head and neck can go a long way to improving the gameplay experience and duration of play sessions.
The Steam Frame will also come with its own pair of specialized controllers. Each controller features magnetic thumbsticks, with a D-pad on the left, ABXY buttons on the right, shoulder triggers, and bumpers. They also include capacitive finger tracking, allowing users to manipulate individual fingers in games that support the tech, like Half-Life: Alyx.
At the moment, Valve has yet to announce an exact release date or price for the new Steam Frame headset, and notes that some specifications could change before it’s actually released. Early impressions of the device seem to be largely positive. It will be interesting to see how the Steam Frame measures up in side-by-side tests with the Meta Quest 3, and whether it can enter the market at a competitive price.
