Valve Unveils Steam Frame: A Versatile VR Headset with Standalone Power
Valve has officially introduced its latest innovation in virtual reality, the Steam Frame, joining the lineup alongside the Steam Machine and Steam Controller. Designed to handle both VR and non-VR titles, the Steam Frame stands out with its ability to run games natively thanks to an integrated Snapdragon chipset, making it a fully standalone gaming device.
Steam Frame: Streaming-First, Standalone-Ready
At its core, the Steam Frame is a streaming-focused VR headset. It ships with a dual-radio wireless adapter that connects to your PC, Steam Machine, or Steam Deck. These dual radios maintain separate channels for game streaming and Wi-Fi connectivity, minimizing bandwidth bottlenecks for smoother gameplay.
The headset features dual 2160×2160 LCD panels with a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 72Hz to 144Hz. It supports foveated streaming, which prioritizes high-resolution rendering only where your eyes are focused, enabled by built-in eye-tracking cameras. For spatial tracking, the Steam Frame includes four external monochrome cameras and infrared LEDs, ensuring accurate performance even in low-light conditions. Audio is delivered through force-canceling stereo speakers, reducing unwanted vibrations.
Valve’s new split controller design mirrors a traditional gamepad layout, making it compatible with both VR and standard games. These controllers incorporate second-gen magnetic joysticks, borrowed from the updated Steam Controller, and are powered by AA batteries with an estimated 40-hour lifespan.
A SteamOS Gaming Rig in Headset Form
What truly sets the Steam Frame apart is its ability to function as a standalone SteamOS-powered device. It runs on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, and offers 256GB or 1TB of UFS storage, expandable via microSD. A 21.6Whr battery powers the headset, allowing users to play games without tethering to any external device. Valve uses an emulator called Flex to translate x86 games to ARM64 on the fly, and the headset also supports native Android games.
Valve plans to release a developer kit to help optimize game compatibility. In the future, users can expect preconverted x86 titles for improved performance without relying on real-time emulation. The Steam Frame is slated for release in early 2026, with pricing yet to be announced.
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