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Valve Announces Steam Frame, a Streaming-First VR Headset Targeting Early 2026

Valve positions the headset as a gateway to your full Steam library through streaming.

Overview

  • The Steam Frame follows the 2019 Index and is designed to play a user's entire Steam library, including non‑VR titles, via streaming.
  • Published specs include a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 2160×2160 per‑eye resolution, 72–144Hz refresh, 256GB or 1TB storage with microSD, up to 110‑degree FOV, and eye tracking.
  • The headset uses monochrome passthrough, emphasizing VR rather than mixed reality, and offers a front expansion port that Valve says could enable future add‑ons such as color passthrough.
  • Final pricing is TBD, with Valve aiming below $1,000 and planning an early‑2026 launch; rival price points include Meta Quest 3 at $499.99 and Apple Vision Pro at $3,499.
  • PCWorld reports Valve said it is not currently working on a first‑party VR game, pointing to the Steam ecosystem as the primary content draw at release.