Valve explained that it included Half-Life: Alyx with the Steam Frame VR headset rather than developing a new title, prioritizing compatibility with the existing Steam catalogue. The company noted that adapting Alyx to the new hardware provided valuable debugging and optimization work applicable across the platform.
Valve considered creating a new VR game for the Steam Frame headset but ultimately chose to port Half-Life: Alyx to standalone mode instead. The decision prioritized ensuring existing Steam catalogue compatibility and using Alyx as a testing ground to identify performance optimizations and driver fixes applicable across Frame games. Knowledge gained from this process is now being shared with developers through the Steam Frame Verified programme.
Valve's Steam Frame VR headset is now open for pre-order reservations through September 17, with the first wave of customers notified starting September 18. The wireless headset costs $1,059–$1,299 USD depending on storage capacity, includes two controllers and Half-Life: Alyx, and features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 16GB RAM, and 2160x2160 per-eye LCD displays.
Valve's Steam Frame portable gaming device starts at $1059 in the US and £889 in the UK, making it more expensive than the Valve Index VR headset. The device includes a copy of Half-Life: Alyx rebuilt for its ARM processor, with a 1TB model available for $1299 in the US. Pre-orders open with a registration deadline of September 17th, followed by a randomized queue system for fulfillment before year-end.
Valve opened pre-orders for Steam Frame, its standalone VR headset, with prices starting at $1,059 USD for the 256GB model and $1,299 USD for 1TB. A randomized lottery system will determine which customers can purchase during the September 17th deadline, with first shipments expected shortly after September 18th. The headset features a Snapdragon Series 8 Gen 3 chipset and can play VR games or stream from PC via Wi-Fi 6E.
Valve launched the Steam Frame VR headset priced at $1,059, which includes a native ARM64 port of Half-Life: Alyx running on Qualcomm Snapdragon Gen 3 silicon. The port leverages foveated rendering and eye-tracking to maintain full visual fidelity without requiring a desktop PC, representing a year of optimization work that benefits all Steam Frame games.
Steam Frame is Valve's wireless VR headset successor to the Valve Index, featuring local gameplay via Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or PC streaming over Wi-Fi 6E. Priced at $1,059–$1,299, it includes motion controllers with 40-hour battery life and supports glasses with a magnetic spacer, with prescription lens inserts coming later.
Linus Tech Tips accidentally leaked a 17-minute Steam Frame first impressions video, revealing details including a $60 Ergonomics Accessories Kit, AA battery-powered controllers with 40-hour runtime, and 6GHz wireless connectivity. The leak also indicates Valve is developing a native standalone build of Half-Life: Alyx for the Steam Frame rather than a streamed version, with possible bundling for early adopters.
Valve's Steam Frame VR headset launches at $1,059 for the 256GB model and $1,299 for 1TB, marking a price increase from original plans due to rising hardware costs. The headset features eye tracking, dedicated wireless PC streaming, and 16GB RAM, positioning it as a premium PCVR device compared to Meta's Quest 3 but priced competitively among dedicated PC VR headsets. Reservations open today through September 17th with shipping beginning September 18th.