Valve has announced a next-gen virtual reality headset, dubbed Steam Frame.
Steam Frame differs from its predecessor, Valve Index, in that it can be used as a standalone VR headset, and even comes with streaming tech that lets you play games from your PC without the need for cables.
Valve failed to announce a firm release date or a price for Steam Frame, and it doesn’t look like it has any new games to show off the hardware either. Valve released Half-Life: Alyx to showcase Valve Index back in 2020, but in an interview with IGN ahead of today’s reveal, the company said no new software was in the works. Be sure to check out IGN’s Steam Frame hands-on preview to find out what we think of it.
It’s a big day for Valve hardware announcements, with a next-gen Steam Machine and Steam Controller also in the works. Be sure to check out everything announced by Valve today to make sure you don’t miss anything.
Steam Frame features and specs:
Lightweight, modular architecture
- 185g core
- 440g with included headstrap (facial interface, audio, rear battery)
Specs
- 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 ARM64 processor
- 16GB Unified LPDDR5X RAM
- Wi-Fi 7, 2×2
- Dual 5Ghz/6Ghz streaming for simultaneous VR and Wi-Fi
- 256GB / 1TB UFS storage options
- microSD card slot for extended storage
Optics
- Pancake optics
- 2160 x 2160 LCD (per eye)
- 72-144Hz refresh rate (144Hz experimental)
- Large FOV (up to 110 degrees)
Tracking
- 4x outward facing monochrome cameras for controller & headset tracking
- 2x interior cameras for eye tracking
- Outward IR illuminator (for dark environments)
Other features
- Wireless Adapter included
- Wi-Fi 6E (6Ghz)
- Fast, direct, low-latency link between headset & PC
- Foveated Streaming
- Eye-tracking drives video stream, sending highest resolution to where you’re looking.
- Audio
- Dual speaker drivers (per ear), integrated into headstrap
- Dual microphone array
- Monochrome camera passthrough
- User accessible front expansion port (2x 2.5Gbps camera interface / Gen 4 PCIe)
- Rechargeable 21.6 Wh Li-On Battery
- SteamOS
- Sleep / wake, cloud saves, Proton
Steam Frame Controllers
- Full 6-DOF tracking and IMU support
- Capacitive finger sensing
- Magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) for improved precision, responsiveness and reliability
- Haptic feedback
- Input parity with traditional game pad
- Replaceable AA battery (40hr life)
- Optional straps
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
