Valve's Steam Deck inspired VR headset might be launching soon

Valve will reportedly soon release a VR headset called Steam Frame.
Analysts said that the mysterious headset has been put into mass production
Leaked specs hint that the headset will be more powerful than the Meta Quest 3

Although there is a lot of noise about the (probable) arrival Headset Samsung Muhan – this is the first and overall Android XR device to be revealed to the public – there is another VR headset that we may soon see from another familiar tech face: Valve.

The so-called Steam Frame has been teased many times with leaks and speculation, as has SamsungThis is Muhan. It was even widely believed that it would launch at an event in September, which never happened (again, like Muhan), and it is also believed that it will take place at some point before the end of 2025.

However, unlike Samsung's headset, Valve is much more tight-lipped about this device, but analytics companies and leaks have given us some details.

The first is the projected release date for this year, taking into account the latest reports (via DownloadVR), stating that the headset has been put into mass production. This follows a trademark filing last month for a device called the “Steam Frame”. Valve typically files a trademark application shortly before a product launches.

Steam Deck apparently taught Valve a lot. (Image credit: Mr.Mikla – Shutterstock)

As for the device itself, what we know is based on Valve's own comments in interview with Tested. During the call, virtual reality came up, with Valve hardware engineer Yazan Aldehayat and product designer Lawrence Young hinting that the lessons from the Steam Deck would be applied to future hardware developments, strongly hinting at a wireless rather than tethered approach for the Steam Frame.

This is also confirmed by leaked specifications from SadlyItsBradley (a generally reliable source of VR leaks) that the headset will be equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which will only be needed if it is a standalone device.

He says this chipset will have a one-generation newer GPU than the one the XR2 Gen 2 boasts, suggesting Valve's headset will have at least a slight technical advantage over Meta Quest 3.

However, I hope that this advantage was more than minor, as Valve's leak suggests. Gabe's follower The device will cost $1,200 (around £900 / AU$1,850), more than double the price of the Meta Quest 3.

We'll have to wait and see what Valve shows off when it's ready to announce its next hardware. Even if it doesn't release in 2026, numerous signs point to Frame's reveal and launch soon, so we'll be keeping a close eye on any teasers or announcements from Valve.