Valve has revealed final pricing, reservation details, and launch accessories for Steam Frame, its standalone SteamOS-based VR headset. The device starts at $1,059 for 256GB, while a 1TB model costs $1,299. Every headset also includes Half-Life: Alyx, which Valve has optimized to run natively without a gaming PC.
Key takeaways
Valve’s Steam Frame announcement confirms several details important to hardware buyers:
- Reservations are open through September 17 at 10 a.m. PT.
- Valve will use a randomized queue rather than a first-come, first-served preorder.
- The first purchase invitations are expected to go out September 18.
- The headset includes tracked controllers, a wireless PC streaming adapter, and Half-Life: Alyx.
- A charger is not included, while comfort and replacement kits cost extra.
Pricing and reservation process
The 256GB Steam Frame costs $1,059 in the US, while the 1TB version is priced at $1,299. Regional pricing includes €1,049 and €1,279 in Europe, £889 and £1,089 in the UK, and C$1,529 and C$1,859 in Canada, respectively.
Rather than allowing immediate purchases, Valve is accepting reservations for the desired storage model and will randomize the queue after the September 17 deadline. Selected customers should receive purchase invitations beginning September 18. Those placed on the waitlist will move forward as additional units become available, and each purchase offer will remain valid for 72 hours.
Hardware and PC gaming features
Steam Frame uses a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 16GB of unified LPDDR5X memory, UFS storage, and a microSD card slot. Its 2160-by-2160-per-eye LCD panels support refresh rates from 72Hz to 144Hz, with 144Hz listed as experimental.
The headset runs SteamOS 3 and can play compatible games locally using ARM64 builds, Proton, and other compatibility layers. It can also stream PC VR and flat-screen games through the included Wi-Fi 6E adapter. Eye tracking supports foveated rendering and streaming, while inside-out tracking eliminates the need for external base stations.
Valve has verified 70 standalone VR titles, including Beat Saber, Moss, Pistol Whip, SUPERHOT VR, Walkabout Mini Golf VR, and The Room VR: A Dark Matter. The broader PC game library remains available through streaming when paired with a sufficiently capable computer.
Half-Life: Alyx comes with every headset
Valve has produced a native 64-bit ARM version of Half-Life: Alyx for Steam Frame. The port uses eye-tracked foveated rendering, Vulkan driver work, and extensive SteamVR optimizations to make the demanding VR title playable directly on the headset.
The game’s content remains unchanged, and Steam Cloud support allows players to switch between standalone and PC-streamed sessions. Customers who do not already own Alyx will receive it with their Steam Frame.
Accessories and expansion options
Steam Frame charges over USB-C, but Valve sells its own 45W power supply separately for $29. The $59 Ergonomic Accessories Kit adds a headset top strap, controller hand straps, replacement battery doors, and an extended light blocker. A $49 replacement kit includes a face gasket, head cushion, and light blocker.
Valve is also supporting the $149 Arcturus Vision Camera, which adds color passthrough and 5K HDR stereo capture. The standard headset provides monochrome passthrough. For PC builders and VR enthusiasts, the combination of local SteamOS gaming, wireless streaming, expandable storage, and modular accessories makes Steam Frame a premium alternative to mainstream standalone headsets.
Via Valve