After years of speculation and a formal unveiling ten months ago, Valve's standalone VR headset, the Steam Frame, is set to begin shipping, with a starting price of £889. This marks Valve's first VR headset since the 2019 Index, offering significant upgrades including improved screens, reduced weight, and on-device tracking that eliminates the need for external base stations.
While its advancements may not be as dramatic as those seen in more recent consumer VR headsets like the Meta Quest 3, the Steam Frame still presents notable improvements. The headset will be available in two configurations: a 512GB model priced at £889 (€1,049 / $1,059 USD) and a 1TB model for £1,089 (€1,279 / $1,299 USD). Both versions include the headset, an integrated battery, two controllers, a spacer, a charging cable, and a dongle for PC game streaming.
Valve is also offering a range of optional accessories. A power supply unit is available for £29 (€39 / $29 USD), and an Ergonomic Accessories Kit, including a headstrap, controller handstraps, and an extended light blocker, costs an additional £59 (€69 / $59 USD). A replacement accessory kit, featuring a face gasket, head cushion, and light blocker, is priced at £49 (€59 / $49 USD). Valve has also hinted at a future "enthusiast" accessories pack that may include premium audio solutions and an additional swappable battery pack, though this has not been officially confirmed.
Third-party partnerships will provide prescription lenses from Zennioptical for approximately $67.95, and a full-color camera upgrade from Arcturus for £129 (€157 / $149 USD), which aims to improve upon the headset's default monochrome passthrough camera.
Prospective buyers can sign up for a reservation between September 14th and September 17th at 6 p.m. BST (10 a.m. Pacific Time). Following this period, Valve will conduct a random selection to determine reservation and waitlist order. Customers will be notified via email on September 17th regarding their status. Those who miss the initial sign-up window will be automatically placed at the end of the waitlist.
Valve anticipates sending out the first batch of purchase emails on September 18th, with subsequent emails to follow as more units become available for shipping.