Valve has confirmed that its new Steam Frame VR headset will launch with higher-than-anticipated prices, a consequence of ongoing global component shortages, particularly for RAM. Unlike some manufacturers who have opted for lower-spec models or removed DRAM entirely to manage costs, Valve's engineering team maintained that downgrading the Steam Frame's specifications was never a viable option.
According to Frame engineer Josh Hudman, the decision to retain the original specifications was multifaceted. "We had already done a lot of work, and worked with other people, to figure out what those specs were, and it didn't seem like it was the right product choice to make those changes," Hudman told Rock Paper Shotgun. He added that the team was satisfied with the headset's system-on-a-chip (SoC) setup and felt that altering the specs would compromise the intended user experience. "It felt like we had landed on a place that we were really happy with, and we felt delivered the kind of experience that people would want. And adjusting those didn't really fit what we were trying to deliver."
The Steam Frame utilizes a Snapdragon SoC, similar to those found in high-end smartphones, integrating RAM, CPU, and GPU components. While its graphical capabilities are less powerful than the Steam Deck, Valve asserts it is sufficient for running demanding VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx in standalone mode. The company's approach aligns with previous hardware releases, such as the Steam Machine and the recent Steam Deck OLED, where maintaining product capabilities took precedence over achieving lower price points, even when facing market pressures.
SteamOS developer Pierre-Loup Griffais noted that Valve is pleased with the reception of its recent hardware, including the Steam Controller and Steam Machine. He highlighted that users are finding novel ways to incorporate these devices into their lives, such as the portability of the Steam Machine, which exceeded Valve's initial expectations. "I think the experience that people are having with it is kind of the more important thing to us, and everything we're looking at so far seems to confirm the idea that yes, there's a tonne of value there," Griffais stated.
While the Steam Frame faces direct competition from more affordable headsets like the Meta Quest 3, Valve believes its focus on quality and user experience justifies its pricing. The company, however, does not anticipate the current hardware cost issues to improve in the near future, with expectations that RAM shortages and high component prices may worsen before they resolve.