- Hardware
- VR
Amidst pricing question marks, the Steam Frame could still ignite a new era of popularity for the VR gaming market
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Valve)
- Copy link
- X
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Signup +
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Signup +
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Signup +
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Signup +
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Signup +
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Signup +
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletterValve has just shared a much-needed update on the arrival and pricing of its new wave of hardware. The Steam Frame, Steam Controller, and Steam Machine release date were all slated for an early 2026 window, but it's just been revealed in a blog post that the brand isn't ready to share pricing and specific launch details yet due to the ongoing RAM supply shortages and price apocalypse.
This knock-on effect was expected by many, I think. While it might not be having such a big impact on the VR headset world, the AI-induced memory and storage market upheaval is projected to continue until at least 2028, and it's already wreaking havoc on the gaming PC world. The latest rumors even suggest that the next generation of Sony and Microsoft consoles could be delayed as a result.
You may like-
Everything we know about Steam Frame, the VR headset previously codenamed Valve Deckard
-
I can't wait for Steam Frame, but there's no way it's more affordable than PSVR 2 is right now
-
Valve Deckard has been officially revealed as the Steam Frame, and it looks like a combination of PSVR 2 and the Meta Quest 3's best features
I think there's nothing more vital for the Steam Frame's success than its price. Meta may be taking a backward step from the VR gaming sphere, but its Quest 3 and 3S devices are still some of the most feature-rich and affordable headsets ever made. That gives the Steam Frame some serious competition out of the gate, and by all accounts, Meta has been selling the Quest 3 headsets at a loss in an attempt to get the Metaverse within people's grasp until now.
That likely makes things very tricky for Valve when it comes to pricing the Steam Frame, even without RAM inflation to contend with. But despite everything, part of me still thinks that if the chips fall correctly, Valve's headset could have the same impact on the VR gaming market as the brand's Steam Deck had on the handheld gaming world back in 2022.
Now, before you call me a Valve shill, hear me out. I'm aware that the VR market is a volatile one, as we've seen already in a still-young 2026 with Meta laying off a big chunk of its Reality Labs workforce. But I do think the VR market is in a similar place to the handheld market back in 2021.
In recent times, you've had brands like Apple, PlayStation, and Samsung show that there is a mainstream demand for this type of technology, but its pricing is a continual barrier. Meta comes along and makes things more affordable but with a pretty keen eye on exclusivity for its platform, and a larger audience suddenly appears. For me, that's like Nintendo laying the groundwork for a revitalised handheld market with the original Switch.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ NewsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.What happened next? Valve came along and made that type of gaming even more appealing to PC gamers with the Steam Deck, pricing it accessibly, and providing an alternative to the drawback of the Switch - its Nintendo exclusivity.
VR isn't as well-established as handheld gaming, but I think there are a lot of similarities here that Valve has likely picked up on.
You may be reading this thinking, "but every other news story about VR talks about how 'the death of VR gaming' is nigh". Funnily enough, similar things were said of handheld gaming before the Switch and Steam Deck came along. When the 3DS was discontinued, and PlayStation abandoned the Vita, everyone was hearing death knells.
You may like-
I can't wait for Steam Frame, but there's no way it's more affordable than PSVR 2 is right now
-
Valve Deckard has been officially revealed as the Steam Frame, and it looks like a combination of PSVR 2 and the Meta Quest 3's best features
-
What to expect from Valve in 2026: the return of the Steam Machine, a new VR headset, and more Half-Life 3 rumors
Admittedly, the catch with all of this was that the Steam Deck was priced so affordably that it enticed people to try out a form of gaming they hadn't properly dabbled in for years. But it paid off; Steam Deck became the face of an emergent handheld PC market long after its release. We can see that Valve priced its handheld correctly because more premium options like the Rog Xbox Ally X feel completely unobtainable for most players.
While Nintendo laid the groundwork, Steam Deck reignited the current mass appeal we're seeing for best gaming handheld scene we see today, and the more I hear about the Steam Frame, the more excited I get about history repeating (if it's priced fairly).
In its new hardware blog, Valve shared updated pages that give us more details about the Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Controller. The headset's page goes into detail about the differences between foveated rendering and streaming, gives us a closer look at the pancake lenses and speakers, and even details how its infrared LEDs can make tracking better in low-light scenarios.
Its controllers have TMR thumbsticks and a split-pad approach, which means playing non-VR games is going to be a big part of the headset's appeal. Not to mention, Steam has the biggest library of VR titles to support the device as soon as it launches - no problems with a lack of support here like there are with PSVR 2.
But once again, this all hinges on pricing. People are so quick to dismiss VR technology at this point that as soon as the Frame is outwith the reach of most people, it's going to be another HMD that never lived up to its potential because it won't reach the faces of enough gamers for the Steam Deck bug to spread.
No, that wasn't a subtle dig at the Apple Vision Pro.
As a VR gaming fan, I'm really excited for the arrival of the Steam Frame. With Meta seemingly withdrawing from the space (despite what its execs might be saying), Steam Frame could still become the headset to beat in the next five years.
Today's best VR deals
Meta Quest 3
$21.99 $13.97ViewSee all prices
Meta Quest 3S $299.99 $269.99ViewSee all prices
PlayStation PSVR 2 PC Adapter $59ViewSee all prices
Sony PlayStation VR2
$399.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricesFor more on VR, take a look at the best Meta Quest accessories, and for more on RAM shortages, take a look at the best RAM for gaming, and the best gaming PCs.
TOPICS Valve Duncan RobertsonSocial Links NavigationHardware EditorOne of my earliest memories is playing SuperMario64 and wondering why the controller I held had three grips, but I only had two hands. Ever since I've been in love with video games and their technology. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship at Expert Reviews. Over the last decade, I’ve been managing my own YouTube channel about my love of games too. These days, I'm one of the resident hardware nerds at GamesRadar+, and I take the lead on our coverage of gaming PCs, VR, controllers, gaming chairs, and content creation gear. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.
View MoreYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
I can't wait for Steam Frame, but there's no way it's more affordable than PSVR 2 is right now
Valve Deckard has been officially revealed as the Steam Frame, and it looks like a combination of PSVR 2 and the Meta Quest 3's best features
What to expect from Valve in 2026: the return of the Steam Machine, a new VR headset, and more Half-Life 3 rumors
The Steam Machine is on the way, so here's everything I need you to know before Valve's mini PC lands
Yes, the Steam Machine will arrive later than expected and with a higher price, but I'd call it a heads up rather than a delay
Black Friday VR headset deals 2025: Some of these discounts are ludicrously good
Latest in VR
Syntech's Elite Head Strap for Quest 3 fits the headset to my face so securely that it may be a permanent part of me now
"We are not getting out of VR," says Meta Developer Advocate just one week after mass layoffs
Meta closing its best gaming studios is bad news for Quest 3 owners, but great for Steam Frame
Asus's new gaming glasses have fun ideas, but I'd much rather see them in a VR headset
I can't wait for Steam Frame, but there's no way it's more affordable than PSVR 2 is right now
This Meta Quest 3 charging dock won't stop beeping at me, but damn does it keep my VR setup neat and tidy
Latest in Features
Despite its pricing delay, Valve's Steam Frame could still turn out to be the VR market's Steam Deck moment
Control Resonant may be an action-RPG, but Remedy isn't veering into hellishly-challenging territory: "There are no parries, there is no back-and-forth with a single enemy"
My favorite Baldur's Gate 3 companion got more love in the latest MTG Secret Lair, but I can't stomach buying it
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam wants to be a tougher, smarter FPS where kills hardly matter: "We sit in a specific space where we're not COD or Battlefield, but also not military simulation"
Beast of Reincarnation's battles are about "the joyful dilemma of choice", building on Pokemon battle planning expertise
I was going to play the Nioh 3 demo for 30 minutes – I played 5 hours, and this Soulslike is blowing me away at 120 FPS
GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS
1This Lord of the Rings card game is a puzzle-solving masterclass- 2Nioh 3 review: "Brutal samurai and ninja clashes across wide maps avoid retreading Elden Ring – this Soulslike is all demon killer, no filler"
- 3Highguard review: "A fresh but muddled FPS genre mashup that needs refinement if it's to have any staying power"
- 4This hidden role board game makes me feel like a puppet master, so Traitors fans should listen up
- 5Cairn review: "This climber has a grip on me – even when it loses its footing with awkward systems, the challenge remains surmountable"
1Return to Silent Hill review: "Neither an impressive adaptation nor coherent enough to act as a standalone film"- 228 Years Later: The Bone Temple review: "The wildest and weirdest entry into the franchise yet"
- 3Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
- 4Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
- 5Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
1Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"- 2Starfleet Academy review: "It may feel a little different to what we're used to, but this is Star Trek through and through"
- 3A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms review: "This Game of Thrones spin-off is a heartfelt and fun return to Westeros"
- 4Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
- 5Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”
