GoKawiilValve opens Steam Frame VR pre-orders, starting at $1,059 amid chip price surge
Valve has begun taking reservations for its Steam Frame VR headset, nearly a year after first unveiling it and three months after launching the Steam Machine. Engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Jeff Leinbaugh told Tom's Hardware that the project began right after the Index shipped, aiming to make VR lighter, more comfortable, and easier to use through wireless streaming rather than chasing raw performance at any cost. The device arrives during a period of sharply rising memory and storage costs, which Valve says influenced its pricing.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Valve's decision to prioritize comfort and wireless streaming over cutting-edge specs signals a shift in how it wants VR to reach mainstream users rather than enthusiasts alone. The pricing hit from the memory and storage shortage shows how broader supply chain pressures are shaping even niche hardware categories like VR, not just mainstream PCs and consoles.
- Steam Frame reservations are now open, priced from $1,059.
- Development began right after the Valve Index shipped, focusing on comfort and ease of use.
- Rising memory and storage costs industry-wide directly affected the headset's final pricing.
Valve Steam Deck — The Valve Steam Deck is a powerful handheld gaming PC that lets you enjoy your favorite Steam titles on the go. With its portable design and robust performance, it's the perfect companion for gaming enthusiasts who want to take their library anywhere, especially as VR and gaming hardware prices fluctuate. It’s an excellent choice for gamers looking to expand their gaming experience beyond traditional setups.
See Valve Steam Deck on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: tomshardware.com — Brandon Hill, 2026-09-14
Published there as: “Valve engineers discuss the duality of the Steam Frame and pricing — Valve's newest VR headset pivots SteamOS to Arm”
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