THE CRUNCH
Valve has opened pre-orders for its Steam Frame VR headset, priced at £889 / $1,059. The device launches later than initially planned and is more expensive than many expected, reflecting the broader component crisis affecting the tech industry. Valve maintains that its plans for a Steam Deck 2 successor remain unaffected by these supply chain issues.
The headset is a standalone device, meaning it does not require a tethered gaming PC to function. Valve is taking a two-pronged strategy with the Steam Frame, supporting both standalone play and streaming from a PC. The launch comes nearly a year after Valve first revealed the device. Valve engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Jeff Leinbaugh have discussed the headset's design and the team's goals for creating a new VR experience.
The Steam Frame's pricing is a direct result of the global memory and storage crunch that has been affecting the tech industry. Valve is not operating in a vacuum, and those realities are reflected in the headset's pricing. The headset's Ergonomics Accessories Kit is confirmed to cost $60, adding to the overall cost of ownership. Valve is taking a cautious approach to the launch, given the current economic climate.