THE CRUNCH
Valve has released the CAD files for its Steam Frame VR headset and controllers, formally inviting modders and creators to design and share their own accessories. The files live on GitLab and bundle 3D models with technical drawings and reference documentation. There is a catch for anyone eyeing a business opportunity: everything must be published under the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 4.0 International licence, which permits sharing and adapting the designs but not commercial use.
The package goes beyond shell models. It includes documentation on the headset's electronics, among it an example project for a USB 3.0 expansion port that Valve suggests could be adapted for other electronics projects. Commercial ambitions are not ruled out entirely: the Frame's GitLab repo notes that anyone wanting a commercial licence should contact Valve by email, which leaves the door open to licensing partnerships without granting a blanket permission.