Valve's long-awaited VR initiative is making headlines once again, and this time it appears there is more meat to the rumors. Years have seen the codename "Deckard" circulate among the gaming populace as Valve's next step towards virtual reality. Currently, a new batch of teasers and leaks suggests that the name would actually be the Steam Frame VR headset and that it could make a reveal soon.

According to a report by PC Gamer, several prominent VR creators have shared travel itineraries to Seattle this week, placing them close to Valve headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. The coincidence has fueled widespread speculation that the creators have been invited to take an early, hands-on look at yet-to-be-released hardware. With Valve recently filing for "Steam Frame" as a trademark, the community is filled with rumors that the device will hit the market in short order.

A possible Meta Connect faceoff

The timing of the rumors is particularly interesting. Meta is holding its Meta Connect event on September 17–18 in Silicon Valley, where it typically makes new VR and AR device announcements. Individuals observe that several VR influencers who would otherwise be at the Meta event have indicated they won't be attending this year. Reddit enthusiasts make an educated guess that maybe because they are heading to Valve's campus instead.

This would not be the first time Valve timed its reveal to overlap with Meta's grand stage. In 2019, Valve very much did this, debuting its Index headset as Facebook's F8 developer conference was heating up, creating a publicity wave that briefly commandeered the headlines. The same announcement window could introduce the Steam Frame VR headset, where the gesture might once again position Valve's hardware ambitions directly at odds with Meta's platform.

The long string of rumors and codenames

Speculation about a new Valve VR headset traces back at least to 2021, when dataminers discovered early clues in the SteamVR codebase. The codename "Deckard" was discovered, with speculation arising that Valve was experimenting with wireless or even self-contained VR hardware. Additional findings pointed towards redesigned tracking, high-resolution displays, and new controllers.

Perhaps the most active name to crop up in leaks has been the "Roy" controllers, speculated to be the next-generation follow-up to the Index's "Knuckles." Towards the end of 2023, reports suggested these controllers were entering mass production, suggesting that Valve was preparing for a broader release. Shipping manifests and prototype sightings kept the rumor mill churning, though the company remained tight-lipped.

Most recently, dataminer Brad Lynch cited code updates in SteamVR where multiple components were rebranded as "Frames." The discovery aligns nicely with the just-submitted "Steam Frame" trademark, suggesting that Deckard could finally be becoming its business identity: the Steam Frame VR headset.

Amming up anticipation for what Valve does next

Valve has always held a niche in the VR market. While Meta and Sony fight for the mass-market console and standalone headset space, Valve's Index carved out a niche among PC enthusiasts who love cutting-edge performance. While it came out in 2019, the Index is still respected for its accuracy tracking and high-fidelity experience. But the market has only continued to evolve, and the wait for a successor is eagerly anticipated.

The release of the Steam Frame VR head-mounted display would be a generational step for Valve. If reports prove accurate, gamers might anticipate a device that is even partially autonomous, with refined graphics and input peripherals optimized for current VR usage. To developers, the launch of a new Valve platform would mean more opportunities for game design, distribution, and hardware testing.

What's next?

For now, everything is speculation. Valve has yet to release an official word, and the company is known to remain silent on its projects until the last minute. However, the intersection of influencer chatter, trademark filing, and code appearances has generated momentum hard to ignore.

If precedent is any indication, Valve might announce the Steam Frame VR headset in a manner that surprises fans as well as competitors. Whether it redefines the world of VR or merely provides an incremental improvement remains to be seen.