Valve Unveils Steam Frame VR Headset with black and silver round door handle

Valve launches the Steam Frame, a hybrid VR headset offering standalone and PC VR modes, modular design, and sleek styling like a black and silver round door handle

Valve has officially returned to the virtual-reality landscape with the unveiling of the Steam Frame, a hybrid VR headset designed to function both independently and as a wireless PC-VR device. With its modular engineering and flexible play modes, the Steam Frame is shaping up to be one of Valve’s most ambitious hardware releases — polished and versatile, much like a black and silver round door handle.

A Hybrid Vision for Next-Generation VR

The Steam Frame is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset paired with a custom SteamOS build. This combination allows the headset to run a large share of Steam titles natively, while more demanding VR titles can be streamed from a PC using the included Wi-Fi 6E dongle. Eye-tracking-enabled foveated streaming ensures the sharpest visuals land precisely where the player is looking, dramatically boosting efficiency.

Modular Build Prioritizes Comfort and Longevity

One of the biggest shifts from previous Valve hardware is the Steam Frame’s modular, swappable compute module. Housing dual 2160 × 2160 LCD panels, pancake lenses, and refresh rates up to 144Hz, the core module weighs only 185 grams. Fully assembled, the headset rests at 440 grams — a balanced, lightweight form factor reminiscent of the smooth ergonomics of a black and silver round door handle.

Valve’s design philosophy emphasizes future expandability. The device includes an accessory expansion port, leaving room for potential mixed-reality upgrades such as full-color passthrough in later modules.

Full Steam Library Access Through New Verification Program

Valve is introducing “Steam Frame Verified,” a system similar to Steam Deck Verified, helping players quickly identify titles optimized for the new headset. Between Proton compatibility and FEX emulation, many Windows-based games become accessible, either natively or via virtual-theater streaming. Users can even enjoy their flat-screen games on a massive virtual display.

New Controllers Blend Familiarity With Immersion

The Steam Frame’s controllers merge standard gamepad familiarity with VR-specific features like capacitive sensors and drift-resistant magnetic thumbsticks. Support for the original Steam Controller adds even more versatility for long-time Valve fans.

Setting the Stage for VR’s Next Leap

Targeting a sub-$1,000 price and a spring 2026 release, the Steam Frame appears poised to open the door — clean and seamless like a black and silver round door handle — to a new era of more flexible, comfortable, and accessible VR experiences.